Feature Interview Day 3 | SEMA SHOW
Interview with Phillip Phong
Marketing and Sales of Mackin Industries
MM: What do you think of the 2005 SEMA show compared to the past years? We understand this is your sixth SEMA attendance.
PP: Each and every year there are new products, new cars, and new generations of tuners. Every year our entire industry continues to grow bigger and get better. This year we’ve noticed more companies coming out with more diverse products as well as broadening their specializations and applications for their existing products.
MM: What trends do you see coming in 2006?
PP: We see more companies and tuners looking to buy and sell higher quality products. For many years now the products we have been importing are strictly the highest quality. In the most recent years more people are demanding a higher quality product knowing what they’ll be getting with our products. We are expecting to see a shift from consumers purchasing lesser products to consumers demanding the higher quality products for their vehicles.
MM: What is the hot new car for 2006 in your opinion?
PP: Hottest car right now has to be the new 2006 Honda Civic Si. With 200 horsepower, a six speed transmission and GPS navigation it’s a great car. Honda is also broadening the choices and modifications that will be available for this year to help target against the market of the Scion tC and Chevrolet Cobalt for example.
MM: As a major importer of some of the finest JDM products, what 2006 product trends can we anticipate?
PP: Consumers will continue to see high quality additions to our already existing product lines (ARC, Project mU, Espelir, Volk Racing, Gram Light, Yokohama and Lexion). We are also importing more new US spec applications faster than some US based companies.
MM: What are your thoughts on the entire VIP lifestyle and how it is now affecting our industry?
PP: The VIP styling is great. We would like to see more of it in the US. The market right now is kind of niche, but Mackin Industries has already carried many products to support the VIP style of tuning. We will also be introducing new wheel lines that have great applications and look for the VIP style of tuning.
MM: Volk wheels have grown a huge fan following in recent years – what are some of the things that have made that possible?
PP: Volk Racing has the hottest wheel designs every year. They continue to bring out new designs that cater to every consumer out there. Volk is also the #1 choice for all the toy tuners, race teams, and show cars out there. With an extremely high quality product and designs that fit almost everyone’s needs, the more recent growth in Volk Racing’s demand shows the consumer shift for a desire towards a higher quality product.
MM: What are your thoughts on imitation products and how do they affect your primary target market?
PP: Since we do carry one of the most copied products, Rays Engineering wheels (Volk Racing, Gram Lights) – we feel that consumers are being cheated into purchasing a lower quality alternative. It may look slightly the same, but in no way will it stand toe to toe in performance and safety testing. You literally get what you pay for when it comes to the products in this industry. It might look good from far, but it’s far from good!
For more information on Mackin Industries and the products they carry visit www.mackinindustries.com