Vendor Affinity Program Spotlight: Auto Body Supplies and Paint (ABSAP)

by Alana Quartuccio

Auto Body Supplies and Paint (ABSAP) is getting ready to celebrate 50 years next year, and this family-owned and operated company has much to celebrate!

It all began in 1976 when the company founder and patriarch, Kay Ryalls, decided to step away from the paint company he worked at to launch his own small business in East Hartford, CT. Five decades later, he remains at the helm of the operation which now spans several states, has three generations of family members on board and is the trusted single-line BASF jobber throughout the New England area. 

“Fifty years is a big deal for a small business,” shares Kayla Holland, Ryalls’ granddaughter and the third generation to work at ABSAP. “We are planning to host a lot of celebrations next year. We wouldn’t be where we are today if it weren’t for our customers.” 

Kayla’s mother, Laura Koss, and her uncle, Jeff Ryalls, make up the second generation of the ABSAP family. 

The company has grown its footprint throughout New England to cover the whole northeast corner with locations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont; they also serve Rhode Island and more recently upstate New York, thanks to their newest location in Colchester, VT which allows them to distribute in that region. 

The ABSAP team strives to partner with their customers to make sure they are supplying them with everything they need, and that commitment goes far beyond the refinish supplies they deliver. 

“We have more technicians than anyone else in this area; we’re very customer-service focused,” relays Holland. “We have a state-of-the-art training center where we host monthly training sessions. This is another elevated level of service that is not offered by a lot of jobbers. 

“We want to be the best partner our customers can have in the field,” she continues. “We always look for ways to assist them in their growth. We take a very hands-on, almost hand-holding method to help our customers in all areas from financials to how to use products and everything in between.” 

ABSAP was recently presented with the BASF ColourSource Jobber of the Year award.. The award is based off year-over-year growth, “so the fact that we got it this year is huge because a startup company may be able to achieve 200 percent growth from one year to the next, but to be around for as long as we have and already be high tiered and still be able to show enough growth to make such an impact was quite a telling achievement. It was a really great honor.” 

ABSAP remains a longtime supporter of AASP/MA and most recently increased their Vendor Affinity Program sponsorship to the Platinum level. 

The company recognizes how important it is to support the auto body community in the territory they serve. “We aim to support the shops we work with,” relays Rick Hutchinson, general manager. “We give shops a lot of support to help them get reimbursed from insurance companies, and that’s a focus of AASP/MA as well. Training has always been a big focus of ours and to be able to work directly with the shops. All paint suppliers sell paint, but getting everybody to be profitable is our focus.” 

Want more? Check out the September 2025 issue of New England Automotive Report!