It’s Nearly Here…Did You Register Yet?

by Burl Richards

We’re just days away from the biggest and best auto body show in Texas…the 2023 Texas Auto Body Trade Show will be taking place at the Irving Convention Center on August 25-26, and I couldn’t be more excited!

Every year, ABAT works to improve upon the previous year’s event…and we succeed in those endeavors time and time again.

If you haven’t already registered, it’s time to head on over to abat.us/tradeshow to get on the list – you definitely don’t want to miss out on this rare opportunity to check out new products from local and national exhibitors with everything you might need to run a successful shop. Visit with information providers, learn more about different management systems, check out the newest welders on the market, and compare paint booths and refinishing brands. It’s all right here, in your own backyard, and it’s well worth the trip.

But being equipped for success means that you also need the training and knowledge to run your shop, so you’ll also have the chance to learn from renowned collision repair educators like Mike Anderson (Collision Advice), Aaron Schulenburg (Society of Collision Repair Specialists) and Danny Gredinburg (Database Enhancement Gateway). With industry leaders flying in from all over the country, Texas Auto Body Trade Show attendees get to rub elbows with the finest folks collision repair has to offer!

During several of these educational sessions, ABAT is particularly excited to discuss the recent $248,000 jury verdict against State Farm in response to the insurer’s decision to reduce the vehicle owner’s total loss payout by $1,751.96. The jury found that State Farm knowingly and intentionally acted in bad faith, resulting in a verdict from a “finder of fact.” Read more details about the jury verdict on page 12, but make sure you sign up for the educational session at the trade show where we’ll dive in a little deeper and discuss what this means for Texas auto body repairers in our ongoing battle to convince the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) to protect Lone Star consumers!

And you’ll also get to meet and greet this year’s celebrity guest on the trade show floor, “Shorty” of Shorty’s Custom and star of Iron Ressurection. Don’t forget to head out back to check out this year’s car show, featuring some of the hottest rides in the Dallas-Fort Worth area…maybe you’ll even want to enter your own sexy beast for a chance to win a prize.

Whether you’re a body technician, painter or estimator, you’ll want to shoot your shot at earning bragging rights by participating in ABAT’s third annual BIG SHOTS Competition! BIG SHOTS is a great opportunity to show off your talents, compete with others in the Texas market and possibly walk away with some really cool prizes. This is a true competition between skilled professionals, so don’t think that just anyone can win! You have to have the skills to get there, so be sure to step up, stand out and shine.

Before the day ends, make sure to stop by the ABAT booth and say hi to Executive Director Jill Tuggle and ask for a ticket to the after party because even when the show floor closes for the evening, it’s not really over…We’ll be heading down to Bar Louie again for an evening of drinks and fun. Be sure to enjoy the photo booth – but know that Jill gets copies of all the pictures and WILL share her favorites in future editions of Texas Automotive (just check out the June edition for proof at grecopublishing.com/texas-automotive-june-2023)!

And there’s still plenty of fun to be had in the vicinity. Between the Toyota Music Factory, movie theater, various dining (and drinking) options and even axe-throwing, the possibilities are endless – both within and outside of the show.

The Texas Auto Body Trade Show only comes around once a year, so get your @$$ here! Did you register yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Go to abat.us/tradeshow today to make sure you’re at the forefront of the industry…because if you’re not here, you’re bound to get left behind.

Want more? Check out the August 2023 issue of Texas Automotive!