LA 2010 – Day 2 Trend Summary

Well, we are finally back in Michigan after a great week in Southern California visiting friends, customers and the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show.  The good news? The weather here has been awesome since we returned.  The bad news?  None, really.  The show was great and our customer visits all went well.  It seems the auto industry is rediscovering its mojo and there were many great new vehicle introductions which should be cause for celebration.  On a side note, for anyone who has not been to the LA Show the biggest difference between there and Detroit is the space with which to maneuver though the stands and around the vehicles.  In fact, there is so much space that the press conferences can actually be comfortably held in the booth with the vehicles.  But the real reason we went was to observe the trend in wheels and report that back to you, our customers and readers.  So, what have we learned after 2 days at the show,  a couple of parties, 14 meetings, 900+ pictures and almost 2500 words on the blog?  Here’s a quick summary of the past two days of posts.

Audi Quattro Concept wheel

LA 2010 – Day 2 Wheel Finish Trends

As I mentioned yesterday, today’s post is going to cover the things we noticed about wheel finishes.  This is just a summary of our observations and opinions on which way the industry is heading.  Without having quantitative date from past shows it is not possible to prove trends, so please consider the comments below with that in mind.  If you want to see what we saw, here is a link to our photo album http://photobucket.com/chromtec.

SEMA 2010 – The Good, The Bad and the Just Plain Strange

As if yesterday’s post of eye candy wasn’t enough for you, its time to close the show report with even more fun.  But before I forget, the best of the pictures have all been uploaded and you can access them here:  www.photobucket.com/chromtec . 

SEMA 2010 – Day 4: Musings

Yesterday, I tried to get some industry experts to help me understand where consumer wheel preferences were heading.  I got a lot of different predictions but in truth, there was no consensus.  Some things are clear, others not so much.  So I decided to take another tact and try to ascertain where things are going by simple observation.  Mind you, this is not a scientific study.  In fact, I am sure there are many who will disagree with my methods.  But bear with me a bit – I think that logic is on my side.  Let me explain my thinking and then let’s review the results.

SEMA 2010 – Day 3: The Aftermarket

So, after 3 days of walking the show, interviewing industry stalwarts and listening to the mom and pop shops that drive the vehicle aftermarket, you would expect a clear picture of wheel trends to emerge.  A couple of years ago it was color – not the greys and silvers that have been an industry standard for years, but bright and lively matching body colors or in some cases bold contrasting  colors were the trend.   So what are you predictions for this year? More chrome, less chrome, new colors, new finishes, new designs, old designs or new technologies? 

SEMA 2010 – Day 2: Dealer Day

Well, it’s the second day at SEMA and time to sit a bit and rest.  If you have never been to SEMA, the reason it lasts a whole week is that’s how long it takes to see the whole show.  The upside is that pretty much anything you could ever desire to accessorize your vehicle is on display (and a few things you’ve never thought about), the downside is that your feet hurt for a week after you leave.  Or, if you are my age, everything hurts. 

My Pick for Best of Show

SEMA 2010 – Day 1

In the process of uploading hundreds of aftermarket wheel pictures to Photobucket.  In the mean time here’s a great new product release.  Mopar has introduced a Charger Grille, Challenger Grille and 20″ Chromtec® wheel in Black Chrome produced with our Spinelle™ Metal Finish.  Here are some more details courtesy Popular Hot Rodding http://bit.ly/bItoW5

Mopar 20" Chromtec wheel in Black Chrome

 

To Clad or Not To Clad? That is the question!

I should probably start this post by stating I have never been fond of the term “cladding” when describing Chromtec® wheels.   In my opinion it’s a little like calling a moonroof a hole in the ceiling – yes, technically it’s a valid description, but it paints a rather poor picture of what you are talking about.  We can thank some (not so) astute product attorneys for coming up with this generic term⁽¹⁾ (don’t worry, I’ll post more on this point in the future).  But before we delve into today’s question, let’s take a look at what we’ve learned thus far.  We learned that wheels are more important to the sale of some vehicles than others, and we learned that a lot of people like bright chrome wheels (we also learned not to include many Audi Enthusiasts, and the random designer in that last group).  So if you have already decided that your vehicle program is going to have chrome wheels, or your customers are demanding them, the next logical step in the process is to ask what chrome wheel technology should you use?   

It’s Bigger Than You Think!

Now that I have your attention it’s probably a good time to assure everyone this blog will always be SFW (Safe for Work). Sorry to disappoint you, we will not be hosting a discussion related to the enhancement website mentioned in last week’s post. Instead, I would like to address a huge issue that comes up as we help our customers plan vehicle wheel lineups; Chrome Wheels. One thing for sure, you either LOVE them or HATE them. Does anybody even know what it is about chrome that makes people choose sides like this?  Can’t we all just get along?  The argument might even be worse than Coke versus Pepsi (or Michigan versus Michigan State for my local readers).  But regardless of our personal tastes (full disclosure – I do not own a vehicle with chrome wheels), the marketplace ultimately will find a way to decide.  So, before you hit the “more” button, lets test your expertise with this quick poll: