Pros know that the quality of the coatings they use has a huge effect on the final finish and durability of any paint job. Bottom line: Better ingredients such as pigment, binders and additives mean better performance. And that can translate to happier customers. Continue reading Using Premium Products Helps Paint Pros Save Time, Do Better Work and Make More Money. Here’s Why.
Category Archives: Online Extras
New Job Board Launched to Help You Find the Right People for Your Team
Sherwin-Williams recently launched the Job Board to help painting contractors find and hire talented painters to their teams. The free platform comes in response to the labor market shortage, one of the biggest hurdles facing many painting businesses today. Continue reading New Job Board Launched to Help You Find the Right People for Your Team
Choosing an Airless Sprayer: The Six Major Components and What You Need to Know About Them
A paint sprayer is a professional painter’s best friend on the job site, allowing them to do high-quality work quickly. And when a sprayer breaks down, that same painter can find their productivity severely diminished. No one wants to deal with equipment issues in the middle of a project.
“When contractors trust their business to equipment that is going to drive their productivity, it’s important that they buy a high-quality product that their teams can rely on, day in and day out,” says Dan Johnson, Global Total Markets Manager at Graco. “I was just at a job site yesterday where a painter was using an Ultimate 695 – a 30-year old model that was still getting it done.”
Knowing your equipment inside and out can be the key to getting the most out of it.
In this article, Johnson explains the major components of an airless paint sprayer, explaining both how each part works and how to choose the right sprayer for your team. Continue reading Choosing an Airless Sprayer: The Six Major Components and What You Need to Know About Them
4 Easy Steps to Help Homeowners Beat Color Decision Paralysis and Start Jobs Faster
First impressions are important, and for homeowners, their guests’ first impression of their home will be its exterior. It’s no wonder so many homeowners want to freshen up their exterior with a fresh coat of paint – and why many of your potential customers want your opinion on their color selection.
Though you may not feel like the right person to ask about this, successfully helping a homeowner decide on a color can help you to close more leads, get jobs scheduled and started on-time, and position yourself as a color hero to your clients. Sue Wadden, Director of Color Marketing at Sherwin-Williams, offers strategies you can use to help your clients select the perfect exterior look.
Continue reading 4 Easy Steps to Help Homeowners Beat Color Decision Paralysis and Start Jobs Faster
Difficult Customers? Here’s How to Deal with the Three Most Common Types
Difficult customers can come in all shapes and sizes. Spend any time as a painting contractor and you’ll run into one eventually. Every contractor can probably recall a customer who made their work so difficult that they started to regret taking the job.
Unfortunately, these situations aren’t only frustrating, but can potentially hurt your business’ reputation if not handled correctly. As such, you need to be prepared for these customers in order to stay successful. And in a competitive marketplace where word-of-mouth is king, retaining customers and generating repeat business can grow your bottom line. In this article, we offer suggestions for how to professionally respond to three of the most common types of difficult customers.
Continue reading Difficult Customers? Here’s How to Deal with the Three Most Common Types
3 Common Taping Mistakes That DIYers Make, and How to Fix Them
Good intentions don’t always yield the best results. And homeowners may not have the know-how or skills required to tackle some of the most basic prepping and painting tasks. When all else fails and a DIY project goes wrong, painting pros are called in to save the day. In this article, we’ve outlined three common DIY mistakes painting professionals encounter with solutions for how to fix them.
Continue reading 3 Common Taping Mistakes That DIYers Make, and How to Fix Them
5 Tips to Help You and Your Crew Beat Workplace Fatigue
Painting can be hard physical labor, and many crews are putting in extra hours. However, a fatigued team can lead to reduced productivity, sloppy work and safety concerns. Here are some considerations for helping your crew stay sharp and energized throughout the day.
Continue reading 5 Tips to Help You and Your Crew Beat Workplace Fatigue
Project Solutions: Quality Work Leads to Repeat Business for Louisiana Paint Pro
Do a great job on one home and the word will soon spread. That’s something Darrell Benson learned a long time ago.
Continue reading Project Solutions: Quality Work Leads to Repeat Business for Louisiana Paint Pro
PRO+ductive Solutions Launched To Help Ease Contractor Challenges
Have you heard yourself say any of the following?
- “I need to be more productive.”
- “I spend more time on paperwork than painting or growing my business.”
- “Most of my jobs require my crews to be efficient – get in, get out, but do a quality job.”
- “Demand for work is higher than ever, I need my crews to do more jobs to keep up with demand.”
If that’s the case, you need all the help you can get to improve your business efficiency and jobsite performance. Continue reading PRO+ductive Solutions Launched To Help Ease Contractor Challenges
7 Questions to Ask Before You Buy a Sprayer
Selecting the right sprayer can improve efficiency and productivity, but only if it’s the right one. This article will help you get the information you need before you buy.
Continue reading 7 Questions to Ask Before You Buy a Sprayer
Are You Stuck in the Weeds? 7 Steps to Avoid the Micromanager Trap
Do you have micromanaging tendencies? With a little self-awareness and some hard work, you can learn to let go. This seven-step approach will help you do it.
Continue reading Are You Stuck in the Weeds? 7 Steps to Avoid the Micromanager Trap
Project Solutions: The Colors of Cape May
In this article, we go behind the scenes to interview professional painting contractor Gerard Gallagher about his specialty: painting historic Victorian homes in the resort town of Cape May, New Jersey.
Continue reading Project Solutions: The Colors of Cape May
Increase Productivity and Profits with New Sprayer Technology
Running a profitable painting business takes a significant investment in time, effort and patience. As a business owner, it’s important to make strategic decisions to maximize profit and keep the business growing. This is especially true with equipment that is relied on every day. Continue reading Increase Productivity and Profits with New Sprayer Technology
Surface Prep: Professional Masking Tips from a 3M Engineer
Q: I’m training new painters on how to professionally mask a job. What tips can you give me for helping them use a hand masker effectively? Continue reading Surface Prep: Professional Masking Tips from a 3M Engineer