Innovation at SEMA Spring
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008
The Light Truck and SUV staff was out in force at the SEMA Spring Expo last week in Indianapolis, IN. Project Tundra was on display at our booth, showcasing the customization we did last year for the SEMA unveiling in Vegas.
In the past, I have heard from different shop owners that there is no longer any innovation in the aftermarket business. Any new products, one owner observed, are just copies of existing products. “There just aren’t any new and innovative products” he said.
That seems to be changing. Our current economic situation is forcing a shift in the industry. As truck and SUV sales continue to decline, aftermarket dealers are looking for ways to evolve their businesses. And it seems like manufacturers are lining up help them.
Light Truck and SUV publisher Bob Carnahan shares, “I have been to a lot of SEMA shows and SEMA Spring Expos. I was impressed at last week’s show with the amount of innovative products to be seen.”
Here is a list of the LTAA award winners from the SEMA Spring Expo:
Best New Product Over $500 – Roll N Lock for the Roll N Lock E Series
Best new Product Under $500 – UnderCover for the Swingcase
Best Point of Purchase Display – Agricover for the EZ Retriever / Stocking Display
2008 Ford Styling Award: Best Use of Accessories on a Ford Truck or SUV - (2 awards) Kelderman Air Suspension and Westin Automive Products
LTAA Retailer of the Year - John Chamberlain, Action Group of Companies
LTAA Hall of Fame - Anne Johnson LTAA Chairman’s Award - Todd Yeoman
On another note, according to various news sources, it seems we could be seeing a major shift in consumer new vehicle purchasing trends towards crossover vehicles. Several different news stories point to this trend.
Is it too early for our industry to start making a shift towards more crossover products? Will new product innovation help offset declining truck and SUV sales? What do you think?
Thanks for reading, and we welcome your feedback.
Joe Escobar