Without an in-person event in Las Vegas this year, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) will offer an alternative online — SEMA360.
Billed as an "online marketplace to allow manufacturers and resellers in the specialty automotive segment to connect and conduct business," SEMA360 will take place Nov. 2-6, 2020. (Those are the same dates of the original 2020 SEMA Show, which was canceled due to COVID-19.)
“Creating a platform where the industry can gather and discover new products and trends has always been a SEMA priority,” says Chris Kersting, SEMA CEO and president. “SEMA360 is the ideal solution to bring the industry together, at a time when we’ve all been kept apart. The platform allows qualified buyers to interact with manufacturers, see innovative new products, check out top SEMA Show builds, and take in industry-leading educational offerings."
Show organizers gathered input from industry members who registered concerns with typical “virtual trade show” solutions. The association says SEMA360 is a simple platform that will give manufacturers a "straightforward brand presence" to reach both domestic and international buyers. The virtual attendees will have access to product offerings and demonstrations, and manufacturer personnel.
“The industry made it clear there is a void to fill,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “SEMA360 addresses that need by leveraging SEMA’s exclusive buyer database to connect manufacturers with resellers.”
SEMA says these are the key features:
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a simplified platform for manufacturers to showcase their new products and innovations;
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efficient interaction between manufacturers and resellers for quality business exchange;
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SEMA vehicle reveals from world-class builders;
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education focused on professional development and new strategies; and
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SEMA’s media contacts amplifying news, products, and innovations to a world-wide audience.
How to participate
Manufacturer applications for SEMA360 will open Sept. 3, 2020, at a SEMA-member rate of $495, and a nonmember rate of $1,495. Attendee registration, which opens mid-September, will be free to qualifying buyers who are SEMA members, and $25 to nonmembers. Qualifying media will be able to register at no cost.
Learn more or register here.
