Event Coverage Questions about SEMA show

I’ve never been, so this is for the guys that have been….

I’d like to attend the show as a vendor/ exhibitor in the restoration hall. I’ve got a pretty nice product line that right now is 75% non HAMB and 25% under HAMB guidelines because of years covered. It’s going to be 50/50 split soon. To avoid drama and pissing someone off I’ve kept the whole thing off of here.

I’m a little bit wondering about what type of Booth displays are there. Should I be worried or concerned about the “show display” trade show parts of fitting in or just worry about my product?
As you’ve walked around the show are the display booths extravagant, or hokey ?
Nice back drops and super duper or a few folding tables with some neat stuff on them?

Pics would help

 

Do your thing! Right?

 

I haven't been, but I did a quick Google image search and this popped up. Might help. https://metricsmule.com/marketing/stand-out-at-trade-shows/

 

Do you want to stand out to folks who are critiquing booth displays? Or do you want to show your product to people who are interested in your product?

I haven't been for several years, but I always zoom in on the product, and don't give a shit about how fancy the booth is.

 

Booths will range from extravagant to basic but there are rules as to what is required and what is allowed that are very strictly enforced so make sure you familiarize your self with those as SEMA will make changes on their own if your don't conform and will charge you for them.

I work numerous trade shows every year and have worked the SEMA show and I can assure you plain jane booths get far less attention than those that have something interesting for those walking by. It doesn't have to be spectacular but a basic sign and some product will get you bypassed unless you are a known entity that people are specifically looking for. There are so many people at SEMA that without something to draw people in you will get lost in a sea of people.

 

Be aware of the setup / teardown rules as well. I have been part of a number of tradeshows, SEMA included, throughout my career and some convention centers have very specific rules as to who can perform the setup and teardown. Often there is a contract with a 3rd party company that handles all setup and teardown, and the business is not allowed to touch their display except for making minor tweaks and simple cleaning. You will be required to ship your display to the facility, along with setup instructions, and they take care of the rest. Long Beach Convention Center was particularly strict about this, I don't remember SEMA's exact rules, it has been to many years.

 

My son works in the sound and lighting industry and he’s been to a lot of venues, according to him most will have restrictions. He said for sure Las Vegas will require booths to be set up by the trades, millwrights if required, carpenters, electricians, etc. For example, about all you can do at McCormick Place in Chicago is plug in an electric cord or clean your display.

 

I think you better sign up and go this year just to check out the lay of the land. For decades SEMA was my winter vacation, I lost count at over 25 shows. I always went with my buddy Steve at Sunrise Color, he was building his Street Rod business and eventually was a dealer for over 100 brands. The first year was overwhelming but being logical we started in one corner and walked every isle. With our wives who stuck by us every year. By Friday we were running down the last two isles at 4:00 while people were moving out. Over the years the show grew to 3 or 4 times larger and we got faster still walking every isle plus going to the Sands and seeing the more OEM type parts. Down stairs was mostly foreign manufacturers and being Halloween some had treats out. The orientals had rice crackers. Here and at SEMA many had bowls of candy, the point being we searched out the chocolate. The booths with show girls or celebrity's were always crowded. Large companies were handing out cataloges, samples or keychains. Smaller companies sometime just had a table with drape and a simple sign on the curtain. Some of these guys looked lonely because of the narrow appeal of their product. They were always eager to talk.

Now all the booths have card scanners that participants can scan their ID card that builds your mailing list. As has been mentioned they are restrictive rules on moving in and setup and tear down, renting carpet, tables etc. I'm sure it is terribly expensive today, guys were complaining 20 years ago.

 

Also not sure if you are planning on having a helper but you will need one as you must have someone in your booth at all times during show hours if they catch you without someone in your booth you may be banned from exhibiting at future shows. The love their rules and enforcing them so it's good to be compliant.

Redo's suggestion of going as an attendee for a year before showing is a good one. It's hard to describe or understand what SEMA is like to someone who has never been.

 

These little details are quite helpful.
thanks guys.
I’m thinking something professional but simple is probably the best thing. A step or two up from flee market and several levels down from store front and far away from Vegas fantastic.

That gem @Hellfish posted is great !!!
Rental is cool idea but I think I’d like to own it for other events. I’m looking and some nice stuff all custom printed for just about the same price as a set of tires

 

They have this service in that town called "Par Buddies", basically girls in bikinis that go golfing with you and keep your drink filled. A few of them working in the booth can't hurt.

 

Been to SEMA a couple times as a spectator and it looked to me like it was a show for the bigger companies? I assume it's expensive for a booth, hiring the teamsters if needed, at least one helper, rooms, eats and travel. Can humble you in a hurry. For about 18 years I was content vending at NSRA and Good Guys shows. I tried to hit the big shows such as Louisville, Columbus and Pleasonton plus some of the better regionals and also the LARS a few times. I did 8-9 a year. Drove a lot of miles, put in a lot of hours, spent a lot of money but for me that was what worked. I was never a big dog in the business plus I knew when to pull the plug on doing the shows. I would follow redo32's advice and get the lay of the land before jumping in. I think you'd be well served.

