Organizers for Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW), which includes NACE and CARS, announced official attendance numbers for ASRW, held as a stand-alone event Oct. 10-13 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. ASRW 2010 drew a total attendance of 16,289 members of the automotive repair and service industry.
Last year, total attendance was estimated at around 20,000, and 2008 attendance was around 22,000.
ASRW organizers said exhibitors reported good returns from this year’s event, despite the recession and moving the event away from Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week, which includes SEMA and AAPEX (the two shows are being held this week in Las Vegas).
"I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of attendance. Monday was a rush of people who were really interested in seeing and purchasing our products, and the rest of the show continued to bring serious buyers improving or adding facilities," said NACE exhibitor Tim Morgan of CELETTE/Electron, Inc. "Both Celette and Elektron made sales on the floor and have quality leads that will turn into sales right away and in the coming months. After all the hype over the date changes and timing format, I believe NACE was a success for us."
Automotive Service Association (ASA) President Ron Pyle has defended ASRW’s date change, telling BodyShop Business in December 2009 that the "glamorous" SEMA Show isn’t targeted at the "hardcore professional service and repair market" like ASRW.
"We have a particular niche we’re good at serving. We’re going to be a shop show for any shop that wants to show up. Anyone’s welcome at ASRW who has a real interest in what the end user wants," Pyle told BSB.
Show organizers said that planning is already underway for ASRW 2011, which is slated for Oct. 17-19.
"We extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the loyal vendors, attendees, speakers, participants and supporters for a solid 2010 event," Pyle said. "Thank you for the team effort that went into this year’s event. We look forward to another great event in 2011."
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