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The Growth and Evolution of NACEPosted 5/16/2001By Colby Horton
In 1983, the Automotive Service Councils (ASC) and the Independent Automotive Service Association (IASA) decided to co-sponsor the first National Autobody Congress and Exposition. Previously, the two associations hosted two separate collision conferences. “When we started talking about combining two competing association's trade shows, we just assumed we would turn out about the same combined numbers,” said G.W. “Bud” Merwin III, cofounder of NACE and past president of ASA. “In fact, the first show was really about that, maybe a few more.” The first NACE, held in Nashville, Tenn., attracted 74 exhibiting companies and 1,573 attendees. The event covered just over 17,000 square feet of exhibit space. By 1987, attendance was more than 10,000. Ten years later, an attendance record of 41,034 was achieved. That year, there were 656 exhibiting companies occupying 277,500 net square feet of exhibit space. Galen Poss, president of Hanley-Wood Exhibitions, established a five-year plan for NACE in 1983. He said they exceeded this plan halfway through the third year. He attributes the success, in part, to the changing industry. “NACE is a place where the entire market comes together,” Poss said. “In NACE's history, something has always come along that keeps the event growing.” According to Poss, the advent of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), environmental issues, information providers, and most recently, the emergence of “dot-com” companies have all contributed to the progression of NACE.
NACE has always demonstrated its ability to keep up with industry trends by offering educational and technical seminars. These too have changed over the years. The first NACE offered courses titled “Managing by Computer” and “Understanding Today's Paints.” Courses are now geared toward specific aspects of the industry. NACE 2000 offered conferences in detailing, recycled parts, marketing, estimating and trends for the 21st century, to name a few. More than 30 different sessions were offered at NACE 2000 - the most ever presented. In 1995, the “National” Autobody Congress and Exposition became “International.” In 2000, more than 3,300 international delegates representing more than 70 nations participated in NACE. “As the industry continues to crystallize and consolidate, NACE will become even more international,” said Poss. As the collision industry continues to change, so will NACE. The event has exceeded expectations and will continue to grow. However, the main idea behind NACE - providing the most progressive and up-to-date information available - will not change. “The thing we started with is the thing that we have tried to maintain,” said Poss. He is also reminded of a saying that summarizes his view of the future of ASA and NACE. “May the worst day of your future be the best day of your past,” he said. In other words, “The best is yet to come.”
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Copyright (c) 1996-2008. Automotive Service Association. All rights reserved.
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Since its inception, the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) has been dedicated to providing insight into the ever-changing collision industry. As we look back at the history of the Automotive Service Association (ASA), it is appropriate to evaluate the growth and evolution of the association's largest tradeshow dubbed as the world's largest collision repair event.
Merwin believes that the initial success came with the introduction of the 1980 Chevrolet Citation. “It was the first new automobile with all-unitized construction. It forced the entire industry to re-equip and where better to do this than NACE,” said Merwin. “Never had there been such a collection of collision repair tools and equipment.”
