ALLPRO Independent January/February 2020

Ind epe n de nt January/February 2020

:SAN ANTONIO: A GU IDE FOR YO UR A LA M O CITY ADVENTURE

M A RKETING MEM O: Agency or In-House

DÉ COR CO MM ITTEE: Diversify Your In-Store Offerings

STOCKHO LDE RS RECAP : Everything You Missed in LA LA Land

An ALLPRO® Publication

ALL ABOARD! DECREASE EMPLOYEE TURNOVER WITH A SOLID ONBOARDING PLAN

AT THE MIKE | YEAR AHEAD

@ A L L PROCOR P

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2020

MI CHAEL BEAUDOI N Executive Vice President ALLPRO Corporation

S P O T L I G H T:

t the time of the writing of this article, we are winding down 2019 with the conclusion of our Stockholders Meeting. Almost immediately after our fall show, we begin to gear up for the spring show and the launch of an exciting new year!

2020 will be a year of investment for ALLPRO. We are dedicating resources on several fronts to ensure that our group can grow in its relevancy and continue to provide more and more value for our members. The first investment that will become available is our mobile scanning app that should be launched and operational before the end of 2019. Our distribution business continues to expand as we become more creative with the products and services that we offer and the new mobile scanning app will allow our member’s associates the ability to view products, inventory, scan items and place orders from their mobile phone. This should make the ordering process efficient and easy!

The next investment will be our improved show app. We originally launched the app at the spring show in 2019 with much success. The show app is intended to

improve the show experience by replacing the signatures in the booth, allow members and suppliers to make appropriate notes from booth visits as well as provide all relevant show information. The improved features enable members and suppliers to make notes and quickly recall a note/scan. The largest upgrade will be realized in the backend with a live connection to the app updating all information in real time, making the app the ultimate tool to enhance the show experience.

The largest venture in 2020 will be the addition of our fourth warehouse in Kansas City, Missouri. The warehouse is currently being built and will service our members in the middle part of the country that currently do not have the proximity to a warehouse for competitive access. This will fulfill a commitment I made back in 2016 with the intent to provide 1 to 2-day service to all members in the continental U.S. with a competitive minimum order requirement.

Our fourth warehouse will be operational before the end of 2020! To further support the warehouse, we are investing in a new SAP system to run the operation and a new Magento website to provide the service, in addition to all the other hardware required to complete the system. This is a large undertaking, accomplished due to the tremendous success of the west coast facility and its success in sustaining operations after only two full years in operation.

Additionally, we are making investments which will greatly improve the efficiency of the payment process. We are partnering with PNC bank to launch a new payment portal that will allow you to pay your bill in the same fashion you pay your household bills. Moving forward you will simply select your payment date and provide account information, doing away with the need to scan or mail in a check payment.

The relaunch of the customer portal will

London Decorating Merchants

14 ALL ABOARD! Decrease Employee Turnover with a Solid Onboarding Plan

Johnston’s Paint and Decorating

18 A Guide for Your Alamo City Adventure

give our members the ability to electronically manage their payment by documenting the exceptions and balancing the payment. This will greatly improve accuracy and cut down the time it takes to prepare your payment.

Another major investment will be to our shows. We have been focusing more resources to the show experience to continually enhance the benefits to our members. This year’s spring show is at a new property in San Antonio, TX at the JW Marriott and we have several enrichments on tap to make this show one to remember! For the first time in several years we are hosting an organized event on Friday after the exhibits - a 5K Run/Walk! This fun event will be open to all through advanced registration and is sure to be a great way to get moving with your peers. The event will be professionally managed, and will allow any serious runners to make this an official race and casual runners and walkers the opportunity to participate with friends from near and far. Culminating with finish line refreshments (a.k.a. beer!), lunch and music it’s sure to be a great time for participants and spectators alike. We encourage all of our members and suppliers to participate.

Featured on the show floor will be an official “ALLPRO Store” with more than 50 plus feet of ALLPRO branded product merchandised on display with great deals to allow our members to expand their support of the brand. In an effort to rival the 2019 show’s closing concert with Jefferson Starship, this year will also be capped off with a closing party to remember.

Our group will travel by bus 16 miles off property to a live working cattle ranch (Knibbe Ranch). There we will enjoy a Texas style cook out, country band, fireworks, fire pits and tour this amazing ranch that has been in operation since 1852. This will be a great Texas-sized way to conclude our show and celebrate being part of ALLPRO.

24 Fall Show Recap: Best Practices with Chris Johnson

32 Marketing Memo: Agency or In-House

28 Décor Committee: Level Up Your Store’s Appeal

38 Final Coat: Members Making an Impact

January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT | 3

INDEPENDENTS | ON THE BLOCK

Co n gra t ul a tions to all t he n ew ad d i t i o n s to our A L LPRO family!

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1

WELCOME NEW MEMBER BOISE PAINT & SUPPLY OF BOISE Please join us in welcoming Boise Paint & Supply of Boise, ID to the ALLPRO family of independent retailers.

FARRELL-CALHOUN CO., INC. has opened a new store in Knoxville, TN. PAINT SHOP has opened a new location in Glovertown, Newfoundland.

LEBANON PAINT has opened a new store in Walpole, NH.

ALLPRO Leadership President Elliot Greenberg Executive Vice President Mike Beaudoin Vice President of Merchandising Scott Morath Marketing Coordinator Susie Fontana

ROOSTERS PAINT CENTER has added a new location in Cedar Park, TX. W.E. AUBUCHON CO., INC. has added a new store in Lyndonville, VT.

About ALLPRO Independent We are a bimonthly publication dedicated to strengthening the ALLPRO community with relevant stories and news. Your suggestions, opinions and feedback are encouraged.

How to Reach Us Write to us at ALLPRO Corporation 4946 Joanne Kearney Blvd., Tampa, FL 33619 Or contact us at 813.628.4800 or by email at allpro@allprocorp.com All publishing services provided by Gallon Creative www.galloncreative.com

In Memoriam Thomas A. Forsberg On November 5th, 2019, Thomas A. Forsberg, a cherished member of the ALLPRO family, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by loved ones after a battle with cancer. Tom was a dear friend and a beloved co-worker, working at Leaktite for over thirty years before retiring as Vice President of Sales. Over the years, Tom made tremendous contributions to our industry both in a professional and personal capacity. Tom was extremely active in his community and genuinely loved meeting new people, travelling, and spending time with his two grandchildren (Alexis and Alexander). Tom leaves behind his wife, Audrey, two daughters, Lisa and Tammy, and a brother Steven. He is survived by a nephew, Davin, and his family (wife, Emily, and daughters, Anna and Julia). He will be deeply missed by all.

