BoothWorks

Show me.

That’s what expo attendees silently yet implicitly declare as they walk the aisles at any trade show. And they expect the exhibitors that line those aisles to deliver.

Most often, exhibitors quietly display their products and have their booth team members step forward to explain, demonstrate and promote their product array.

There are many exhibitors that also present more dynamically, with music, lights, sounds, video, attractive models, charismatic personalities and such, to capture the attendees’ attention.

Restyling asked its SEMA Show exhibitors what they might have going on in their booths — beyond a usual display of products: something with a little extra added attraction; maybe daily How-To demos; maybe a special personality signing photographs; perhaps a special in-booth prize giveaway or contest; maybe a project vehicle.

Here is a sampling of some of those added attractions.

	Sharpline Converting Wichita, Kan. Booth #12145 Film @ 11 ... and other times Sharpline Converting Inc. will be providing product demonstrations of its DuraShield+ paint protection films during the 2010 SEMA Show. The demonstrations will be conducted on a special vehicle on display in our booth located in the Restyling and Car Care Accessories section in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The display vehicle is the 2011 RPO Series L/48 Camaro SS in Synergy Green Metallic, built by Performance West Group.

Skyjacker Suspensions West Monroe, La. Booth #35109 Celebrity, plus Willie Robertson (right) of the TV show The Buck Commander (airing on the Outdoor Channel) will be making an appearance and signing autographs on Wednesday, Nov. 3, in the Skyjacker booth. Buck Commander is a fascinating hybrid between compelling, reality, character-driven television and heart-pumping hunting action. Outdoor Channel viewers have flocked to see the wild antics, pranks and spur-of-the-moment events of this Buck Commander group led by Willie, and comprised of Major League Baseball players Chipper Jones, Ryan Langerhans, Adam LaRoche and other “Buckmen.” Come by and check out the Skyjacker booth to meet and greet Willie and to take a look at all the Skyjacker products. We will also have Billy Bretherton, of the A&E hit TV show Billy the Exterminator signing autographs in our booth on Thursday Nov. 4. The show follows Billy and Vexcon, the zaniest pest removal company on the planet, as he and his family members are called to take care of Louisiana’s worst pest problems. Billy and the Vexcon crew drive Toyota Tundras outfitted with the finest aftermarket accessories including our 3” Skyjacker Performance Strut kits. Be sure to come by and meet Billy the Exterminator.

	Leer Elkhart, Ind. Booth # 31095 Celebrate, celebrate As part of TAG, Truck Accessories Group, Leer is using the SEMA Show to launch a year-long celebration of its 40th anniversary. Authorized Leer dealers who visit the booth will see and hear how the Leer 40-year legacy of quality, innovation and style will be focused into retail and wholesale promotional celebrations that will reinforce bonds with current customers and reach out to new ones. Dealers and other Accessory insiders will be treated to the debut of a revamped and improved version of the popular Leer 550 Tonneau that incorporates a list of enhancements dealers and their customers suggested.

Bestop Broomfield, Colo. Booth #30033 School’s in session Bestop is doing something really cool this year. We are having Fab School out of Riverside, Calif., design all of our product displays. As a 56-year plus manufacturer, Bestop was looking for a way to do something new and help out the community in any way that we could. Fab School is a private vocational/occupational trade school specializing in the skilled craft of metal fabrication. They accept students from all over the United States, as well as having a program for military vets using the Montgomery G.I bill. With the hands-on experience the students will receive working with a company like Bestop it’s a win-win for all of us. The booth will be a one-of-a-kind due to these displays. The only thing not in the booth made by Fab School will be Bestop’s personnel and the vehicles.

	Restyling magazine Broomfield, Colo. Booth #20959 [listed under National Business Media] RestylingTV Restyling magazine has got its game face on, too. And we got game — a new game: Check out our latest videos running throughout the day (we’ll be shooting more at the show, too!). When you stop by to chat, ask questions, offer comments, watch our “RestylingTV,” we’ll have a hot-off-the press issue that showcases products you’ll want to look for: Use our special expo Showcase to see what those products are, then visit those suppliers. We’re located where we were last year, in the Racing & Performance area in the Central Hall with our partner publication Performance Business. We’re on a corner.

Pace Edwards Centralia, Wash. Booth #31095 Real-time online Retractable truck bed cover maker, Pace Edwards, is using its SEMA display to help dealers, jobbers, and installers explore the power of the new Pace Edwards website. Using real-time online access to the site, Pace Edwards’ sales representatives will show everyone who represents the Pace Edwards line how they can combine in-store sales techniques and point-of-purchase displays with online resources to find new sales and profit opportunities that satisfy the needs of their retail customers. Additionally, fellow Truck Accessories Group members, Raider Industries, showcasing its Vagabond Elite fiberglass cap, and Century Truck Caps, with its re-launched Cargo Cover tonneau, will occupy the same booth area.

	MacNeil Automotive Downers Grove, Ill. Booth #30101 From window to floor MacNeil Automotive, maker of WeatherTech has installation demos on tap for its TechFloor™ Floor Tile (above/right) and Side Window Deflector. Similar to all the products in the WeatherTech line, the TechFloor is manufactured in a two-shot process that makes it possible for the floor tiles to be made of a ridged plastic material for strength and a softer rubber material to give the tiles traction and to hold them in place. Installation techniques will be shown by request between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the WeatherTech booth in the South Hall, Upper Level. Booth personnel also will be providing in-channel Side Window Deflectors installation techniques by request between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Retro USA Burnsville, Minn. Booth #12165 Vote for ‘retro-look’ Vote for your favorite retro car from an exciting lineup of a Bullitt Mustang, Challenger and Camaro in Retro USA’s booth. A winner will be drawn every day an hour before show close. A special unveiling of Retro’s chromed-out Challenger and Camaro also will take place at the show’s opening.

