Every year Easter Jeep Safari draws in thousands of Jeep and 4x4 enthusiasts to the outdoor gateway city of Moab. As a result, aftermarket equipment manufacturers line up to display at the Old Spanish Trail Arena just South of town. The show happens on Thursday and Friday of Easter Jeep week.
We would dare to say this particular show is as, or more important to our niche of the industry as say, the SEMA convention. However, with the gates open to the general public, and with little or no restrictions on selling products, Moab's vendor show dwarfs all others in terms of return on investment. The deals are plentiful and the new, and never before seen product offerings are everywhere, truly a Jeep fanatics dream come true.
Moab's vendor show is also a good indicator of the health of our particular niche of the industry, and by the looks of the crowded parking lots and busy isle ways, we'd say things are beginning to pick back up. On the flip-side, this show is kind of a who's who of parts manufacturers, giving consumers a good outlook on what companies are simply surviving, and of coarse, those of which are flourishing.
We were there combing the booths in search of new products to show off in our August 2009 issue.
For now though, here is a small sampling of the treasures awaiting those of us lucky enough to be there in person.