A memorial service was held on November 16th, 2019 at Nordgren Funeral Home in his hometown of Worchester.

We take this opportunity to remember Thomas and his generous spirit, which was a light in all of the lives who had the pleasure of knowing him, and we thank him for his tireless commitment to our industry and community.

He will not soon be forgotten. RIP.

4 | January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

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6 | November/December 2019 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

Natale Towell Photography

Pictured: Steve Murphy and James Taylor

SPOTLIGHT | LDM GROUP

ldm group ecently, we were lucky enough to welcome our first ALLPRO member from across the pond in England to our family. This year, our new UK members, London Decorator Merchants, or LDM Group, is celebrating thirty years in business and the opening of six new stores. Owner, James Taylor and Manager, Steve Murphy, are clearly doing something right, and we got the chance to catch up with them at our Fall Stockholders Meeting to talk shop and learn about the evolution of their multi-branch operation.

Although the pair are clearly experiencing success in their industry now, like most independent dealers, the road there was not without its hurdles. It all began when James’ father purchased a wallpaper store after a genetic eye condition made it difficult for him to continue his work as a plumber. James was seventeen and working in management accounts for a travel company when his father asked him to come help out “for a couple of weeks…” James quickly became personally invested in this new venture and stayed on, eventually buying his parents out in 2010. “In the beginning,” James shares, “we were making no money. My dad went from earning a good salary as a plumber to earning practically nothing. It was terrible, but so exciting.” After James and his father were able to buy a bigger space to replace the smaller shop they were renting, things began to pick up. Shortly after his parent’s retirement and signing a lease at a warehouse to help with the wholesale bit of his business, James was on the hunt for a solid manager to help out with operations. “I was lucky enough to get a phone call from James,” recalls Steve, who was working as an assistant manager for a competitor, traveling to struggling branches to help bring them back into prosperity at the time. Steve was ready for a change of pace too, joking that James “saved” him with that phone call. The partnership proved to be a beneficial move for both of them, with James giving the credit for their ability to expand as quickly as they have in recent years to Steve. “I don’t think anyone could possibly foresee the things involved in owning your own business,” admits James, but having a solid right-hand man certainly softens those blows, proving that two heads are, indeed, better than one.

In joining ALLPRO (a suggestion from one of their suppliers), they had the opportunity to connect with other retailers dealing with similar experiences, something they haven’t been able to do back home in England. “You would never talk to your competitors about business,” comments Steve. “To see so many independents doing so well and not selling... and not giving up was a real breath of fresh air.” “It’s really nice to bounce ideas off of people you aren’t directly competing against,” adds James. Sometimes, a little inspiration is all you need to keep moving forword.

January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT | 7

James and Steve run the business with an openness and eagerness to learn and listen that allows them to easily adapt to a rapidly shifting industry. “Always listen,” Steve advises.

Elaborating, he shares, “Even if you might not want to hear the bit of advice. Always listen to what people have to say to you. If it’s worth taking on board, then do it. If it’s not, just take it and save it for another day.” This agility is evidently a main differentiator for them, as so many independent dealers in their market are being snatched up by bigger chains. “They won’t always buy you out, but they’ll open up a store right across the street from you and run you out of business,” James cautions. Reflecting on the last year, which saw the opening of six new stores but also their fair share of challenges, Steve argues “It isn’t about the setbacks, it’s just about getting up and trying again. We’ve had a lot of setbacks in the last year, but we’ve come out stronger on the other side. We’re forever learning from our mistakes, and when other people try to impress themselves on us and try to push us back, we’re more than happy to push forward and keep going.” This sentiment is a lesson in resilience that we can all take away from, but it also speaks to the attention they pay to the evolving market and its demands. “We’re trying to do more of the DIY stuff now. We specialize on the paint, but a lot of the most successful stores now are sort of the one-stopshop. We try to diversify as much as we can without moving away from our core business,” says James.

Further evidence of their forward-thinking attitude is a recent acquisition of an environmentally friendly paint store, and their efforts in bringing eco-paint products into all of their branches. A vegan eco-paint, “Nutshell”, will soon be available on their shelves.

It’s clear that this move goes beyond good PR, as James and Steve had to work at finding a way to source the ingredients locally after concerns arose about the carbon emissions involved in shipping the product in. They also recycle all their paint waste and are currently putting the finishing touches on a tree-planting initiative.

It’s clear that James and Steve have the brain for business, but they also have the heart. When asked about what they were most proud of, they come back to their employees. “Without a doubt the most rewarding bit is getting the guys from entry-level when they first walk in the door, when all they know about paint is it’s wet, to progressing them to management,” comments Steve. “We have a girl named Nathalie who works for us who was a decorator.

When she first came to work for us, she didn’t have a clue how to talk to a customer. And now she’s our best manager. Not even by a little bit,” shares James, recalling a particular employee’s evolution fondly. “And that’s what I love about working with people. When you get the good ones, they really make you so proud.”

Although there’s an ocean separating London Decorators Merchants from the bulk of our ALLPRO community, it seems the fundamentals of this business remain the same. We’re so proud to call you one of us and we wish you continued success in 2020 and beyond!

Lon don De c ora t o r s M e r c h a n t s c urre ntly h av e t e n b r a n c h e s i n the Lond on area .

8 | January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

a

Q:

fav o u r i t e pa i n t c o lo r ?

J: WHITE, I LIKE IT NICE AND SIMPLE. S: CHELSEA. ROYAL BLUE. IT’S A FOOTBALL THING.

Q : Mor n in g B ir d or N ight Owl? J: I don’t get up as early as Steve, but I don’t like late nights. I like to be in bed early. I do like to have a magic nap sometime throughout the day.

S: I’m up at the crack of dawn and sometimes before.

Q : F avou r it e S por t s T eam?

J: Crystal Palace S: Chelsea A bit of rivalry in the store!

10 | September/October 2019 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

SPOTLIGHT | JOHNSTON PAINT

johnston paint

Photography, Kat Merriman

ohnston Paint & Decorating has been a community staple in Columbia, Missouri for over ninety years, but it recently came into new ownership after previous owners, Gary and Ron, retired on January 1st of 2014, passing their beloved business on to the next generation. Thankfully, new owners Melissa, Gary’s niece, and Corey, Ron’s son, alongside their third owner, Blair Murphy, have been able to carry on Johnston’s legacy while still evolving with the times, underscoring the power of a strong set of values and a great employee culture; values Johnston Paint have been strong proponents of since day one.

