SEMA Financial Benchmarking Program Allows Automotive Distributors, Manufacturers and Retailers to Measure Business Performance
The SEMA Financial Benchmarking program administered by Hedges & Company is accepting new participants.
This market research program provides auto parts and accessory distributors, manufacturers and retailers exclusive, industry-specific sales forecasts and key performance indicators, with the ability to confidentially compare their company’s performance with other companies in the industry.
The SEMA Financial Benchmarking program collects data from respondents through a simple questionnaire. Responses are aggregated and program participants receive a monthly report of metrics including year-to-date sales, sales forecasts, quick ratio, gross margin, inventory turns, customer return rate, sales per employee, operational overhead and more. Now in its third year, the program has had over 6,500 companies participate.
“The program has been successful because it lets owners and managers compare what they are seeing in their own business with what other companies in the industry are seeing. It gives them a valuable tool to help manage and grow their business,” said Julie Hedges, President of Hedges & Company.
Each month, SEMA financial benchmarking program participants get free copies of all three SEMA Financial Benchmarking Reports: Distributor, Manufacturer and Retailer. Participants are the first to receive these exclusive benchmarking reports, which provide the most current financial picture of the specialty equipment market.
There is no cost or obligation to participate in the SEMA Financial Benchmarking Program. All company responses are kept confidential. Company information or data collected is not shared with SEMA.
Companies can participate by contacting Julie Hedges at Hedges & Company offices at (234) 380-1650. Established in 2004, Hedges & Company is a database marketing, email and market research company specializing in the automotive industry.
Do you have benchmark data on aftermarket manufacturers and distributors inventory turns, age of inventory, inventory reserve practices, etc? If so, what is the cost associated with your time or access to these reports? We are a CPA firm that is addressing a client’s inventory practices and find them radically different than automotive production manufacturers.
Hi Jeff, one great benefit about the SEMA Financial Benchmarking Program is that participants receive free benchmarking reports. The reports include inventory turns but do not cover age of inventory or reserve practices. Older benchmarking reports are available for purchase online at SEMA.org/research.