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Industry Survey Finds Most Shops Still Open for Business

April 14, 2020 By Nadeem

The Hog Ring - Industry Survey Finds Most Shops Still Open for Business

A survey of the automotive aftermarket industry found that the coronavirus pandemic is hurting businesses, but most will survive.

SEMA polled more than 2,000 people in the industry, asking a range of questions about how stay-at-home orders have impacted business operations and sales.

Here’s what they found:

Most Businesses Will Be OK

An astounding 87% of businesses are operating “business as usual” or are “impacted short-term, but will get through it.” Only 1% will be forced to close permanently.

The Hog Ring - Industry Survey Finds Most Shops Still Open for Business

Most Businesses Remain Open

Because most states classify the auto industry as essential, 55% of businesses remain open and “do not intend to close any facilities.” However, 15% are closed until the pandemic ends.

The Hog Ring - Industry Survey Finds Most Shops Still Open for Business

Most Workers Still Have Jobs

It’s great that 82% of employees are still able to work on location or from home. However, 18% have either been furloughed or laid off.

The Hog Ring - Industry Survey Finds Most Shops Still Open for Business

Still, Sales Are Down

Compared to this time last year, 33% of businesses have seen sales drop by at least half. Meanwhile, 21% of businesses have seen sales drop by 30% to 40%.

The Hog Ring - Industry Survey Finds Most Shops Still Open for Business

Overall, the findings are promising. “The results show that even in these difficult times, our industry is resilient and working diligently to move past this disruption,” SEMA said.

If your auto upholstery shop has been negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, you can apply for a forgivable loan. Click here to find out how.

Filed Under: Archive, Industry Trends & Reports Tagged With: Auto Trim, Auto Upholstery, Car Interior, Coronavirus, SEMA, Specialty Equipment Market Association

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Adam says

    March 7, 2022 at 9:54 am

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  2. Fluix says

    June 12, 2022 at 9:57 am

    I agree that when the coronavirus took over the planet, many jobs were cut and many businesses closed. But, there are those who have moved to work online with the help of various applications and programs that ensure the smooth operation of your workflows with all your documentation.

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