Five months ago, I got the incredible opportunity to intern with Cache in a marketing position and entrepreneurial development program, which ended up turning into a position as the official Community Manager. Going into this position, I didn’t quite know what to expect, yet, having previous internship experiences, I had a slight idea of what might be in store for me. With that being said, all the companies I had been with in the past were much larger corporate settings. With employee headcounts spanning anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand people. However, as a small business, Cache operates on a much different basis.
This brings us to the biggest change I encountered: the size of the team. After my first few days in the office, I had met everyone involved at Cache. In the past, I hadn’t even met half my coworkers within that initial first week. As someone working on my own business and a student in the University of Utah Entrepreneurship program, being able to work with and see firsthand how a small team moves, communicates, and attacks problems is incredible. Getting thrown into this type of environment has helped me grow and evolve tremendously in my professional career as well as personally. The levels of responsibility and accountability skyrocket, and suddenly, there isn’t an entire department behind your back to give you exactly what you need or the answer to your problem. This kind of setting encourages problem-solving and strategic thinking like nothing else, and I couldn’t be more thankful for being immersed within it and getting to work and grow alongside the Cache team!
Now, this brings us to today, Tuesday, September 10th. Exactly 55 days out from SEMA 2025. My first-ever trade show, and as it just so happens, it is also the largest automotive trade show in the world. For Cache, this event is going to be a huge deal, and after all the success we had.
Our first year, the entire team is very eager to bring it all we’ve got. Taking home a Product of the Year award our first year there, as well as forming some of the partnerships and relationships we did has us all striving to get even more out of the event this year. When I started this internship, I had no idea it would bring me to this point today. I envisioned myself learning a lot and expanding upon my industry knowledge, but forming the relationships I have built and opening up opportunities like this was not something I expected at all.
As we have been slowly transitioning into a heavy focus on SEMA preparation and ensuring we are fully prepared for the event, it’s opened my eyes up a lot. I have never really worked on a project of this scale. To those unfamiliar with SEMA, it’s kind of the place to be if you are in the automotive space. It’s a four-day event jam-packed with action, and pretty much every name (big or small) in the automotive scene. With that being said, I think you can get the picture - it’s a big deal with a lot of moving components and very little time to ensure your company walks away with the most value possible. While it may seem intimidating, and like there couldn’t possibly be enough time in the world to plan for an event of this size and capacity, I couldn’t be more eager for the journey it will take me on.
So there you have it, a little breakdown on the true pleasure it has been to not only work with the Cache team, but to truly feel like I’m a part of it. With SEMA on the horizon, I’m sure the next few months will be extremely chaotic, yet I’m truly excited for it. I know the team we have here is incredibly well-versed; there’s not much we can’t take on, and another year of SEMA in the books will be living proof of this. Until then, stay safe, keep that tailgate protected, and we’ll keep providing you with premium gear for the long haul.
-Sebastian Nowlan
P.S. You can now get your Cache Basecamp Pad and accessories screen printed by ME with a custom logo or YOUR choice!