Although they’re now holding the reigns, at one point, they saw themselves moving in a different direction. After high school, Corey went to university to earn an accounting degree, working as a delivery driver at Johnston’s to pay his way through school. “He probably thought he was going to go off and work in the private sector,” recalls Melissa, “but he grew up in the paint store. He was the little kid coming in and unloading trucks,” so it made sense for him to take things over. “For me, it was something that evolved over time,” shares Corey, looking back on his interview with his father and Gary when he decided to work at the store full time. “My dad was so pissed off because I showed up with my hat on backwards,” laughs Corey.

Melissa began working for Johnston while she was in college, answering phones, ordering wallpaper, and vacuuming the floors when she first started out. “I think it’s always in an entrepreneur’s skillset to continue taking

on jobs and learn more about them and tweak them as you work on them and then move on to the next level,” says Melissa, who felt a calling toward the industry half-way through her degree and promptly decided to switch her major to interior design. After graduating and getting married, she left Johnston’s briefly and worked as an event planner, eventually coming back full-time. As time progressed, they both fell into larger roles, gaining the responsibility and the experience they needed to run the business along the way. “We really have done all the jobs here. There’s nothing that happens here that we haven’t done between us,” comments Melissa. “I think it gives us the perspective we need to guide the employees that are doing these jobs every day.”

Being a good boss is something all three owners are hyper-focused on. Corey reveals he didn’t realize how important employees really were until he became an owner himself, sharing, “There are just so many little things that you have no idea about until you’re actually the one in charge.” “Sometimes the little things are the big things and the big things are the little things,” Melissa adds in reference to the HR component that they say occupies a lot of their energy. “[My Father] always taught me to lead by example and work hard, and not to ask anybody to do anything that you haven’t done or aren’t willing to do,” shares Corey, who clearly emulates this sentiment in his business practices to the fullest degree. “Making sure that you have the right people on your team and they’re happy,” is a chief concern, but also a motivating factor for both Melissa

Pictured at left: Blair Murphy - Owner; Matt Ryan - Manager; Corey Turner - Owner; Melissa Murphy - Owner January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT | 11

and Corey, who voice that, “watching their employees grow and being able to provide for and empower them,” is the most rewarding part about what they do.

“We recently had an opportunity with an employee where we were able to offer him a pay raise based on his job performance and the length of time he had been with us and it was really nice to see him and his wife do some different things because of that increase,” shares Melissa. It’s evident their commitment to their employees goes above and beyond the normal parameters of workplace camaraderie. “It’s to the point where for our employees we’re a work family. We’re with each other more often than we’re not. When there’s a death in the family or a sick child, or someone is running over to pick somebody up from the auto shop or filling in for them so they can go to the doctor.” Johnston Paint’s caring culture has even lead to adjustments to their printed manual to accommodate extra days off for employees when they were going through tough times and the current policy didn’t offer enough.

This generous spirit extends toward the larger community as well, “Columbia has made us who we are and we don’t forget that,” states Corey. “We put our money into the organizations that impact our customers and our community.

I think that’s pretty rare. It’s been an intentional decision that we continue to grow each year. But we really believe that our marketing dollars are better spent being re-invested in not-for-profit or charitable organizations than being invested in a radio ad or a billboard,” shares Melissa, adding, “our marketing is like we are. We’ve been around for ninety-some years and when people

Q: W h at’s your f a vo r i t e p a i n t c o lo r ?: A: “Easy! Benjamin Moore is a huge sponsor of the Chicago Cubs and they have a color called: Fly The W Blue.” – Corey Q: W h at’s your f a vo r i t e lo c a l f o o d ? : A: “Shakespeare’s Pizza. It’s a really cool kind of college town pizza joint.” – Corey “A little Asian Fusion bistro called Le Bao.” – Melissa

12 | January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

are ready for [a project] we want to be top of mind.” One of their many community-facing projects (far too many to list!) incorporates an environmental component as well, wherein they collect loose scraps of carpet throughout the year and create rugs to be given to local teachers.

“It’s a lot better than ditching the stuff in the dumpsters,” suggests Melissa, “and it’s become one of our largest outreach events.”

Johnston Paint & Decorating didn’t get to where they are today without a strong philosophy that guides them through. Melissa has a sign hanging above her desk that reads: “Do the right thing, right the first time, on time, all the time, and always to the customer’s satisfaction.” She feels it’s emblematic of values that their store has worked toward for the last ninety-five years, and something they strive to continue doing by empowering their employees.

Of course, there are still the occasional hiccups. “When something does happen we’re going to work as quickly as possible to make it right knowing that this person has had a longer history with us and hopefully a future moving forward as well.”

Between their philanthropy within their larger community and their tireless commitment to improving the lives of their employees and customers (many of which the owners now refer to as friends), they’ve set themselves up soundly for success as they drive the new generation of Johnston Paint & Decorating into the future. From all of us at ALLPRO, congratulations on your continued to success; we can’t wait to see what you do next!

Johnston Paint & Decor became ALLPRO members in 2007 and they now feel the organization is a big part of their store’s identity. “The programs that are put together allow us to buy more competitively. The ALLPRO private label allows us to be more competitive on price and a huge benefit is the networking with other dealers at the shows, learning how different stores do things across the country.

It’s a really cool group with a really cool culture,” shares Corey.

D L O !

K B O O L W E N E SAM

T C U OD

R P T GREA

SINCE 1851

The Wooster Brush Company • Wooster, OH • 800.392.7246 • woosterbrush.com

INDEPENDENTS | ONBOARDING

All Aboard!

Decrease Employee Turnover With A Solid Onboarding Plan

or many independent retailers, one of the biggest barriers to business success is high employee turnover. When you’re suffering from a revolving door problem, basic elements of operation become strained. Beyond the valuable resources constantly invested in training and re-training new hires, short-term employees often don’t have the opportunity to develop the customer service skills, product knowledge, and cultureawareness that correlate positively with performance. When an employee is at their best, they increase customer loyalty,

retention, and overall sales.

Additionally, when employees do not consider a work-place as a long-term fit, they are less likely to invest personal stake that allows them to care like owners. At the CanPro fall meeting in Toronto, members tackled this problem head-on, taking a solutions-oriented approach to this age-old issue.

