Financial benchmarks for the automotive aftermarket
Realizing that the industry needs new tools to help companies survive the tough economy, in January 2009 SEMA launched the new SEMA Financial Benchmarking program. So far more than 6,100 companies have participated in the SEMA Financial Benchmarking program, giving the automotive aftermarket industry unparalleled access to benchmarking best practices from our industry.
The program is designed to accumulate data you can use to see how your company is doing in comparison to others in the industry. The program asks a battery of financial questions that provide essential information for business management. Each month, information from responding companies are aggregated and reports of key performance indicators are generated for manufacturers, retailers and distributors. Using aggregated data from similar companies, SEMA members will be able to benchmark their operations.
Know how your company compares with SEMA Financial Benchmarking
Each month the reports generated from the SEMA Financial Benchmarking project lets you answer questions about key performance indicators like these:
- How does my gross margin compare to my peers? Does my company invest more in marketing than others in my category? Is my quick ratio above or below the norm for the industry right now? How are my inventory turns doing compared to similar operations? Are the amount of product returns my company is having out of whack right now?
To ease concerns that some company executives may have about SEMA seeing their individual company data, SEMA contracted with Hedges & Company to collect and aggregate the information each month. We have a legally-binding non-disclosure agreement available on request. We report only aggregated data to SEMA and program participants. Any information shared with us is kept strictly confidential.
Free benchmarking report
Companies that participate in the SEMA Financial Benchmarking program will get their own report (shown above) a few weeks after that month's survey closes, at no cost. Other companies that want to see the information will be able to purchase the reports through SEMA, a month or so later. For more information visit SEMA's Market Research site.
To participate in the program, watch for an email each month sent from Julie Hedges, pictured here (left). There are three versions sent out: One for retailers with a blue banner (shown), a version for distributors with an orange banner, and one for manufacturers with a green banner.
If you would like to participate and you do not get these emails, please contact our office and we will add you to the list. There is no cost or obligation to participate and responses are kept confidential.
If you get these emails and would like to change categories, for example from retail to distributor, or you would like to have these sent to someone else in your company, please let us know that and we'll change your settings.
Read More about SEMA Financial Benchmarking at SEMA.org
To participate in the current month's SEMA Financial Benchmarking survey follow these links:
To download a PDF version of our non-disclosure agreement click here. It is digitally signed and this agreement can be faxed to us at (234) 380-1658 or mailed to SEMA Financial Benchmarking c/o Hedges & Company, 126 W Streetsboro St., Suite 8, Hudson OH 44236-2720.