Collision industry stands out at SEMA

With warm summer months still ahead of us, collision repairers have already been hot to book their fall travel plans to attend the 2013 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Since 2010, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) has provided the acclaimed Repairer Driven Education (RDE) series during the Show, attracting record breaking attendance numbers with each year. As of July 1st, SCRS reports an attendee registration increase of over 250% (YTD), in comparison to the same time period last year. With more than four months remaining until the Show opens on Tuesday, November 5th, the pace at which the program is gaining registrations is a tremendous indicator that the 2013 SEMA Show will be the destination for professionals in the collision repair industry. "We are extremely proud of the series we have developed this year, and still have some additional programming we are working on to even further amplify the experience this fall," shared SCRS Chairman Ron Reichen. "Attendee reaction to our events is always the best indicator of whether or not we are delivering what the industry is looking for in our series. Based on the feedback we have received so far, and the extremely compelling numbers, we are confident that the varied content is going to provide very tangible value to all involved." The RDE series isn't the only area of the Show where the collision industry is demonstrating early spikes in activity. Show management numbers through the end of June indicated an increase in collision industry exhibitor counts, square footage occupied by exhibiting collision industry companies and both overall and collision-focused attendee registration. While the primary activities for the collision repair industry take place in the Collision Repair & Refinish section of the show in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, industry meetings, forums and newly expanded show floor space also extend into the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino (LVH). In addition, many collision industry companies take advantage of space that is available in virtually every area of the show. Areas such as Tools & Equipment (North Hall), Restyling & Car Care Accessories (North Hall), Racing & Performance (Central Hall), Hot Rod Alley (Central Hall) and at the First Time & Featured Exhibitors (LVH) all feature companies that have a strong collision repair focus.

"Since the early stages of our discussions, our partnership with SCRS has focused on providing opportunity to the industry's we each represent," added Peter MacGillivray, VP, Events and Communications for SEMA. "The fact that the collision repair community has become such an integral part of so many areas of the show, and has demonstrated such annual growth, really emphasizes the benefits derived from industry involvement in the premier global automotive specialty destination in the world. We are proud to boast that SEMA Show attendees will be exposed to educational seminars, product demonstrations, special events and networking opportunities, and believe that our collaboration with SCRS has been a leading contribution to those opportunities."
 
A complete listing of the RDE sessions can be found at www.semashow.com/scrs. The 2013 Repairer Driven Education program is currently sponsored by supportive industry organizations such as SEMA, GM Genuine Parts, BASF Refinish, Ford Motor Company and AkzoNobel Coatings.
 
About SEMA and the SEMA Show
The SEMA Show is a trade show produced by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), a nonprofit trade association founded in 1963. Since the first SEMA Show debuted in 1967, the annual event has served as the leading venue bringing together manufacturers and buyers within the automotive specialty equipment industry. Products featured at the SEMA Show include those that enhance the styling, functionality, comfort, convenience and safety of cars and trucks. Additional details available at www.semashow.com, www.sema.org, or phone
(909) 396-0289.
 
About SCRS' RDE Series
REPAIRER DRIVEN EDUCATION (RDE) series features seminar offerings, many of which are uniquely designed and being offered only at the 2013 SEMA Show. The series will be offered either as individual sessions, or as a package, and registrants will have the option to attend seven regular session seminars which will be delivered between the hours of 12:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day of the show. Each of the courses has been individually selected by, or crafted for, SCRS because the content specifically focuses on information that is relevant to collision repair professionals and appeals to the diverse array of marketplace perspectives within the collision repair industry. Register at www.semashow.com/scrs.
 
About SCRS
Through its direct members and 40 affiliate associations, SCRS is comprised of over 6,000 collision repair businesses and 58,500 specialized professionals who work with consumers and insurance companies to repair collision-damaged vehicles. Additional information about SCRS including other news releases is avail-able at the SCRS Web site: www.scrs.com. You can e-mail SCRS at the following address: [email protected]