 

They have seriously tightened up on attire rules lately. Scantily clad females in your booth are no longer allowed. The tire hall used to be like being at the beach but not anymore.

If there is anything you can do to do some sort of demo that draws people in and gets them to stop more than anything else. It may seem like the guy selling knives at the fair but it really does work better than anything else.

Giveaways like pens candy etc rarely gets people to stop and look at what you are selling they will come in, grab the free shit and leave 99% of the time so it is for the most part wasted money.

 

Google first SEMA show and you will get an idea of how it transformed over 55 years. I built some of the early booths and they were crude by today’s standards. It’s been 10 years since I’ve attended SEMA. It’s been my experience that a good product will attract interest and and you’ll know how much interest there is by the number of reps asking for pricing info. Are you a SEMA member?


BTW, be sure and and get a good pair of comfortable shoes! One last thought, since the first show was in 1965, everything was HAMB friendly

 

I’ll be looking into the fees and costs.
I’ve got a good friend in Vegas so I can crash there, and he can help me at the show and some logistics before and after. That part is a blessing.
I kinda agree with getting a dry run first being very helpful but fuck it, I’ve heard strike while the iron is hot more often.
It’s going to all fall together and I go or it’s going to all fall apart and I don’t go.

 

I would hope you would report back on your success at the show after it's over. Good luck.

 

For sure

 

Any salesman in a booth, looking at a phone. I walk on by. Your job is to sell. One missed person is the missed chance at a sale. This is what I hate most.

 

It seems like 50 -75 % of the people that go are looking for the side show acts and act like it is just a big car show to attend. I have never been, (I do have an automotive based business) but most car people want to attend. They should stay home and let the people in the industry and are serious about the business side of the show attend. The vendors invest lots of time and money to showcase their goods and services at SEMA.

 

I'd have to ask where is your intended direct market? Are you planning on having distributors who in turn ship it to retail operations or you intending to sell direct with a few select shops around the country also selling it? Sema used to be the place to get your product in front of distributors and retail outfits. Goodguys or NSRA events puts it in front of retail customers and even specialty shops.

 

He’d have to kill you if he said. It is something that isn’t marketed currently by the few hints dropped. But even those drops are a mystery.

 

I have been as a spectator. There are big and small busyness displays. Some small ones were just tables with a drape over them and a billboard back. Hands on draws more attention, well not as much as the less dressed gals.
Not to sound racist, I noticed a lot of Asian people taking really close up pictures of custom items on displays.

 

I would never contemplate exhibiting at a major show i have not previously visited.

Its a big investment in time and money.

No amount if third party advise on exhibiting will help if you have not been there already.

 

That’s pretty much the truth.
Some are cautious, some are adventurous,
Adventure without caution is worse.

 

I have no proof of this, none.
but I believe I someone reports things I may post that aren’t 101% HAMB friendly. Losing a whole thread that’s 98% on topic isn’t great. Fabricating should be about fabrication not what it’s for. Figuring out a problem should be about the process of solving it.

Above I’ve said to avoid drama and pissing people off I’ve kept it off here. Reality is I just don’t want to piss myself off, I could give a shit about possibly pissing of my imaginary reporters.
It’s no secret and no mystery and out there already, it’s just 75% disqualified from year guidelines. It’s moving towards being 60% HAMB friendlier but it’s always going to be outside the year guidelines and we know what that means.
This thread is supposed to be about SEMA, not what I’m doing.

Typical HAMB fashion, ask what you should feed your dog and it turns into a conversation about the turds.

 

I would definetly go to the show the first year as a spectator,it is a very big place to see.Best to get the lay of the land first,talk to some people about how they got started and where would be the best place to setup.They do have a area just for new products and give awards for just that too.Hotels are stupid exspensive that week too,if you have a place to stay that is a big bonus.It is worth seeing for all the hot rod parts alone,even the AAPEX building is great,it is open before the SEMA starts.It isnt a big deal to register,your spose can come too,anyone else with you has to be a "registered" employee of yours?.Best to register early as it can take a while for them to mail your badges.You will not regret going for sure. harvey

 

Never done SEMA but attended many trade shows as a retailer/buyer and as a rep for a startup company of ours (Strider). What I have seen is that if the product stands out you do not need a flashy booth. People will come to see you if you bring something to the table. You want to keep at least TWO reps in the booth at all times. It is awful easy to end up in a conversation with someone and miss out on another that may just have a simple question. OR even worse, someone that is ready to place an order! And like @stanlow69 said, nothing screams lazy like a singe rep staring at their phone! Have some shirts embroidered/screened, NOT T shirts! Look professional and legit. Knowing how big a zoo trade shows in Vegas are I would also consider a smaller show like PRI as a place to start and hone your delivery.

 

I think the best thing you can do is have some kind of catalog printed that you can hand out that shows your products and contact information and maybe have cards for people to sign up for some free giveaway stuff. That way the people have something after the show to remind them of your products after they leave and what website to look for the products. You might also go to some of the other vendors (builders) and offer them something to try on a build.......especially if they have a TV show.
At least get their display adds and use their addresses to send them a catalog after the show....when they aren't as busy and are setting in their office.