The SEMA Show

Thanks to my involvement with SEMA, I get an exclusive view of the automotive industry’s largest trade show. The show has always carried a great deal of mystique, as it is not open to the public. Instead, only people who work in the automotive industry are allowed access to the SEMA Show, making it a bucket list item for car enthusiasts around the world. The beauty of the event in today’s technological climate, is that people can enjoy the show from the comfort of their homes. The internet is packed full of SEMA Show coverage from the thousands of media outlets on hand, in addition to the coverage that participating companies post to their social media accounts.

Although the coverage is extensive, nothing can replicate the feeling of actually attending the SEMA Show. Whether you’re there as a buyer, a member of the media or as a vendor, this event is overwhelming in the best kind of way. At SEMA, we’ve coined the phrase, “Success Starts Here” and it’s an accurate representation of the impact that the SEMA Show can have on businesses and individuals. Even though that phrase is in reference to the largest automotive trade show, we know that success really comes from the heart, and that’s what you’ll see the most at the SEMA Show. You’ll see the heart that goes into every booth, you’ll see the heart that goes into every vehicle on display, and you’ll see the heart of every buyer walking the aisles in search of the next best thing to offer their customers.

In my position as CEO of Legendary Companies (parent company of Coker Tire, Wheel Vintiques and others), I see that the SEMA Show offers the perfect avenue for our companies to debut new products, and continue relationships with our suppliers, clients and customers. It takes a huge effort from our sales, marketing, facilities and distribution teams, as they all play a part in the assembly and planning of our SEMA Show presence. I love to watch the different departments at Coker Tire come together to build and promote great products, and the SEMA Show is an excellent place to show off these efforts.

My position with SEMA gives me a different perspective than that of Legendary Companies CEO, but from either vantage point, it brings me great joy to see the event unfold each year. It’s more than just a business--it’s a passion that lights a fire in the industry, and when you see the cumulative effort of all these companies, it’s truly amazing. It’s something that photos, video or even live coverage cannot accurately convey. I’m honored to be associated with the SEMA Show at such an extensive level, and I’m excited to see the automotive aftermarket industry continuing to grow. A healthy automotive aftermarket industry often results in healthy car value trends, and I couldn’t be happier to be a small cog in the gears that keep this hobby rolling.