	3M Automotive St. Paul, Minn. Booth #11911 Demos, celebs, prize drawings 3M’s booth will be bigger and better than ever, with special pricing promotions, celebrity appearances and prize drawings. Stop by and watch ongoing demos for paint protection film, window tint, headlight lens restoration, vehicle graphics wraps, lead-free wheel weights, abrasives and waxes, welding helmets, ear protection products and more.

Avery Dennison Mentor, Ohio Booth 11839 Wrap ’em up Avery Dennison is partnering with Mutoh with vehicle wrap demos by Justin Pate and Todd LaBrie using Avery MPI 1005 Supercast Easy Apply RS and DOL 1360 Gloss overlaminate. Demos conducted throughout the show. Also, a car wrapped with Avery Graphics vinyl by SkinzWraps of Dallas will be highlighted in Epson’s booth #12735.

	Tough Country El Campo, Texas Booth #30169 Gift basket Tough Country says to stop by its booth to learn more about its manufacturing process, options, and dealer incentives, and enter to win a "Texas gift basket" during presentations given at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 3; at noon on Thursday, Nov. 4; and at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5.

Truck Covers USA San Diego Booth #34107 Daylong hands-on demos Stop by Truck Covers USA for our hands-on demonstrations all day, every day, at the show, using our roll covers, toolboxes, racks and auto accessories; the covers are designed and engineered for heavy users, fleets and truck lovers who just want to play.

	Classic Design Concepts Novi, Mich. Booth #23565 A hot ‘Hero’ car See the FireBreather Hero car from the upcoming supernatural thriller “Jinn,” that will share the booth with Classic Design Concepts. We’re in the Racing & Performance area of the Central Hall. FireBreather starts its life as a Camaro. We also will have in the booth a Mustang with our “bread & butter” components on it.

Eagle Enterprises Wichita, Kan. Booth #12336 PPF demos We will be doing demos for paint protection film three times a day (times not set at publication date). Stop by the booth and we'll be glad to show you how it's done.

	Quiet Ride Solutions Stockton, Calif. Booth #23597 Be quiet Quiet Ride Solutions will bring the 1953 GMC AcoustiTruck to Hotrod Alley at the 2010 SEMA Show to demonstrate the company’s AcoustiShield auto insulation products and firewall insulators. Customers will be able to see, touch, hear and “feel” the impact that sound dampening and insulation can have on the passenger cabin environment.

Warrior Products Tualatin, Ore. Booth #33113 Videos and project trucks If you’re coming by Warrior Products’ booth to check out the project trucks, don’t forget to spend a few minutes watching our demo videos we’ll be running on our plasma screen; our booth location is the upper level of the South Hall. We’ll also have staff from our design, customer service and Web departments there to help new and existing customers with anything they might need, such as what will be featured on our 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser, introducing our new full-scale FJ Cruiser accessory line. And, then, there’s the 2010 Jeep Wrangler JK.

	Mickey Thompson Tires Stow, Ohio Booth No. 43021 Car Art Renowned hotrod celebrity and CARtoons™ artist Kenny Youngblood will make a guest appearance at the Mickey Thompson booth. Youngblood will be on site on Wednesday, Nov. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will be available to sign autographs and customize CARtoons for event attendees. Youngblood’s artwork has been admired and sought by collectors worldwide, and his illustrations have been featured in numerous automotive industry magazines. Make plans to stop by and meet Kenny Youngblood at the Mickey Thompson booth during your visit to the SEMA Show.

Superlift Suspension Systems West Monroe, La. Booth #31123 Matchbox Jeep and ‘The California Kid’s Older Brother’ We are working on several cool projects. One project we are working on is with Mattel and, if approved, this will be our second Mattel project. The first was a custom 2009 Ford F150 displayed in Ford’s booth last year at SEMA. A 1:64 scale replica of the F150 was released as part of Hot Wheels 2009 Mainline offerings. This time we are working on a completely custom, one-of-a kind Jeep that will be displayed in the Superlift booth. If all goes well, it will be put into the 2011 or 2012 Matchbox product line as a 1:64 die-cast model. We might [not guaranteed, though] have a limited amount of them to hand out at our booth located in the Off-Road section of the Upper South Hall. At this time not all of the details have been worked out, so it’s not definitive whether the Jeep will make it or not. So come by and find out first-hand. Another project we are working on is the introduction to the world of the “The California Kid’s Older Brother.” (“The California Kid” is a ’34 Ford hot rod, three-window coupe that was built by Pete Chapouris in 1973 and used in a 1974 “Movie of the Week” starring Martin Sheen called The California Kid, which is where the car got its name.) The car we are building is a ’33 Ford hot rod three-window coupe that was built in the very early 1980s while sitting next to the California Kid and sharing all of its measurements. Our car started out to be a brother to the Kid, but was never fully developed into such. Mike Martin, Superlift’s lead engineer, offroad suspension guru and lifelong hot rod fanatic purchased the ’33 about 12 years ago when he found it at a show. He knew instantly that the “chop” on it had to make it related to the “Kid.” For one reason or another the car never was completed to be the Kid’s older brother, but just another (totally awesome) car show hot rod. We are helping Mike fulfill a dream and paying homage to one of the (if not the) most famous hot rods of all time and returning his car to what it was always meant to be — the Kid’s Older Brother. We are sure that only experts will be able to distinguish the two when finished. We have invited Jerry Slover (current owner of the actual California Kid), and Pete Chapouris (the builder and original owner of The California Kid) to come out to SEMA and give us their opinion on our tribute to the Kid. Who knows, Mr. Slover might even bring the Kid out to SEMA, as well, so we can photograph them together, along with their owners.