Driving networking and business opportunities, AAPEX is the place to be

The place to see and be seen, and to buy and sell, AAIW is comprised of the Oct. 30-Nov. 1 AAPEX – the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo – at the Sands Exposition and Convention Center, and the concurrent Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center; your attendee badge is valid for both venues.

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Produced by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) and Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), “AAPEX drives new business throughout the global automotive aftermarket and is the premier event for new products, business solutions, the latest innovation, extensive education and exceptional networking,” says Arlene Davis, AAIA’s senior director of meetings and events.

With so many industry leaders gathering all in one place, “You can reach all of the key decision makers in your target market,” she points out. AAPEX features more than 2,200 exhibitors manning an array of 4,900 booths. Some 30-plus educational sessions aimed at aftermarket retailers, warehouse distributors, jobbers, repairers, suppliers and other industry professionals are also being conducted.

AAPEX allows you to view and source products, services and equipment proffered by both domestic and international suppliers.

Categories on display include air conditioning; automotive lighting; electrical systems and batteries; cooling systems; friction and brake systems; undercar new and remanufactured replacement parts; suspension and front end; engine and transmission parts; appearance chemicals and functional fluids; equipment and tools (including diagnostic, hand tools, machine shop and service/installation); computer systems and software; paint and body; and retail/warehouse fixtures.

The amount of registered buyers at last year’s overall AAIW was up by 17 percent over 2010’s figures; 44,695 were from the U.S., and 15,056 arrived from overseas. “These buyers represent billions of dollars in buying power,” according to Davis.

APPEX attendance among auto parts retailers rose 24 percent, while the volume of independent repair shops represented was up 38.5 percent. Participation by program groups increased 60 percent, and the presence of WDs grew by 15.2 percent.

AAPEX 2011 had 2,292 exhibitors, 230 more than in 2010. Both floors of the Sands Expo Center were filled with a total of 4,984 booths, amounting to a boost of 540 displays.

“We’re under construction at the Sands this year, so it will be important for people to pay attention to the signage,” says Davis, describing a series of bold graphic treatments and attractive color schemes. Some of the specific category sites within the hall have been altered, but they will be easy to find.

Two more interactive touchscreen “You Are Here” kiosks will be gracing the show floor, and the units have been augmented with expanded informational capabilities based on requests from previous attendees and exhibitors. “One of the biggest things we have is that buyers will be able to search by brand,” she reports, making it easier to track down the items that you are most interested in seeing.

Replacing the former restaurant sites on the show floor will be Internet Cafés with WiFi access.

AAPEX organizers are also on top of the social media aspect. Well over 14,000 “likes” have been clicked on the Facebook page, and Davis encourages attendees to communicate with each other prior to the event – facilitating new connections that will last for years to come.

“This year marks the 20th anniversary as AAPEX, and we’ll be posting exciting information to mark the occasion,” she reports. Key avenues of social media communication can be found at www.facebook.com/AAPEXShow, www.twitter.com/@AAPEXShow and www.linkedin.com.

With the presidential balloting happening shortly after the concluding convention center move-out, Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, will be steering “a lively dialogue” about the campaigns at Wednesday’s AAIA Town Hall at the Venetian Hotel. McAuliffe is to be joined on the platform by Dan Bartlett, former counselor to President George W. Bush.

“The timing of the AAIA Town Hall, just one week before the presidential election, is a great opportunity to hear from two well-known and entertaining political pundits about their thoughts on who will win, why and what it will mean to our industry, the economy and our lives,” reports AAIA President and CEO Kathleen Schmatz.

“Preceding the political discussion will be Polk President Tim Rogers, back by popular demand to present the ‘Ten Trends in Ten Minutes,’” she adds.

“We are very excited to hear from Danielle Russell of Google,” continues Schmatz, “who will share exclusive data about aftermarket shopper behavior and what they have learned about the impact of consumers keeping their vehicles longer.”

