Eager to mingle, business leaders push indoor safety and responsibly

Eager state governments and city officials in May began yellow-lighting the intentions that they are prepared to remove the barriers to indoor gatherings. Las Vegas, the nation's trade show mecca, is green-lighting all industries whose convention centers can handle packed crowds. Like so many business leaders who are regaining their footing, people ask what 100 percent in-person settings will mean for the automotive aftermarket.

"We follow the Center for Disease Controls guidelines," said Sue Asu Sole, vice president of ISC Industries. Vast swathes of the country are cranking open the doors to allow public gatherings like New Jersey, where Sole currently works at the Carlstadt corporate headquarters, nine miles west of New York City. Virtual meetings have served their purpose, suggested Sole, ready to reenter public spaces so long as the host site enforces all safety protocols. "If they're all vaccinated, and we follow the CDC guidelines, I don't see why not. I mean it's all personal choice of course, about going back to gatherings."

On May 1, Nevada governor Steve Sislolack handed Las Vegas full COVID-19 oversight, and the event promoters wasted no time telling the media that they want the convention-goers back. The aftermarket's trade show planners for SEMA and AAPEX quickly began accepting registrations for its annual homecoming starting November 2.

Yet undeniably — as this article went to press — the contrasts are unmistakable. Namely, the CDC has yet declared victory over the pandemic. Through mid-May, coronavirus cases have steadily been dropping. Vaccination rates have inched upward with the goal that 160 million Americans will have received a COVID shot by Independence Day. However, the nation remains short of the herd immunity level that would effectively halt further infections. And with other variants present, it's unclear how the pandemic rules may apply and whether indoor mask-wearing would be enforced.

Next to a free downloadable phone app called "COVID Trace," the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority assured the public in its press release that their health and safety measures around cleaning and sanitation will keep everyone safe.

Confident that they can reinforce that promise, the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), jointly owned by the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association, foresees a modified backtobusiness atmosphere. Given the unfolding CDC health announcements that change almost daily, Liz Goad, director of events for AASA, says that the team intends to pivot leading up to opening day on November 2. "We're working with the venues in Las Vegas to determine the best safety protocols to put in place. We will be following what the hotels, the city of Las Vegas, and the CDC guidelines that are there for us."

Meanwhile, SEMA continues to track the authority's handling of the pandemic. Tom Gattuso, vice president of events, said in an e-mail to Aftermarket Businss World, "If there is one thing we have learned in the last year, it's that we don't know what the landscape will look like in a few months, and that things can change instantly. We are closely monitoring the overall situation and working with officials in Las Vegas and will make decisions based on the best interest of the industry and show attendees. Our primary focus is on delivering a safe and productive in-person event where the industry will be able to do business. We plan to announce updates in advance so that participants have time to plan and prepare."

For that reason, the two trade groups are betting that a pent-up urge to come out of hibernation will result in a roaring comeback. To attract a video conference-fatigued industry to the show floor, AAPEX will feature a hands-on "Repair Shop HQ" theme to demonstrate the requirements of the automotive service providers. The expanded format moved the international exhibitors to the Caesars Forum Conference Center from the nearby Sands Expo. Historically, AAPEX typically draws roughly 163,000 attendees.

Hopeful yet tentative, Jacki Lutz, head of global communications for Sensata Technologies, suspects a transitional 2021 will play out for the industry. Budgetary travel cutbacks, less so than the hesitancy over becoming exposed to catching the virus, may force some companies to sit out a conference or a trade show until next year. Lutz said, "I struggle believing that a lot of companies on a wide scale would have the budgets to be able to send people at the capacity that they might have in 2019."

Despite rumors about some businesses staying home, Sensata intends to make the most out of AAPEX. Even though the environment this November may differ from previous events, the sensor manufacturer has doubled their booth size at the vendor hall. And they are hoping to capitalize on untapped business opportunities. "Knowing going in that it might not be the same show as what we're used to for many reasons, we are going in there with high hopes that we're going to have a good turnout, hold productive meetings, and meet some new people and potential customers," said Lutz.

Dan Hanson, the CEO of Hanson Distributing, has invited back his suppliers at the Azusa office complex with COVID-19 contact tracing protocols in place. By no means, insists Hanson, does he dismiss the health risks in California where the state intends to lift restrictions by June 15, the week before he heads to the California Automotive Wholesaler Association summit in San Diego.

Hanson believes that given the diminishing rate of infections and on the condition that everyone properly sets a distance with face coverings, the ebbing health crisis needn't handcuff the industry to video meetings, which have a limited effect on accomplishing matters of importance.

"Especially for something like CAWA where you have committee meetings, which is also true for the Auto Care Association, it's much easier to have open discussions that are more organic and deeper when you're in person. I just found that online meetings tend to make a far more passive audience."

Open to shoulder-to-shoulder interactions and ready for AAPEX, Hanson is optimistic that an inoculated aftermarket will be confident to mingle indoors by November. A Zoom viewing, believes Hanson, cannot possibly match interactive events as large as AAPEX because it destroys the networking, which is indispensable with the aftermarket. "A virtual AWDA isn't nearly as good as an in-person AWDA. Everything is a step removed, even if you are looking at yourself on the screen. And frankly, I fear that the spontaneity and energy would be lost."