SEMA 2009
Posted: November 6, 2009 Filed under: Personal Interests Leave a comment »Welcome to SEMA
So, instead of some of my typical material relating to marketing activity on my blog, I’ll provide a snapshot into one of my personal passions, through a bit of a marketing lens.
As a car enthusiast there is no place better than to be at SEMA. And this year was no different. While it was my first SEMA and I was told the exhibitor list was down significantly from previous years, SEMA still boasted 1600 exhibitors and plenty of industry attendees.
I was the fortunate guest of SEMA, who was conducting a research effort around those who are automotive enthusiasts as well as active social media participants.
From Ford to Foose and Callaway to CyberClean, there was plenty of everything a carburated or fuel injected red-blooded american automotive lover could find. From eco-friendly electronic Progressive Insurance sponsored “vehicles” to 40 inches of truck rising tires – there was more than enough for everyone. And plenty of tired feet covering the 3.2 million square feet of LVCC (mine included).
This year’s theme: Wrap It Up, I’ll Take It (the Fabulous Thunderbird’s remake springs to mind).
Car wraps are becoming a big business. There were wraps designed to change the entire look of a car to wrapping just a panel to look as if it was carbon fiber to wraps (looking more like packing tape) designed to ”protect the car from bugs and the like “ just to transport it” to wraps that effectively serve as an ”invisible bra“ (thankfully no more 80’s style black flapping nose pieces). Wraps were everywhere.
I had seen car wraps before, but was quite surprised that this had grown to become the business it was. Easy enough to understand when you consider the cost discrepancy between a complete custom paint job and a wrap. Wraps can cost anywhere from $1500 – $4000. Still not cheap, but considering the fact that so many of today’s tuners want to personalize their vehicles and that wrapping allows them to change that look at a later time (yes, wraps are removable), it’s a great approach.
The quality of the wraps also continues to improve and i suspect will continue to do so for the next year or so. The process of wrapping a car is no small task and not to be undertaken by the DIY’er on a Saturday afternoon. Doing a single panel is one thing, but a complete car is entirely another. I watched three professionals wrap a Mustang and that took them the better part of a day. As you’ll see, having a second pair of hands was critical to pulling, pinching, cutting and heating the wrap to make the look almost paint like. <a href=”“>Wrapping a Mustang
It’ll be interesting to watch this category within the auto aftermarket industry.
So wraps are great, but not to be forgotten is the fact there are some incredibly talented artists still out there. This clip of some of that work is simply astonishing. <a href=”“>Motorcyle? or Art?
Could wraps for bikes be far behind?
Coming up Next: Camaro – Thou Hast Returned in All Your Glory.