The key to encouraging your employees to think of you as end-game potential? Win new hires over on day one with a comprehensive onboarding plan.

plays a sport

has a birthday this month

likes to sing karaoke

has been out of the country

has worked here the longest

owns a pet that isn’t a dog or cat

has more than 3 children

is left handed

failed their first driving test

favorite color is orange

plays in a band

owns a white car

te am building scavenger hunt Build workplace cluture and staff connections with this fun introduction to the people that mix paint together. Customize it for your store and city, adding local events, sports teams and little known facts.

New hires are tasked with finding a co-worker that falls under each square. Make sure there is a prize!

14 | January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

Statistically, the top three reasons why businesses struggle to retain good people are: dissatisfaction with senior management (41%), lack of opportunity to advance (45%), the work environment or culture (36%). The good news? These are areas that can be targeted and strengthened by focusing on our four steps.

In each of these steps, it’s crucial to keep in mind the organizational (how you work and how things work at your company), technical (get your new-hire comfortable using your tools), and social (engaging and connecting with your team) aspects of the onboarding process.

Provide an Informative Orientation: teaching them the lay of the land (remember, no one likes surprises, especially on their first day). Give them a package that includes all the essentials, like any paperwork that needs to be completed, a notepad, their name-tag, an invite to lunch and an agenda for the first week.

Training: Provide adequate training in all the technical aspects of their role.

Planning and Goal Setting: Outline a schedule so your employee can begin planning out their days and layout performance expectations (remember, this is a two-way conversation which should articulate what your new hire can expect from you as well).

Check-In: Schedule a time to sit down with your new-hire in the near future to discuss how things have progressed.

This is an opportunity for you to ensure they’re on the right track and for them to raise any concerns.

Set a few clear onboarding benchmarks ensuring you’re clear about what tasks, procedures and product knowledge are to be learned. Test this knowledge with fun quizzes measuring retention, engagement and how effective the training is. Assessment will tell you how well you’re mentoring the new hire — if they don’t perform well on a quiz you’re not doing a good job!

January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT | 15

DAILY MIX | ONBOARDING

n effective onboarding plan can decrease turnover, increase performance, and increase revenue and with each repetition of the process, you’ll optimize. This is why you’ll want to set your own specific onboarding goals for each new-hire. In doing so, remember that employee fit starts with compliance but ends with connection. In between, you need your employee to clarify the why behind what your company does and how their role fits into that mission, and get your new-hire to buy into your culture. With the latter, it helps to have a clearly defined set of values that you feel is representative of your business and by extension, your employees. We are all narratological thinkers, so an excellent way to help employees understand what you stand for is by telling stories that you feel reflect those values.

In terms of encouraging your new-hire to interact and connect with the rest of the team, it’s a good idea to start by sharing something personal yourself. Leave room for bonding in the workplace, whether it’s setting up a team-building outing or having a take your pet to work day.

With a great onboarding plan, you have the opportunity to make a positive impression from day one, and by creating an environment in which you and your employee stay on the same page (continue to check-in and open dialogue established during the onboarding process), you’ll also be able to nip any missteps in the bud.

Did you know that a solid onboarding plan can increase the likelihood your new hires will stay on for at least three years by 69%?

16 | January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

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INDEPENDENT | SPRING SHOW

A Guide to Your Alamo City Adventure his March, our ALLPRO family will gather at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in the historic region of Cibolos County, for our annual Spring Show. In addition to the plethora of activities, workshops, and networking events we have planned for our members, this trip also offers an opportunity to explore San Antonio’s rich cultural scene and soak in its natural beauty. In a city that feels so deeply rooted in America’s history, with inspiration lurking around every corner, we’re confident our members will find this year’s conference one to remember.

meandering through the greenery. The lazy river is just one of many aquatic features of the iconic River Bluff Water Experience you’ll want to check out. With areas specifically engineered to satisfy every guest’s needs, the water park strikes a perfect marriage between rest and relaxation and fun in the sun. The grounds also boast a 36-hole golf course, the Lantana Spa, several hiking and biking trails, and numerous restaurants to satisfy any craving (complete with a Starbucks on site!).

For dinner, we recommend 18 Oaks, a steakhouse with a luxurious feel and explosive flavors.

Nestled along the outskirts of San Antonio city and outfitted with a dizzying array of amenities, the Marriott is the perfect hub to call home for the weekend. The hotel, which would be better described as a palace, looks out onto a sprawling 600 acres of land forested with mature oak trees and features a winding 1,100 foot lazy river

Due to the wide range of amenities, most guests find it difficult to muster the desire to leave the hotel’s grounds (the San Antonio location is the Marriott’s largest property to date), but if you find yourself heading

18 | January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

into the city (and we don’t blame you—there’s so much to see!), be sure to see The Alamo, the world-renowned structure, which was the site of a pivotal moment in the Texas Revolution. After a thirteen day siege, Mexican troops reclaimed the Alamo Mission, killing all of its Texan and immigrant occupants, and displaying a brutality that inspired many Texan settlers and immigrants to join the Texan Army, facilitating their ultimate victory one month later. The always delicious cottage-inspired Geunther House is the perfect spot to distill all the history you soak in and refuel with home-style dishes.

While in the city limits, we recommend The San Antonio River Walk, a city park that runs along the gorgeous San Antonio River and a crucial part of the city’s cultural fabric. The park is lined with bars, shops, and other tourist-friendly stops. In the downtown area, you can find the Historic Market Square, a favorite among tourists and locals alike, where you can browse shops, consume delicious Tex Mex at La Tierra restaurant, and bask in the city’s dynamic atmosphere of music, heritage, and art.

Between the extraordinary comforts and offerings of the Marriott and the vibrancy of the cityscape, you’ll have no trouble kicking back and enjoying a wonderful weekend filled with learning and exploration. We look forward to welcoming you!

Sm a l l Ta lk in the B i g Ci ty Are you sick of leaving events with your plans of making meaningful connections with your industry peers dead in the water? You can have the best of intentions to step outside your comfort zone and branch out, but for most of us, without an actionable plan these hopes rarely materialize. Sometimes, all it takes is one question to bridge the gap toward connection and spark a productive interaction, so here are a few tools to add to your toolbox that will help you along at your next encounter: • • • • •

How long have you been in the industry?

Where is your store located?

What are you most looking forward to at this event?

What do you hope to learn/get out of this weekend?

What’s your favorite part about what you do?

• • • • •

What are your future plans for your business?

