In 2010, the SEMA Collision Repair & Refinish (CR&R) section, then referred to as Paint Body & Equipment section, earned the title as "fastest growing area of the event." This year is proving to continue to push the bar higher, and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) Repairer Driven Education (RDE) series, which served as the foundation for SCRS’ involvement at the SEMA Show in 2010, has shown equally impressive development in 2011, the association says. Growing from two days of seminars to all four days of the show, SCRS has recently reported that the current YTD education pre-registration numbers for 2011 has already eclipsed total participants in 2010 by over 59 percent.
"The increased participation in this section of the show and our RDE program is a huge indication of the industry’s excitement over being here in Las Vegas with us and the 120,000 other people who love the energy found only at the SEMA Show," said SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg. "A bigger, growing, thriving section, with a noticeable increase in the footprint of the collision industry in the show means that we have done our part working with SEMA to make this an attractive environment for both exhibitors and attendees in our industry, ensuring that both have successful and inspirational shows."
With floor space in the section having been expanded, reaching capacity, and then being further expanded, and pre-registrations for buyer attendance, education and exhibition space at an all-time high for the section demographic, 2011 again finds the CR&R section boasting one of the top growth percentages in the show with a nearly 25 percent increase.
With over two months remaining until the opening day of the show, the section has already accumulated some impressive figures of growth, SCRS reports. Square footage of the space has already surpassed the 2010 footprint by a climbing 15 percent, and the number of overall exhibitors in the CR&R section is up over 27 percent from year-to-date figures, surpassing the 2010 total by an impressive 10 percent. The number of show attendees who identify Collision Repair and Refinish as their primary business interest has increased 47 percent compared to 2010 YTD figures.
"This year has a really great momentum behind it, and the energy is steadily building," added Peter MacGillivray, SEMA vice president of communications and events. "SCRS has really brought tremendous relevance and intrigue to this section of the SEMA Show. We are thrilled to be a home for their Repairer Driven Education series, and to so many of the other collision industry meetings, activities and groups that have established themselves here thanks to our mutual interest in delivering the best experience possible to our attendees through our strategic partnership."
More information:
SCRS RDE program information and registration