Mark, My Words!

As word of Kelly-Moore's closing spread a few companies took fast action to ensure that Kelly's losses would be their gains. Dunn-Edwards was one such company, though their story is less about their response to Kelly-Moore's closing and more about their preparation for the possibility that their once mighty competitor may one day close! Join me as Monte Lewis, the COO oof Dunn-Edwards shares their...

As word of Kelly-Moore's closing spread a few companies took fast action to ensure that Kelly's losses would be their gains. HIS Coatings was one such company, Join me as the president of HIS Coatings Tony Cox shares how his family's business transformed their business in an instant to capitalize on THE opportunity. And there's only one place to hear their story!

In the wake of the events at Kelly-Moore three companies took bold action to ensure that Kelly's losses would be their gains, each transforming their businesses in THE process. THE Opportunists is their story! Plus an update on paint news, because independents are doing so well I couldn't keep it to myself!

I think I've made my point, so what comes next? For my content, for Gassenheimer, the Flacks Group and for the Kelly-Moore family of now former-employees? This is where you come to find out!

This is it for our time with Charlie and His Lying Factory, at least as far as my coverage is concerned. I'm certain his lying will go on! And it's not just the lies he told which were evident at that time we recorded, like his boasts of his success at Corizon or the experience consumers will have using Kelly-Moore paints now that he's at the company's helm. But time has also made lies of every wo...

THE most aptly named podcast on YouTube! Halfway through that original podcast and Gassenheimer is waving THE red flags!

When Charles Gassenheimer told me of his experience at Corizon Health on a podcast recorded with the Kelly-Moore CEO he offered Corizon as evidence of executive skills saying the company was doing "fantastic." Which is a fantastic fucking story, but that's all it is! Days after spinning this tale, Corizon would settle one of the many wrongful death suits against the company. What could he have bee...

The news was not good for Kelly-Moore chief executive Charles Gassenheimer last week as Kelly-Moore became the least of his problems! Watch THE episode here and catch my blog on Thursday!

News and commentary on the closing of Kelly-Moore, and tracking THE lies of Charles Gassenhemier.

Join me and my co-host Steve Rice as we test a new format created just for you. If you're a paint geek! This episode I'll introduce you to both Steve and our new format, starting you off with some tips for dealers about diversifying their businesses. And the one about my daughter Miranda. Join us for the laugh!

In THE News! With News and analysis for independent paint retailers for August 21, 2023. THE earnings! With coverage of earnings and sales results from Sherwin-Williams, PPG and Masco. And guess what? Dealers are doing better!

As a paint retailer it's hard to distinguish your stores from other retailers in the space, often leaving price and location as the only reason a customer favors you over S-W, HD or even another independent. To ensure I stood above THE crowd while calling on NY's industrial coatings users, I stood on my certification NACE Level III Coatings Inspector. THE strategy paying off to the tune of million...

My analysis of the paint industry's performance so-far this year. Plus the one about the time John Morikis got caught stretching THE truth! Results and analysis on SW, PPG, Ace, Masco & HD, and THE independent channel! THE best 13-minutes in paint!

Mother-daughter painting contractors Billie Machain and Veronica Tucci made time in their busy schedules to record a podcast with me recently. THE women are so busy because in addition to managing their rapidly expanding Philadelphia-based commercial painting business the pair were recently named one of Behr's top "Women in Paint" for 2023! In this entertaining 15-minute episode Billie and Veronic...

Now the chain's paint department manager Jon Dazey began his career at White's as an OSR: an all-expenses paid outside sales rep for the chain of lumberyards compliments of Benjmain Moore. (Pssst, they'll give you one too!) And while interesting, we don't spend much time discussing Jon's career path because dealers want will want to hear how White's is using industrial products and a focus on gove...

Join me as I talk insurance with Matt Rogers of Papenhausen Hardware in San Francisco. Matt is an accidental expert on what insurance independent paint and hardware retailers need: Rogers had to rebuild Papenhausen after a fire destroyed the 100+ year-old business. TWICE! When he was done rebuilding his store the second time, Matt started a trade organization for independent home improvement retai...

Join me as I discuss hiring and retention with Gina Schaefer of the 13-store Washington, DC ACE retailer "A Few Cool Hardware Stores" Despite chronic nationwide labor shortages and high turnover rates for retail employers, Gina continues to hire and retain employees. Gina's strategies, plus her efforts in employee training and development, has driven her turnover rate as low as 25% in some stores!...

In THE News! February 16, 2023. In the news this week are earnings reports from Sherwin-Williams, PPG and RPM. As well as forecasts from all three for a challenging 2023 for paint sellers! Plus, what body part Sherwin chief executive John Morikis most resembles when he bullies his employees!

If you're a Benjamin Moore dealer or employee you're not going to want to miss this episode with recently retired BM executive Budweiser Jim Gorman! Join me as Jimmy and I discuss the modern history of the Montvale paint maker, including the sale to Berkshire Hathaway and Jimmy's perspective on the six Benjamin Moore CEO's he served. Including our very own, #Dan!

Why does the chemical foundation of paint and its dependence on petroleum and heavy-metal mining remain unchanged for more than 150-years despite revolutionary advances in chemistry and technology during that time? And with the increased cost of shipping adding 2% to THE inflation rate, when will paint be made as a concentrate so we can stop paying to ship all this water? Chemist John Minerowicz h...

Join me as as Garrett Florent of Rainguard shares how dealers can tap into the lucrative market for clears and anti-graffiti coatings. Garrett also shares how dealers can attract masons into their stores with just a small mix of products. Coatings which masons generally acquire at lumber yards or another building supplier!

Episode 67 with Grant Farnsworth of the Farnsworth Group by Mark Lipton

EARNINGS EARNINGS EARNINGS!! Sherwin-Williams, PPG and Masco report earnings and in ten-minutes, you can hear it all here! Spoiler alert....it's better to be an independent!

Join me as I talk recycled content paint with Dustin Martin, CEO of recycled content paint maker Up Paint.

Paint manufacturer Kelly-Moore is announcing that their paint brand is being made available for the first time in the northeast. Kelly-Moore also announcing that their brand will be dealer-only in that region! And if you're thinking "I never saw an announcement like that from Kelly-Moore?" you're right! Because you heard it hear first!