The Car Wash Show 2022: OhmCo Recap
Mother’s Day in Music City: My First Car Wash Show Nashville 2022
THE CAR WASH SHOW - NASHVILLE 2022
In May of 2022, I stepped onto the tradeshow floor of The Car Wash Show in Nashville, Tennessee, wide-eyed and overwhelmed. After two years of COVID lockdowns, breastfeeding babies, and working from home in stretchy pants, this was my first big industry event — and it was a lot.
At the time, OhmCo didn’t even exist yet. We were still operating as Rule of Design, quietly helping car wash operators build their brands from behind the scenes. This show — my first Car Wash Show — was the first time I truly saw our work out in the wild. I got to walk up to the Petit Auto Wash booth and see the signs I had designed, printed and installed for real. I saw the labels I’d created for their equipment, and noticed where the screws landed — which sounds silly until you’ve designed a wrap that’s been accidentally bolted through a logo. There’s just something surreal about seeing your digital designs made physical.
Between Babies and Booths: My First Car Wash Show
Nashville 2022
In May 2022, I found myself walking through the massive doors of the Music City Center in Nashville for The Car Wash Show — wide-eyed, overwhelmed, and about a thousand emotions deep.
It was my first time at the industry’s biggest event, and the first time I’d traveled anywhere in years. The pandemic had grounded me, sure, but even before that, I’d been grounded in a different way: I had a baby. And then another. And as any parent knows, life narrows for a while when you're in the thick of newborn days, nursing sessions, and nap schedules. I went from jet-setting Navy kid vet to full-time milk machine. I mean... there was a lot of stuff that happened in between - like going to college and a career - but at the time I was only thinking about travel anxiety. My main thought being what if I die and never see my family again.
Which is why it meant so much to be there — and to go with my best friend, Megan.
Megan is the bravest person I know. She’s been to more countries than I can count, has zero airport anxiety, and can figure out a new city before you even get through baggage claim. I asked her to come with me because honestly, I needed someone like her by my side. I felt out of practice. Like… how do airports even work again? I couldn’t remember how to pack. I forgot to download the airline app. I was scared of crowds. Scared of getting sick. Scared of doing something new again.
And that’s wild to admit — because there was a time in my life where travel was second nature. When I served in the Navy as a cryptologic technician, I traveled constantly. I hopped continents and crossed oceans. I knew how to navigate anywhere. But this trip? This little hop to Nashville? It felt huge. Because it wasn’t just about geography — it was about becoming someone else again.
Meeting Work in the Wild
At the time, my company was still called Rule of Design. We had been quietly creating branding, websites, and signage for car washes for a while — but this was my first time stepping out from behind the screen and seeing it all in real life. I’ll never forget the moment I saw the Petit Auto Wash booth. I had designed those signs. Those equipment labels. I could see where the screws hit the panels — and suddenly I had a thousand ideas for how to improve the field design.
I’d only ever seen these things on a computer screen. Now they were towering above me, real and tangible and out in the world. It was like meeting a pen pal you’ve been writing to for years.
The tradeshow floor was packed — the only time I’ve ever truly believed the ICA’s claim about “record numbers.” People were everywhere. Booths were alive with conversation. Deals were being made. Swag bags were overflowing. It was buzzing.
The educational sessions, though? Totally empty. I even took a picture because it was so shocking.
I remember walking into my first one, super eager, notebook in hand — and no one was there. I thought I was in the wrong room. Later, someone casually told me, “Oh yeah, most people are too hungover in the mornings to make those.” Well. Lesson learned.
Not Just a Freelancer Anymore
But even with the occasional awkwardness, it was such a gift to meet people I had only interacted with online before. I got to connect face to face with folks like CK from Scrubs, and it felt like seeing a celebrity. Except this celebrity knew what a foam cannon was and actually returned emails. It reminded me that the car wash industry isn’t just about equipment and chemistry — it’s about relationships.
Personally, it was hard to be away. It was Mother’s Day weekend, and my daughter was still nursing. I had to mentally push past the guilt of leaving, even though Mike was home holding down the fort with the girls like a champ. It was one of those moments where you’re proud and sad at the same time. Happy for the break. Guilty for the break. But you do it anyway because you’re building something that matters.
Professionally, this trip changed everything. It was the first time I truly saw myself as more than a freelancer behind the scenes. I was building a company. I had a vision. And even though I felt like a small fish in a massive tradeshow ocean, I left with more confidence, more clarity — and a serious itch to keep going.
That show planted the seed that eventually grew into OhmCo.
It was the beginning of me showing up — as a business owner, a designer, a mom, a vet, a woman who had something real to offer.
And yeah, I was scared. But I went anyway.
And I’m so glad I did. But I wish I would have taken more pictures.
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