Serving as Agency of Record for the Aftermarket’s Largest Trade Association

Who Is SEMA?

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is the leading association behind the $52 billion automotive aftermarket, uniting manufacturers, resellers, builders and enthusiasts under one voice to move the industry forward and foster the success of the automotive aftermarket. Beyond assisting its over 7,500 members in growing their businesses and its legislative efforts to protect the industry, SEMA also hosts the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the largest gathering of the automotive aftermarket, which regularly attracts over 100,000 attendees. 

The Challenge

Well-known and regarded in the automotive industry, SEMA tapped Kahn Media to expand its reach beyond the annual SEMA Show and help establish SEMA as a trusted voice on various topics for both automotive and mainstream media. As SEMA has assumed a more prominent role in government lobbying and advocacy, it has also utilized Kahn Media to support its strategy, pitch stories and secure interview placements on key topics affecting the automotive industry.

Our Strategy

To cultivate and grow SEMA’s position as a thought leader at the helm of the $52 billion aftermarket industry, Kahn Media has prioritized messaging for SEMA and monitored key moments in the news cycle to pitch SEMA voices for inclusion in podcasts, news stories, and endemic and non-edemic outlets.

Key Steps Taken

• Worked closely with the SEMA Government team around key legislation announcements, including EV mandates to include SEMA’s voice as an expert in coverage on these topics.
• Placed SEMA leadership on auto-endemic and related podcasts to position them as true enthusiasts and experts in the industry.
• Assembled and guided hosted media trips to the SEMA Show to bring new media to the show for on-site experiences with SEMA leadership and companies.

The Results

SEMA’s presence in industry outlets and podcasts was stronger than ever over the last year, and its stance on issues is visible throughout the industry. With aggressive pitching to a wide variety of podcasts and media outlets, SEMA executives were exposed to diverse audiences on a range of topics, particularly highlighting the work SEMA does beyond its eponymous show. By leveraging SEMA executives with diverse interests and areas of expertise, we have helped SEMA establish itself as a go-to resource and option for interviews and thought leadership for a broader range of media outlets.