The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) is reporting "record-setting levels of growth" for the Collision Repair and Refinish section of the 2011 SEMA Show slated for Nov. 1-4 in Las Vegas.
"We’re thrilled with how the 2011 show has shaped up in terms of both content and overall attendance," said SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg. "Working with SEMA and show management to heighten the focus and experience for collision repairers has certainly helped grow the repairer’s footprint in the show. The pre-registration numbers alone substantiate the collision repair industry’s desire to have repairers, vendors, educators and industry groups under one roof, while retaining the ability to capitalize on the ample opportunities for repairers that are generated by SCRS and the SEMA Show."
Following are some facts about the growth the collision industry has seen in the show compiled by SCRS:
In 2010, over 10,000 attendees at the SEMA Show identified themselves as working for a principle business in the collision repair or paint, body and equipment markets, and the show has already seen a 44 percent increase in year-to-date (YTD) attendee registrations.
The Repairer Driven Education (RDE) series developed by SCRS has an over 300 percent larger registration number than the debut year, not counting any on-site or additional pre-show sales over the next two weeks.
In addition to education that can be purchased with show registration, there is also free education available to attendees in select areas of the Collision Repair and Refinish Section. Both I-CAR and SCRS have developed 45-minute education sessions featuring everything from new vehicle technology to utilization of social media in business, and the sessions will be held at the Collision Repair and Refinish Stage in the North Hall.
The size of the Collision Repair and Refinish section has increased by nearly 26 percent YTD, with numbers increasing on a daily basis as exhibitor contracts continue to be submitted. Everything from paint manufacturers to paint equipment supply companies, welding manufacturers to manufacturers and distributors of frame equipment and information providers to OE manufacturers are represented on the show floor. Also, there will be 60 first-time exhibitors.
The SEMA Show also attracts some of the biggest names in the industry, SCRS notes, and the Collision Repair and Refinish section has drawn in appearances from well-known automotive celebrities such as Charley Hutton, Chip Foose and Rich Evans. Appearances and speaking engagements can be found in the SEMA Show Daily.
Those looking for meetings and networking opportunities can find nearly every collision repair-related group meeting in conjunction with the SEMA Show, SCRS noted. Groups such as the Collision Industry Conference (CIC), I-CAR, SCRS, National Auto Body Council (NABC), OEM Collision Repair Roundtable, Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) and the Collision Industry Foundation have all planned meetings and functions at the show.
"In many ways, the show is a direct reflection of the industry," said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA VP of events and communications. "The confidence that the collision industry has in the 2011 SEMA Show has really been demonstrated by the reaction and the unprecedented growth in participation. We couldn’t be more pleased to embrace the influx of collision repairers, and the caliber of content SCRS and others have brought to our show on their behalf."
More information:
SCRS RDE Program
SEMA Show