What Happens at the Photo Booth…

II don’t want to brag or anything, but I have been told many times that the Texas Auto Body Trade Show is one of the top shows in the nation! The show has so much to offer, and you can be assured that we don’t miss a single detail. We have an amazing team of people who help put the show in motion, but I personally pour my heart and soul into making it a memorable experience for all.

What you may not know about me is that, as a young girl, I did not have dreams to work in the collision repair industry… shocker, I know! As a child, I actually wanted to be an archaeologist but instead decided to jump head first right into the real world with a job and an apartment at 19. I did eventually pursue some higher education in interior design before returning to the body shop world. Why is this relevant? Because design is one of my true passions, and if you look, you may notice how it comes into play at the show.

We want the Texas Auto Body Trade Show to be a true destination event. As a working mom, I know how hard it can be to leave my business and my family for an entire weekend – especially in August. That’s why we chose a location that offers a lot of fun for anyone who may tag along. From our host hotel to the Toyota Music factory, you won’t catch sight of anything boring or ordinary. Kids and spouses will enjoy time at the pool, axe throwing, the movie theater, spa time and tons of unique dining! They are also welcome into the exhibit hall where we usually have something special for them at registration.

Jill Tuggle ABAT Executive Director

ABAT loves to give credit where credit is due, and often there’s a woman involved in the business who deserves some of it! Whether she is sitting in the ivory office or managing the household, chances are she doesn’t get enough accolades for all she does with grace and strength. That’s why we made sure that the ladies get a little something extra from us at ABAT. Last year, we hosted a special wine and charcuterie event and gave an exclusive gift bag to every woman who was there as an attendee or a guest. It was so popular that we are going at it again, but you can bet it’s going to be even bigger and better! Be on the lookout for the ladies event announcement to come!

Another thing we know how to do is throw a freaking party. Our afterparty, by invitation only, is one for the books. Held every year at Bar Louie, you can rub elbows with our celebrity guests and enjoy a round with your friends, on us. Oh – and that “by invitation only” part? That’s easy enough to obtain; you just have to come by the ABAT booth to pick up your invitation! Just remember – what happens at the photo booth does NOT stay at the photo booth. I get ALL the photos…

All this confirms that the Texas Auto Body Trade Show is a LOT of fun. But it’s also very important and can be quite somber at times. That’s evident as you listen to our speakers talk about the reality of our business, the importance of making safe repairs, what could happen if you miss something, where the industry is going…I could go on. So, just know that while we love to have fun, what we do is really important. And if we are not constantly learning how to improve and constantly keeping up with how to do it right, then we have no business doing it at all.

So, I hope to see you (and yours) at the 2023 Texas Auto Body Trade Show on August 25-26! Make sure you stay up-to-date with all our latest announcements at abat.us/events/ tradeshow. And also check out these photo booth pics…