Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week Attendance Shatters Record

More than 117,000 people attended the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) exhibitions, shattering record attendance numbers from 2003 by 12,000, according to show organizers.
AAIW is comprised of the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) and the SEMA Show, and represents the $250 billion aftermarket.
Most significant to the more than 38,00 exhibiting companies at AAIW is the 20 percent increase in buyers attending the shows an all-time high attendance of 59,476. "Our exhibitors reported not only an increase in the number of buyers, but in the number of decision-makers attending the show," said Bill Glasgow Sr. of W.T. Glasgow Inc., AAPEX show manager. "The quality of attendees this year furthers our reputation as the aftermarket show where business is done," he added.
This year marked the inaugural year of the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) being held in conjunction with AAIW. NACE organizers reported total attendance of 30,243 in 2004, representing a 26 percent increase over the previous year. NACE experienced a 13 percent growth with more than 500 companies occupying 2,000 booths.
This year also marked another milestone for the AAIW shows 90% of attendees pre-registered online, an all-time high.