Anything in the city you really want to see before you leave?

What restaurants have you checked out at the hotel?

Do you know how many people are here?

Is this your first time attending an ALLPRO event?

The secret to interacting well with people is to get them talking (everyone loves to talk about themselves, so long as our listeners are genuinely interested). From there, you’ll be cruising! Remember that it’s okay to feel uncomfortable, and it’s even okay to show that discomfort. A little vulnerability can go a long way when it comes to forging new friendships.

And don’t forget to HAVE FUN!

January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT | 19

ALLPRO PULSE | APPS

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San Antonio JW Marriott Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa The Alamo The San Antonio River Walk Historic Market Square Tex Mex at La Tierra Knibbe Ranch

T E X A N R E TA I L E R S 1. Ashmore Paint Company 2. Chapman’s Paint Company 3. Clement’s Paint & Decorating 4. Epic Paint 5. Texas Paint & Distribution 6. Heritage Paint & Decorating Centers 7. Roosters Paint 8. Landmark Paint & Supply 9. Laredo Paint & Decorating 10. Lone Star Paint 11. McCown Paint Paint & Supply 12. Murphy Bros. Paint 13. Paint Center 14. Paint Etc. 15. Paint Warehouse 16. Royal Lane Custom Paint & Supply 17. Southwestern Paint Company 18. TCI Coatings 19. Texas Paint & Wallpaper 20. Tri-County Paint & Spray 21. Wigley’s Paint

r a m p u p th e r ig h t way : How to Prepare for our 5K Charity Run/Walk

Not exactly in fighting form for our 5K charity event? Don’t sweat it. You’ve got plenty of time to prepare and we’ve got just the guide you need to put your right foot forward on

run-day. We’ve put together our top tips from the experts to ensure you have a happy and healthy afternoon of running or walking for a great cause!

a few cardinal rules to remember: 1. m aste r you r p r e- e v e n t r i t u a l Diving right into rigorous activity is never a good idea. Create a warm-up routine that involves stretching and some light to moderate movement to prevent muscle-tearing and get your blood flowing.

2. St art Som e wh e r e And we mean anywhere. Even if you’ve never walked/run distances before, you can start small (with ten or fifteen minute excursions) three times a week, and slowly build up to longer times as your confidence and stamina allows. Experts recommend starting at least nine weeks before the event.

3. st op slow Never go from sprinting or speed walking to a hard stop. Just as you ease into exercise, you’ll want to ease out of it as well with a light five minute cool-down walk followed by some light stretching.

4. k e e p a t rai n i n g lo g It’s a good idea to keep a record or journal of your training where you can keep track of your progress and how you’re feeling throughout. This helps you keep yourself accountable and it’ll be great to look back on how far you’ve come!

5. G i v e you rse lf t i m e t o r e s t While it’s important to stick to your commitments, it’s also important to listen to your body. Take at least one rest day per week so your muscles have time to recover. Experts recommend running three to four days a week.

6. C onsi d e r C ro s s- t r a i n i n g If you’re struggling with your cardio, it might be a good idea to try another form of activity once a week that will help strengthen your endurance without putting more stress on the same muscle groups.

22 | January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

The Couch to 5K guide is an app that can be downloaded on all smartphones and an excellent companion for training, offering a weekly and manageable schedule of running that will help prepare your body and your mindset. The app breaks down the timing and intensity of your training into nine weeks, helping you stay on track!

Use MapMyWalk to keep standard metrics and readings with easy to read charts and graphs that detail things like your route, distance, time, and even calories burned. There’s a cool social component that lets you share walking routes with friends and send messages.

make moves, together.

Start an in-store challenge and get the whole crew training together, comparing tips and notes and sharing in their progress!

STOCKHOLDERS | FALL RECAP

la la land Nearly 600 attendees converged in LA’s city center this past November, at the ALLPRO Fall Stockholder Meeting held at the well-appointed J.W. Marriott LA Live. Members and exhibitors travelled from near and as far away as the United Kingdom to share ideas, shop the show, forge new friendships and enjoy the Golden State. Guests of the show got up to all kinds of fun, from taking in the Clippers or the Lakers, enjoying a cocktail at the Polo Lounge (we heard a Vanderpump and Brian Austin Green were sighted!), exploring the surf and sand and learning about many new ideas, practices and exciting products.

hris Johnson is the bestselling author of On Target Living and co-author of Capacity. He has presented on thousands of stages in the US and internationally including most recently at the ALLPRO fall meeting in LA. Chris has a unique approach, which flies in the face of convention by showing us how to unleash human potential and create transformation from the inside out.

Retailers that enjoyed the active presentation, learned the benefits of cod liver oil (sampled some too!), starting the day off with some lemon water is the perfect antioxidant and how to take small steps toward healthier living both at home and at work.

24 | January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

Best Practices from Chris: REST

• Sleep 7-8 hours per night - keep the room dark, quiet and lower temperature to 65°F • Belly breathing – take deep breaths into your belly rather than your chest, aim for 5-10 each day for stress reduction and better sleep • Magnesium is a calming mineral which helps to relax our mind and body. Magnesium rich foods include: cacao nibs, figs, leafy greens, wheatgrass, nuts and seeds • Soak once or twice a week for 10 minutes with 2-3 cups of Epsom salt in a bath • Get more sunlight - natural white light can help the body balance your sleep hormone, melatonin • Limit stimulating blue light one hour before bedtime – put away the computer, TV, cell phone, tablet • Give yourself white space – time for reading, travel, massage, planned recovery • Finish your shower with cold water for 30-60 seconds as a way to rejuvenate the body and immune system

EAT

• Drink half your body weight in ounces of water everyday • Mineral water with lemon or lime will help balance pH & improve digestion • Wheatgrass – have 2-5 frozen ice cubes first thing in the morning with water • Spirulina Chlorella – take 10-20 tablets each day • Healthy Fats – enjoy 1-2 tbsp. cod liver oil + 2 tbsp. flaxseeds or chia seeds daily • Eat more whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, ancient grains, oats, lean meats • Have small frequent meals every 3-4 hours to balance energy • Stock up on healthy foods and prep food ahead of time • Cook more meals at home - becoming healthier truly starts with cooking more meals at home

hile it’s most important for an employer to provide a safe and healthy workplace, it’s also important to encourage healthy lifestyles among their employees. Great employees are the best asset of every store and putting effort into their wellness with clean eating, movement, hydration, stress reduction and a supportive environment at work will most certainly mean happier and healthier employees who perform better to boot. Having healthy employees reduces time taken in leave, increases productivity, creates more motivated and pleasant moods and importantly displays that you care for your team and their well being. Bring your team together to learn how to improve their health both at work and at home.

