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SEMA 2006 October 31 to November 3, 2006–Education Week October 30 to November 2 Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

The SEMA Show portion of Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week has grown to be the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world.

It has become the prime place for new products to be launched and new trends to be noticed.

In addition, the SEMA show provides attendees with educational seminars, product demonstrations, special events, networking opportunities, and more.

For jobbers and retailers, the most significant opportunities this year, apart from the obvious purchasing, could be the vast training and seminar schedule.

“SEMA members from every market segment have told us that in addition to the trendy new products and abundance of business opportunities with manufacturers, educational seminars are a primary reason they attend the SEMA Show. They’re professionals looking for new and innovative ways to grow their business,” says Peter MacGillivray, vice president, marketing and communications for the Specialty Equipment Market Association, which organizes the event.

The 2006 SEMA Education Week, October 30 to November 2, will focus on a number of key topics emphasizing what is most important to retailers and other automotive specialty equipment entrepreneurs who want to grow their business.

Topics include:

* Marketing, advertising, and public relations techniques that will draw customers and increase sales.

* Management and leadership skills that will help executives lead teams to achieving unmatched business advantages.

* How to make the most of the Internet and other new technologies to increase sales and attract more customers.

* Tips for increasing customer traffic through visual merchandising.

* Increasing sales through outstanding customer service.

Two highly anticipated seminars include “Internet Marketing: Strategies that Result in Rapid-Fire Successes” and “Seven Habits of Highly Effective Leaders.”

The first, which focuses on taking advantage of the Internet and new technology, will be presented by Debbie Allen of Allen & Associates Consulting, Inc. Allen has built and sold six companies, and her acute business sense, contagious enthusiasm, positive energy, and fun sense of humour make her a dynamic presenter. She is the author of four books, including the award-winning “Confessions of Shameless Self Promoters,” which is now published in five countries.

“Seven Habits of Highly Effective Leaders,” a two-part series presented by Randy Nelson of Franklin Covey, aims to provide tips and tools for strengthening personal and interpersonal leadership skills with the principles of character and competence to improve effectiveness. It will also provide tools for arriving at win-win outcomes with team members and others, resolving conflicts quickly, achieving better results through true synergy, and managing priorities on a daily and weekly basis. Prior to being a senior consultant with Franklin Covey, Nelson spent 29 years with AT&T in positions focused on sales and marketing.

Nancy Friedman, also known as “The Telephone Doctor,” is another one of the dynamic and entertaining speakers at this year’s show. When “Oprah,” “The Today Show,” Fox News and CNN need an expert on customer service and communication, they call on her. Friedman will be featured in two seminars: “The Seven Touch Points of Miscommunica-tion: E-mail, Phone, Fax, Snail Mail and Face-to-Face,” and “Why Customers Leave: Ten Things Customers Won’t Tell You about Why They Left Your Business.”

Other notable speakers include Frank Acuff of the American Management Association, who will lead a seminar entitled “Negotiating to Win In Your Toughest Sales Negotiations”; and Dick Bonar of Dale Carnegie, who will show attendees “How to Build and Motivate an Effective Team.”

SEMA Education Week will also present numerous technical workshops providing in-depth discussion on new technologies, products, and OEM components.

For more information, visit www.semashow.com.