“We love challenges,” says Mitch Egan, owner of Egan Painting in South Pasadena, Florida. That’s one of the reasons why painting the American Freedom Distillery in St. Petersburg was such a fulfilling project for this 40-year veteran of the construction trades. PPC editor Mike Starling sat down with Mitch to learn more about this high-profile job. Continue reading Egan Painting Achieves Dramatic Results at 14,000 Square Foot Distillery
Paige NeJame is the owner of CertaPro Painters of the South Shore and Boston. In this article, she outlines why it’s a good idea for pro painters to get into the color consulting game. Continue reading 4 Reasons to Offer Color Consultation Services to Your Painting Customer
Want your crews to be more productive? Here’s a roundup of the latest advances in paint application, surface prep and cleanup tools. Continue reading Top New Tools for Pro Painters for 2020
Has COVID-19 altered your job site activity? Turn your attention to developing and refining a training program for new employees. Continue reading Training Tips for Isolated Times
Spray vs. roll – which one should you choose? The answer is that both are good application techniques, and each has its advantages, says Rick Watson, director of Product Information and Technical Services at Sherwin-Williams. In this article, he answers four of the most frequently asked questions he hears about this topic. Continue reading Should I Spray or Should I Roll? 4 Common Questions Answered
Here’s a new color solution for your residential painting customers. Continue reading Introducing Virtual Color Consultation
Rob Waller has been a professional painter for more than 30 years. He lives in the Charleston, South Carolina area, where he owns and operates Waller Painting. The company employs 24 painters. Continue reading Contractor Q&A: Rob Waller on Passion, Pride and the Challenges of the Painting Trade
Four top painting contractors from across the country discuss the current realities in the painting world and the challenges of moving their business forward in an exclusive new contractor forum hosted by PPC magazine. Continue reading Pro-To-Pro Podcast Debuts
For 30 years, PPC magazine has been on job sites throughout the U.S. and Canada asking residential and commercial paint pros to share their stories. In our Pro to Pro column, we recap some of the best advice contractors have received and passed on over the last three decades. This time: Allen Pinchot, Frank Novak & Sons, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. Continue reading Pro to Pro with Allen Pinchot: Know When to Fold ‘Em
In this third installment of a series on achieving sales success for PRO painting contractors, Archie Bartel offers sales tips and guidelines for contractors trying to improve their sales performance. Bartel, Sherwin-Williams Director of Sales Force Effectiveness, is the former Marketing Director for Residential Repaint at Sherwin-Williams. This article will examine the continued importance of being customer-focused during color discussion and closing the sale. Continue reading Art of the Sale: Discussing Color and the Close
Color selection can be a tricky hurdle for a contractor to navigate in any painting project. The wrong color can result in a disappointed customer and may even lead to a negative review on an otherwise well-executed project. Continue reading Differentiate Yourself by Offering Homeowners Free Virtual Color Consultation
Successful painting contractors agree that a customer-focused sales approach typically results not only in improved customer satisfaction but the opportunity to upgrade to products that can improve project profitability. Continue reading Upgrade to Mutually Beneficial Product Solutions
In this second installment of a series on achieving sales success for PRO painting contractors, Archie Bartel offers sales tips and guidelines for contractors trying to improve their sales performance. Bartel, Sherwin-Williams Director of Sales Force Effectiveness, is the former Marketing Director for Residential Repaint at Sherwin-Williams. This article will examine the continued importance of being customer-focused throughout the bid preparation process, product upgrade considerations, and delivering a quote. Continue reading Art of the Sale: Product Upgrades, Estimating, and Project Bids
In this first installment of a series on achieving sales success for PRO painting contractors, Archie Bartel grabs a figurative brush and puts on his bibs to offer sales tips and guidelines for contractors trying to make the best first impression with their market. Bartel, Sherwin-Williams Director of Sales Force Effectiveness, is the former Marketing Director for Residential Repaint at Sherwin-Williams. This article will examine the listening skills necessary to build customer trust and the importance of optics in your first customer interactions. Continue reading Art of the Sale: Introduction and the First Steps
“Spring wasn’t good. Half what we billed last spring, probably less. Now? We’re busy, and my crew is working long days. But I’m trying to make up what we lost in spring and maybe get work that is a little bigger than what we normally take on. We need to increase our revenue by year’s end. A new sprayer? Now? Doesn’t seem to make sense…” Continue reading NOW is the Time to Maximize Efficiency with a New Sprayer
PPC and Sherwin-Williams want to help pros work smarter. We recently gave painters a chance to ask product and application questions on the SWPaintPros Facebook. In this article, Rick Watson, Sherwin-Williams Director of Product Information & Technical Services, answers one pro’s question about exterior doors. Continue reading What is the Best Paint for an Exterior Fiberglass Door?
Four painting contractors discuss current realities in the painting world and the challenges of moving their business forward in an exclusive pro-to-pro contractor forum hosted by Professional Painting Contractor Magazine. Continue reading Pro-to-Pro Contractor Podcast
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted painting businesses in many different ways.
“One thing is true across the board, though,” says the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Every business will face tremendous challenges as our nation begins the path to recovery, while still facing the public health threat of the virus.”
For many painting companies, one of the main challenges continues to be finding good workers. For some insights, PPC sat down with Tim Kenney, owner of W.T. Kenney Co., Inc., a fourth-generation professional painting contracting business based in Arlington, Massachusetts. Continue reading Ready to Meet the Demand? Five Tips for Better Recruitment and Retention in a COVID-19 World
Painting contractors have piloted the new Project Bids Tool — now available via the Sherwin-Williams PRO App — and according to early reviews, PROs are pleased with much of what they’ve seen. Continue reading Thumbs Up for New PRO App Project Bids Tool
Need an excellent-looking, long-lasting premium finish for customers that require best-in-class performance? New Emerald® Rain Refresh™ Exterior Acrylic Latex with Self-Cleaning Technology is an innovative coating that will help you stand out from the competition. Continue reading Premium Product for Premium Customers: A New Exterior Paint with Self-Cleaning Technology