Remember to monitor your successes and ask your team for feedback to keep them involved in a wellness strategy, take baby steps and make small changes together one or two at a time. Feel free to reward your team with prizes for participation or random draws, just be careful not make it competitive in a way that it adds stress.

TRY THESE IDEAS TO START YOUR JOURNEY TO A HEALTHIER WORKPLACE FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM: • Provide a fridge to bring in healthy lunches from home • Buy healthy lunches for team meetings • Replace sugary drinks in your staff fridge with a jug of infused water, try different infusions for variety (staff could take turns and vote on the best variety) • Provide a fruit bowl for free fruit • Try stand up meetings

MOVE

• Practice good posture everywhere – seated, standing, work, play, gym • Take micro breaks during your work day - 3 minutes of dynamic stretching or 5 minutes of yoga poses • Strength training will stimulate fat burning and sex hormones that can make your body healthier - aim for 15-45 minutes, 2-6 times per week • Get your heart rate pumping with cardiovascular movement for 15-25 minutes, 2-6 times per week • Play! find an activity that you enjoy and gets you moving - pick an event to train for like a biking trip or hike the Grand Canyon, take up a new sport or rekindle your passion for an old one

• Consider installing a juicer, blender and sandwich press so your team can make their lunches • Get staff together for theme day/week lunches or healthy potlucks • Provide wearable trackers such as a Fitbit or Jawbone to all the team and set a step goal • Encourage walking meetings (around the block, anyone?)

• Create and fund an employee sports team • Enter employees in fun runs and charity events • Invite a speaker for a “lunch and learn” about fitness or nutrition • Bike to work day • Buy employees a gym membership or fitness class as a gift • Have a yoga instructor or fitness coach come in and run sessions in the workplace • Research take out choices in the area so the team knows what’s convenient but still healthful • Install standing desks, cycle chairs, or balls for sitting • Learn to read and understand food lables as a group • Have an expert come in and review ergonomic environment • Encourage the team to take regular breaks during the day to stretch and move ORGANIZE A GOAL FOR EACH WEEK, SUCH AS: • I will eat breakfast every morning • I will eat 5-7 vegetables each day • I will have cod liver oil each day

At the Stockholders Meeting in Los Angeles, ALLPRO recognized our outgoing president, board, and committee members: Glen Morosohk – president; Dan Hessler – board member; Anthony Ward – purchasing committee chair; Walter Rafolski, Ray Donahue, and Mike St. Pierre – purchasing committee members; Andy January and Kelly Scott – decorating products committee members. Thank you for your dedication and contributions to ALLPRO as well as your service on these various committees.

session summaries Pathways to Profit with Dan Tratensek, Executive Vice President, NHRA

In this fast-paced session Dan explained how paying attention to the details of the lines between the top and bottom of your financial statements can provide an easy-to-follow pathway to success.

Reviewing some examples detailed in the NHRA/PDRA’s 2019 Cost of Doing Business Study, Dan highlighted store habits that result in a 6.1% profit margin compared to those of a store with a 2.3% profit margin, as reported by average profit stores. Some key examples shared were that high profit stores show more product on the floor per square foot for people to purchase and that the reported per transaction total is greater in higher profit stores. Dan’s strategies and examples demonstrated a comprehensive dig into the retail profit model, how to break that model down into easy to understand parts and use it to build a plan for growing business in 2020.

Loss Prevention and Your Bottom Line with Joe Szvetitz, Partner, Risk Management Services

Loss protection is any action taken to reduce the amount of theft, breakage and waste in the business, protecting company assets and providing a safe environment for your employees and for your customers. Joe shared examples of safe action for an in-store situation where you suspect property is at risk. While good customer service is always best practice it was most interesting to learn why it is a positive strategy in loss prevention by customer theft. Did you know employee theft results in a higher average dollar amount at $1300 per incident vs a shoplifter at $300? Employees can dig deeper into your pocket with incidents of theft and the session covered recognizing red flags, return fraud (causes/methods/remedies), and the best tools and strategies to protect your business. Attending members are now armed with the power of knowledge to combat losses and protect bottom-line profit.

26 | January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

DÉcor Done Right with Shannon Scarrella, Hirshfield’s and Sharon McGuckin, JC Licht

Shannon and Sharon shared their expertise in the window treatments category with a soup to nuts overview of getting started either by dipping in your toe or taking a swan dive into selling blinds in store or in home. Either way, what’s better than zero inventory and taking cash in advance for orders? These window world mavens shared their know-how with their audiences on topics such as assessing market potential, business model options, the sales team, and the costs and set up associated with having a décor division.

Hire and Retain Talent with STAR Model with Matt Kerzner, Director, Center for Family Business Excellence When looking for talent for your family business it’s critical that people are invested in learning, are of good character and that they’re a good cultural fit. Matt introduced us to the STAR (Situation/Tasks, Action Steps, and Results) model of the interview process, showing us how to develop behavior based questions, red flags to be mindful of to help predict future performance of candidates and ultimately ensure we always have the right person for the right job. Matt shared his insight into interview questions that shouldn’t be asked and the importance of asking for detailed responses to interview questions.

How to Build a Lacquer Program with Rob Gunnare, Hirshfield’s and Brian Perla, JC Licht

Brian and Rob took us through the potential for many opportunities in the wood coatings business to grow a lacquer business beyond simply servicing cabinet makers. They provided a realistic summary of the investment required to undertake the set up of a well rounded and thoughtful department and exactly what was required to make that happen from inventory, supplies and equipment to staff and the commitment necessary to build the segment. These gentlemen shared their vast knowledge of specialty wood coatings and just where to find customers in an info-packed session!

Color is transformative. It inspires. It soothes. It excites. But, it’s not art until it’s had a proper shake and mix—that’s where we come in. The only way to ensure a proper paint job is to shake it up with the best—a Radia machine. Your customers deserve that.

From paint chip to “WOW” on the wall.

DECOR | DABBLE IN DECOR

ready to dabble in dÉcor? s it time to diversify and offer your customers more?

There are a number of benefits that accompany the introduction of décor into your retail offerings, from increasing your store’s appeal to enhancing your marketing channels overall reach. As a paint store, we’re all trying to help our customers see the potential of their homes, and décor is an

Adding a Décor department need not be a daunting endeavor; here are a few small ideas that can have a big impact:

amazing way to enable a clearer final vision while clarifying your brand image.

