ONE NORTHEAST

by Thomas Greco, Publisher

Is it me or does it seem like there are more automotive shows going on than there are people coming across our border? Almost every week, I get an email telling me not to miss the “industry’s greatest show.” In fact, I bet if you wanted to, you could attend a trade show every weekend. 

Now, don’t get me wrong. I obviously think trade shows are great for any industry. They give everyone a chance to see and touch all the great new tech, tools and equipment as well as get trained and educated by experts. Trade shows are an integral part of any business’s hope of survival, especially in today’s ever-changing automotive repair industry.

Putting together a trade show is a lot of work. And I salute and wish all the best to every group who hosts one. But having said that, there is only ONE NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show.

For those of you who have been around the block like I have, you remember that back in the day, there was NACE, and there was NORTHEAST. SEMA gradually replaced NACE, and as many others have come along, NORTHEAST still stands tall as the largest regional trade show of its kind. 

As we enter our 47th (47!) year, it has been amazing to see the show grow from a hotel table top to filling over 65,000 square feet at the Meadowlands Exposition Center with more than 300 booths and 100 exhibitors. Last year, our attendance grew to well over 5,000 automotive professionals, our educational slate was sold out and exhibitors sold hundreds of thousands of dollars of product. If you live in the region, you NEED to be at NORTHEAST!

This year’s show will once again offer the best in education, training, technology, tools and equipment. Special props to Mike Anderson’s Collision Advice for debuting their “Collision Advice NORTHEAST Workshop Series,” Dave Luehr’s Elite Body Shop Academy for presenting Thursday’s “Know Your Numbers” workshop and AkzoNobel for bringing in the one and only Dave Kindig from MotorTrend TV’s Bitchin’ Rides. Other can’t-miss events include the Second Annual Bodywork Bowl Collision Repair Skills Competition, $5,000 in NORTHEAST Dollars (That’s a total of FIVE GRAND – 10 attendees get $500 to spend on the show floor!) and so much more.

There is no excuse NOT to come to NORTHEAST. It takes place over three days (four including the “Know Your Numbers” workshop): March 15, 16, 17 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus. Plenty of opportunity to drive over. And did I mention, it’s free? I promise you will leave with something to help your business improve. 

After all, we’ve been doing this for almost 50 years…

Want more? Check out the March 2024 issue of New Jersey Automotive!