How to Prepare to Exhibit at AAPEX 2024: Tips for Exhibitors

With so many automotive aftermarket professionals and vendors, there’s no better place to network in the automotive industry than at AAPEX 2024. This event offers endless networking opportunities and top educational sessions.

Maximize your experience with a stunning booth design from Xibit Solutions. We handle everything from displays to logistics, ensuring you make a lasting impression. Contact us to learn more about our trade show booth design services and make AAPEX 2024 a success.
 

About AAPEX 2024

AAPEX 2024 is a premier event for the global automotive aftermarket industry, taking place from November 5-7 in Las Vegas, NV, at The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum. The show brings together manufacturers, suppliers, and buyers to explore the latest products, technologies, and trends. Attendees can benefit from a variety of educational sessions, product demonstrations, and networking opportunities designed to foster business growth and industry innovation.

AAPEX 2024 Facts and Statistics:

• Date: November 5-7, 2024

• Venue: The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum

• City/State: Las Vegas, NV

• Estimated Number of Exhibitors: Over 2,500

• Sponsor: Co-owned by the Auto Care Association and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers

Who Attends AAPEX?

AAPEX attracts a diverse group of attendees from the global automotive aftermarket industry. The demographics include:

• Manufacturers and Suppliers: Individuals looking to showcase new products and innovations.
• Buyers and Retailers: Professionals seeking to discover and procure the latest automotive parts, accessories, and technology.
• Industry Professionals: Attendees interested in networking, gaining industry insights, and participating in educational sessions.

How to Exhibit at AAPEX?

Application Process:

• Visit the Become an Exhibitor page.
• Complete the application form to secure your booth.
• The deadline for priority placement is Friday, April 12.

Exhibit Booth Pricing:

*ATRA membership pricing is only applicable for the ATRA Powertrain Expo, and NARSA membership pricing is applicable for the Mobile Heat Transfer Section.

For more information, contact Bill Glasgow at billjr@aapexshow.com or (708) 362-5141. Visit AAPEX 2024 for details.
 

Why Exhibit at AAPEX?

Exhibiting at AAPEX 2024 provides numerous advantages:

• Targeted Exposure: Reach the right buyers at the right time, enhancing your visibility in the automotive aftermarket industry.
• Networking Opportunities: Build relationships with key industry decision-makers and professionals.
• Sales Acceleration: Demo your latest products, fostering immediate and future sales opportunities.
• Global Reach: Expand your business presence on a global scale, unlocking new markets and opportunities.

Featured Keynotes

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2024
• Format: Keynote Breakfast and Panel Discussion

Keynote Speaker:

• Erin Andrews: Award-winning sports broadcaster, TV personality, and entrepreneur.

Moderator:

• Kathleen Callahan: Owner of Xpertech Auto Repair.

Panel Discussion:

• Panelists:
  • Ashlee Arnold, Vice President, Arnold Oil Company
  • Brad Beckam, Co-President, CEO, O’Reilly Auto Parts
  • Randy Breaux, Group President, GPC North America
  • Philip Daniele, CEO, AutoZone
  • Shane O’Kelly, President and CEO, Advance Auto Parts

Preparing to Exhibit at AAPEX 2024

Trade show exhibits are a big investment; here’s what you need to make your time successful:

We’ve created this comprehensive Trade Show Preparation Guide, which you download for free, to help you prepare for the show.

Set Clear Goals for Your Trade Show Experience

Asking yourself the following questions can help with this task. Once you have the answers to these questions, you can develop a clear plan to reach your goals and measure your success.

• What do you hope to gain from AAPEX?
• How many attendees do you want to draw in, and how many leads do you want to generate?
• What products do you want to showcase?
• Are you launching a product or promoting your business?

Do Your Research

Although you can’t attend everything, you can maximize your time by putting yourself in reach of your target audience at all times. Focus on the expos and educational events that are most likely to include your target customers so you can put all your attention on those most likely to buy.

Budget and Register for Your Space

When you register for [SHOW NAME], be sure to find out all you can about your space, such as its location on the floor, other exhibitors near you, the typical traffic in the area and what’s included in the space, such as lighting.

Plan Your Exhibit

The last thing you want is a cluttered booth. To plan your exhibit, decide on who you want to reach and what products, demonstrations and promotional materials are best suited to their needs. If you’re targeting multiple audiences, consider the best products to launch or showcase to reach a wide variety of attendees.

Advertise Well in Advance

Trade show promotion should start months in advance. Promote your attendance on social media, your website, in press releases and through email blasts to ensure that your customers have time to plan. Utilize information such as the attendee list to reach new customers before the show even starts.

Tips for Exhibiting at APEX 2024

Plan Early

Secure your booth and prepare your materials well in advance.

Engage on Social Media

Use social media outlets to share your trade show exhibit information, drum up anticipation for your giveaways or product launches and share behind-the-scenes tidbits like your team packing for the event or show meetings. Be sure to use the show’s hashtags or other relevant tagging to get your posts into the online conversation.

Draw the Crowd

Use an interactive display, such as a game, contest or raffle to draw people’s interest to your booth. Giving away prizes through raffles or contests is a great way to collect information about visitors and encourage more traffic to your booth.

Bring Promotional Materials

Make sure you devote enough of your budget to an array of promotional materials. You should have order forms, business cards, price sheets, brochures, flyers and more that you can hand out to visitors to ensure you stay in their minds.

Keep Staff at Your Booth

At a show, you’ll want to attend networking events and educational seminars, so it’s important to make sure that your booth is never empty. When you’re preparing for the show, ensure you have enough team members attending the show to man the booth the entire time the show is open and greet visitors to engage them with your business.

Follow up With Attendees

Following up with your leads is almost as important as planning for the show itself. Take notes during the event to be sure you remember everyone in all the chaos, and take the time to note any opportunities for a smoother event experience in the future.

Planning on Exhibiting at AAPEX 2024?

With so many automotive aftermarket professionals and vendors, there’s no better place to network in the automotive aftermarket industry than at AAPEX 2024. This event not only provides endless opportunities for networking and business relationships, but it also features some of the top educational sessions in the field.

If you’re planning to attend, be sure you make the most of your experience and investment with a stunning booth design that showcases your brand. At Xibit Solutions, we specialize in creating a professional booth experience from start to finish, including show displays and logistics, to ensure you make a lasting impression. No matter your budget or needs, we’ll help you make your mark on the AAPEX with customized planning and designs.

Contact Xibit Solutions today to learn more about our trade show booth design services and see what we can do to make the AAPEX a success.