Today’s customer expects convenience, regardless of their price point, so having this added aesthetic element and greater range of supplies can help your clients see the whole picture, and use your store as a source to complete it.

1. ad d cab in et har dwar e This is an easy sell to DIY folk who may be painting a piece of furniture or other cabinetry and want to customize it to their style. If you have contractors who do a lot of cabinet painting this is a great service they can provide to their customers through your store as well.

2. ad d win d ow t r eat men t s Even if you start with a couple offerings (we recommend rollers or cellular), you can learn them well and add more to your portfolio as your comfort level increases and you see that the demand is there.

3. In cor por at e local ar t is an s The modern customer loves to support local businesses, and as an independent retailer, it’s good for your brand to support local artists. Offer a consignment model or invest in local artists’ craft for resale.

4. S ell you r b r an d Partner with a local graphic designer/team and make some fun and wellmade apparel or totes with your logo and merchandise yourself. The clothing will act as a walking advertisement while also creating community around your business.

5. Ad d a lin e of can d les If you’re just warming up to the idea of décor in your store, an excellent place to start is with a line of candles or home scents. It’s the perfect lowprice-point piece that people will purchase for themselves and as gifts. Also, they will make your store smell great and make the shopping experience more enjoyable for customers.

6. Keep s eas on alit y in min d Pay attention to the special items that surge in popularity during certain times of the year. If you’re wanting to begin incorporating décor but want to give it a try without worrying about a long-term commitment, focus on selecting a few key items central to a seasonal theme as an in-store experiment and see how it goes!

28 | January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

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generate more leads & expand your reach: A Guide for Making Strides in Your Market In this highly competitive marketplace it’s wise to focus some time, energy and even cash on gaining new customers. There are multiple ways to accomplish this, but the best results come from a multi-faceted approach. In all cases, remember that success

requires patience and repetition, and it usually takes a while before you see the results, but consistency is key! Try these tips to generate leads for your window treatments department, in home consultations or even new paint customers:

• Determine an affordable spiff price per lead and let your team know you’ll be paying out cold hard cash just for talking about additional services. You can spiff your staff if the lead pans out or becomes a sale.

• Experiment by trying some Google AdWords campaigns on your own, or, for a dramatic return on investment hire a professional to take it to the next level. AdWords can be labor intensive and there’s an inevitable learning curve - but it will be well worth the investment.

• Ask satisfied clients for a referral. You can spiff a referral from a customer with a discount on future purchases or a gift or gift card if the referral is successful.

• Look for cross branding opportunities. Partner with window replacement companies to receive a lead when they install new windows in a home. If you can get into a house that just replaced their windows and make a sale it’s well worth a kick back!

• Many clients will read what others say about you. Ask happy customers to tell others about their experience. Set up a tablet at your point of sale area and get customers to review you while their paint shakes. You can offer an incentive or discount for this and have them sign up for your e-news and follow your feeds at the same time with a discount that increases for each.

• Utilize Facebook and Instagram to increase your brand visibility.

Lovely imagery will entice people to seek your expertise so be sure your feed is on point and to promote your posts as much as your budget allows. The more your content is seen the better it will perform.

scripts for spiffs When your paint team is helping customers find a color in-store, they automatically hold a captive audience and are positioned in the minds of customers as experts. It’s a good idea to capitalize on these opportunities where your customer is already engaged, where you can suggest other services and products to customers and offer them the convenience, knowledge and service your team can provide.

There’s a good chance they aren’t aware of the breadth of your store’s offerings, and most customers would prefer to give their business to someone they already have a relationship with rather than seeking out someone new. Remember they already trust you with their paint and color… asking to expand the reach of your project need not feel uncomfortable and likely won’t be a hard sell!

Have your team try out the following phrases to jump start the conversation: “We have some lovely shades that will coordinate with this wall color perfectly. Are you updating your window treatments during this phase of your project?”

“Replacing your blinds would really update the look in this room.

We have a great in-home specialist that can come out to your home!”

“If you really aren’t sure about the final color we do have a color consultant that can visit you at home. She can bring all the colors out in a kit and make suggestions based on the fixed elements in your home like flooring, lighting, cabinets, and so forth. She’s really wonderful!”

30 | January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

“We’d love to provide a quote for your … we think it would really complete the look you’re going for!”

“We know it can be difficult to choose something as permanent as paint when you aren’t physically in the space. We offer in-home color consultations if that’s something you’d be interested in!”

“Do you have a window in this room?”

“New windows! How lovely! Did you know we specialize in window treatments and we’d love to show you a few options?”

ALLPRO PULSE | AGENCY VS IN-HOUSE

MARKETING MEMO:

agency or in-house? or some, marketing their business is second nature. For others, navigating the evolving digital landscape feels like learning a foreign language. Even those that do have the know-how often struggle to find the time to devote to these platforms in order to make a meaningful impact in their sales or website traffic. After all, great marketing is all about consistency.

Whether you’re confident navigating the world wide web but strapped for time, or a total stranger to the online world, creating and maintaining a polished web-presence takes a lot of work, and often, it’s too much for an owner to take on themselves. We’ve weighed the pros and cons of two viable options (agency or in-house hire) that can help you lighten the load, so you can make the best decision for your business and start bringing your vision into focus.

IN-HOUSE MARKETING PROFESSIONAL PROS: STAY IN THE LOOP: Hiring someone to work in-house lets you stay in the loop and ensure your passion is

translated into your marketing materials. Having someone in-house gives them a front row seat to your industry and what makes your business special, making any content they develop feel more authentic.

MAINTAIN CREATIVE CONTROL: With one individual working in your store, you can retain your vision and

a good chunk of your creative control. With more time to devote to your business, there’s more room for creative and outside the box approaches.

DEVOTION: While sometimes it can take a few tries to find the right fit, once you trust the person helping you drive your strategy, you can really get into a flow. When your goals are aligned and the communication is there, it can be a truly amazing and mutually beneficial relationship.

CONS: FEWER RESOURCES: No matter how well-versed, creative, and talented an individual is, they are only one

person. Unless the person is extremely well-connected in their industry and comfortable outsourcing elements out of their wheelhouse, you might be limited by their skillset.

MORE EXPENSIVE: Adding an extra staff member is a large expense, and isn’t feasible for a lot of small

business owners. Some options to get around then would be to hire someone part-time, or, look for a double-threat: a sales employee who is also willing to help out with the upkeep of your channels.