Kicking off the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) Business & Education Conference at the Venetian on Saturday will be a program featuring eBay Motors discussing “the challenges and opportunities for aftermarket e-tailing.”

Produced by the University of the Aftermarket for AWDA, eBay Motors’ Anson Tse will keynote the session by providing a detailed look at the demographics of online buyers. He will also discuss eBay’s perspective on future opportunities for traditional parts sellers engaged in online commerce.

“Historically, the briefing had been held on Sunday during the AWDA conference, but this year, the date of the briefing was moved to Saturday to accommodate additional one-on-one meeting slots, and to provide top-level executives with an education and networking opportunity when they arrive in Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon,” says AWDA chairman Bill Maggs.

Seminar attendees will receive 0.2 continuing education units (CEUs) toward their Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) or Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) certificates from the University of the Aftermarket.

Also at the Venetian, AAIA’s first-ever Aftermarket Telematics Challenge will be recognizing the most innovative and commercially viable example of vehicle connectivity technology being demonstrated at Thursday’s AAPEX Learning Series seminar entitled, “Yes: The Aftermarket Can Do Telematics.”

The submissions will be evaluated by an independent panel of judges that will assess the value and relevance to the aftermarket parts and service channel, the use made of industry standards and best practices, and the economic viability and potential for commercial success.

“We want to smoke out some of the clever development work that is going on today in the areas of telematics and vehicle connectivity,” says Scott Luckett, AAIA’s chief information officer.

“Technology that empowers consumers with an alternative to embedded OE telematics is what we’re going to identify. We want to celebrate the best and most innovative applications of technology to the connected vehicle challenge,” he explains.

“At AAPEX in 2010 and 2011, AAIA produced the Shop of Tomorrow demonstration, which featured a model for remote vehicle diagnostics and connectivity between the service shop, the vehicle and the necessary parts and service information in the Cloud,” says Luckett. “In 2012, developers from IT and aftermarket companies, large and small, are invited to show off what they’ve been working on and clearly demonstrate that aftermarket telematics solutions are here, today.”

Sampling the eye candy

Your AAPEX attendee badge is also valid to take in the custom and competition vehicles, parts and accessories that make up the “eye candy” element and educational aspects of the concurrent SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

As SEMA hosts nearly 2,000 manufacturers exhibiting throughout the event, a special site set aside for debut displays is again on the menu.

“Last year’s First-Time and Featured Exhibitors Section proved to be successful at connecting attendees with new exhibitors,” observes Peter MacGillivray, SEMA’s vice president of events and communications. “Buyers will again be able to meet with new exhibitors quickly and easily, while conveniently stopping by the New Products Showcase at the same time.”

Recognizing the top trend-setting vehicle models, the 2012 SEMA Awards will be announced and presented at the event.

“Each year, automakers come out with new and amazing models,” notes SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting, adding that the exhibitors invest significant resources and time in developing products for the most promising new models.

“The SEMA Award is a one-of-a-kind award that recognizes the vehicle models that SEMA exhibitors expect will be the major trend-setters for the year ahead,” Kersting says.

“SEMA Show exhibitors are among the true visionaries of the industry,” he adds. “The decision to display their newest products on a particular new model is a statement about what they see as the year’s hottest new cars and trucks.” The event typically includes more than 700 qualified booth vehicles.

Of the 60,000 buyers that are usually in attendance each year, one-in-four indicates that they are interested in powersports products. As a result, a dedicated Powersports & Utility Vehicle section was introduced in 2010.

“Because the SEMA Show represents all segments of the automotive parts and accessories industry, it’s the ideal venue for businesses to discover new trends and identify new markets,” says MacGillivray. “The powersports market is closely tied to many of the SEMA Show’s core segments. As a result, many exhibitors and buyers have expanded and found great success in the area.”

For more information, visit www.aapexshow.com, www.aftermarket.org and www.SEMAShow.com.