INDIVIDUALS MAY VARY: Hiring one individual to take on the task of communicating your brand’s image

to the public can feel like putting all your eggs in one basket for some business owners. If you opt for an in-house marketing person, you’ll want to make sure you do some vetting and trust the person you’re handing this off to. Sloppy work can do serious damage to a brand.

Some of our members tackling their own marketing channels: Hirshfields, Tommy’s Paint Pot, Mallory Paint, and Janzen’s Paint & Decorating.

32 | January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

AGENCY PROS: MORE RESOURCES: Agencies have a huge array of resources to draw from, giving them the ability to produce a higher caliber of marketing materials. With an agency, you can trust that deadlines will be met and the results will be professional.

PROVEN RESULTS: Agencies have marketing down to a science, which means they can provide reports and analytics to show you exactly how their strategies are working to drive traffic to your website and through your door. Access to large amounts of data like this can make a huge difference when it comes to selecting where to pour your energy.

TEAMWORK: Agencies are made up of multiple individuals of different strengths, expertise, and talents pooled together, meaning you’re getting a collaborative approach, which is where the best ideas usually come from.

CONS: GENERALIZED EXPERTISE: Depending on their size, marketing agencies are often overly generalized, and consequently, lacking in the direct industry knowledge needed to align themselves with your business’ goals and connect with your target audience. Of course any great agency will do their research, but research doesn’t replace hands-on experience.

TOP PRIORITY: Agencies take on multiple clients, which means they have limited time to devote to your brand.

The bottom line is, when you’re juggling multiple priorities, things sometime slip through the cracks.

CREATIVE CONTROL: Outsourcing your marketing usually means giving up complete creative control. Of

course, you’ll still have veto power over any decisions and the final say on content, but you’ll have to expect that you won’t be involved in the day-to-day operations.

A few of our members outsourcing their marketing channels: ProGlo, Johnston Paint & Decorating and Southern Paint

January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT | 33

ALLPRO PULSE | LEADERSHIP

Leading The Pack s a leader, you act as a voice for others that may not have the opportunity to represent themselves, which is why listening becomes a crucial trait. This openness can and should extend itself into all aspects of

business life, because the more perspectives you’re exposed to, the better you’ll be able to guide and represent your team. Essentially, every day is a school day, and great leadership requires you are committed to life-long learning.

An imperative step in the equation for great leadership is getting involved. You could have the best ideas in your industry, but if you don’t have a platform to share those ideas, your reach will be limited.

A few ways you can better integrate yourself into your community and share your voice are:

Seek out local groups dedicated to entrepreneurs or like-minded business people.

Create good relationships with your industry peers + ASK QUESTIONS!

he Color House president, Jean Hauser, is a prime example of a great leader, paving her way in the industry and making a name for herself since taking full control of the business after her husband’s passing in 2016, proving that leadership starts with a desire to get involved and a keen listening ear.

Earlier this year, Jean was the first woman appointed committee chair of ALLPRO, and thanks to her, Color House received Women-Owned Business Enterprise certification, the first paint retailer in Rhode Island to do so.

For Hauser, these leadership roles translate into an opportunity to continue expanding her horizons and advocate on behalf of her

34 | January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

Seek out and join your chamber of commerce.

community, peers, and other women in business. “It’s a privilege to represent a 280-member network of international paint and design retailers,” comments Hauser, “but I’m especially honored to be a voice for fellow women business owners at the table.”

Hauser reflects on Color House’s recent WBE designation with pride, characterizing it as indicative of her “Inclusive team that values and appreciates the diversity of every customer that walks through our door.”

A sincere congratulations and thank you goes out to Jean from all of us at ALLPRO. Your leadership is something we can all look to for inspiration.

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FINAL COAT | COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

ALLPRO MEMBERS DRIVING CHANGE One coat at a time

fter a devastating house fire destroyed a church members home, the community, through the organization of the Kind at Heart Ministries, rallied together to provide the materials and labor needed to get him back on his feet. The organization reached out to Joe Blanks, a new Store Manager for Spectrum Paint, about contributing, and, despite being new to town, he jumped at the opportunity to help out a fellow neighbor. Joe helped the team find the right product and color that would mask any of the damages lingering from the fire, and Spectrum Paint was able to donate the primer and paint needed to provide a much-needed cosmetic upgrade.

Joe is excited about this new partnership

38 | January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

and the channel it provides to give back to his new community and he’s looking forward to where it might lead in the future. “It’s about belonging to something that’s continuing to grow,” commented Joe. We’re also happy to share that our Oklahoma members, HIS Paint, donated materials to The Museum Broken Arrow, a space that celebrates Broken Arrow’s rich history and brings the community together. Through their generous donations in conjunction with the Public Service Company of Oklahoma, they were able to give the building’s exterior a fresh new look for all its patrons to enjoy.

A warm thank you goes out to Joe at Spectrum Paint and the HIS Paint team for their generosity; you make us all proud!

January/February 2020 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT | 39

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Join us for the 2020 ALLPRO Spring Show & Sales Meeting in San us Antonio, Texas!

This year’s be held at the JW Join for the 2020 ALLPRO Springevent Showwill & Sales Meeting in San Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa from March 4 to 8.

After Antonio, Texas! This year’s event will be held at the JW Marriott Hill an opening reception on March Wednesday attendees Country Resort & Spa from 4 to 8. evening, After an opening reception will have three days to spend at the exhibitions, which will at on Wednesday evening, attendees will have three days to spend feature special promotions.

On Friday after the exhibits the exhibitions, which will feature special promotions. While visitors we free are hosting a 5K Run/Walk!

More this event will are to enjoy the hotel’s amenities and on local attractions in be

|

h av e f u n

available as the date gets closer. While visitors are free to enjoy hotel’s amenities and local to attractions in their their the spare time, they’ll also be treated an excursion to a spare time, they’ll also be treated to an excursion to a working working cattle ranch on Saturday evening. There will be a Texas cattle on country Saturday evening.

There Texas style ranch cook out, band, fireworks andwill fire be pits.a Visitors style cook out, country band, fireworks and fire pits. should plan to arrive in time for the opening reception onVisitors should plan to arriveand in time foranytime the opening reception on Wednesday evening depart on Sunday.

Wednesday evening and depart anytime on Sunday.

For more information, contact ALLPRO or log in to allprocorp.com and click “events”.