ALLPRO Independent Magazine, January/February 2025

In dependent Independent January/February 2025

CLEMENT'S PAINT A tight family culture and passion for paint are at the heart of this Austin, Texas, team

MOVING SLOWMOVING STOCK How to dilute your dreaded dead stock

NETWORKING WITH NEXTGEN Get to know former high school math teacher, bonafide DIYer, and NextGen retail member Amy Coleman

SPRING SHOW Saddle up in San Antonio

An A L L PRO® Pu bl ic atio n

The Buried Life

ow The annual Fall Sh tears — brings cheers and asons for all the right re

Allpro Shows are bigger in texas All the high notes from the ALLPRO Fall Show

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INDEPENDENT | AT THE MIKE

@ A LLP ROCOR P

LOOKING FORWARD TO A NEW YEAR

MI CHA EL B EAUDOI N Executive Vice President ALLPRO Corporation | 813.690.7985 2024 WA S A H A RD - FO U G H T Y E A R and one where members competed at a very high level to sustain their business. It was also a big year with changes as seen with the demise of Kelly-Moore, True Value, the sale of PPG and the ramifications that followed. I am confident that 2025 will bring new changes and not just from the continued repercussions of 2024. With change comes opportunities and I am sure that the group will be better positioned at the end of this year as a result.

That aside, this will be an exciting year as ALLPRO ventures to Ireland for our Fall Show. This show will be unique for many reasons and not just because of its location. We have worked hard to put together tours that all attendees (members, suppliers, and their respective families) can take advantage of. The tours will offer attendees choices, including traveling to Belfast to see Northern Ireland and visit a Titanic exhibit. Another

Spotlight

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CLEMENT'S PAINT A tight culture and passion for paint are at the heart of this team MEDALLION PAINT CENTER Family comes together to grow Medallion Paint Center

tour explores a castle and tours the cliffs (Howth) overlooking the ocean, before ending in a fishing village. And then there is a tour of a 1,000-year-old cathedral (St. Patrick’s) followed by a tour of Guinness Brewery that concludes by raising a pint of Guinness (Saints and Sinners) on the top floor while overlooking Dublin. There are also garden tours combined with distillery tours (Teeling). The tours will be the focus of the Friday and will have everyone collectively enjoying Ireland together. That evening, we will all gather together in the usual power hour format with light hors d’oeuvres, music, and an open bar.

The host property is in walking distance to Grafton Street, St. Stephen’s Green, and numerous pubs and restaurants. The following morning, the exhibit floor will be open for four hours and I am anticipating a good number of suppliers in attendance.

To make this work for the suppliers, we are asking them to only bring samples that they can fly with and not use drayage.

The emphasis will be on the deals, not the booth presentation. The property has all the trappings needed for a successful show – a large bar area, large breakfast area, ballroom space, and an amazingly motivated and attentive staff. It should make for a memorable show.

At many general sessions, I speak about building culture and how that makes this group strong. This show is designed to build culture by providing a

memorable event that most people would not experience outside of ALLPRO. I have already been contacted by hardware co-ops, paint distributors, and other large distributors requesting the Ireland dates to ensure that they do not schedule an event around it. Apparently, the word is getting out about the show! What is amazing is that ALLPRO is bringing an estimated 800+ people to Ireland, a country that isn’t large. We are going to work with their version of the chambers of commerce to ensure that they know about our visit. We invited a local buying cooperative (The Albany Group) to attend the show as our guest as well. It truly will be a force for the independent channel.

To prepare for this event and all the unknowns, we sent out a survey to members and suppliers to gauge interest.

At the time of writing this article, we had more than 910 attendees respond stating that they plan to attend, which is more than we anticipated. We then procured an additional 100 rooms in our block as a result and alerted the company handling the tours. It is our hope that we can accommodate anyone who wants to attend.

If we can pull this off, we will have an event that people will remember for years to come, and the entire industry will take notice of ALLPRO.

VOLUME 8 | ISSUE 1

18 22

ALLPRO TALKS Say hello and welcome our newest members ALLPRO IS BIGGER IN TEXAS Highlights from the ALLPRO Fall Show

28 32

MOVING SLOW-MOVING STOCK How to dilute your dreaded dead stock NOT OUR FIRST RODEO Saddle up for the ALLPRO Spring Show in San Antonio

38 40

CREDIT CARD FEES To charge or not to charge: Credit card fees & your bottom line NEXTGEN Get to know NextGen retail member Amy Coleman

January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT | 3

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INDEPENDENT | ON THE BLOCK

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Welcome to our ALLPRO family!

Please join us in welcoming BILLINGS PAINT CENTER of Billings, MT; STEVENS PAINT & BLINDS of Corning, NY; and REVERE PAINTS of Fayetteville, GA, to the ALLPRO family of independent retailers!

congratulations!

FARRELL-CALHOUN CO., INC. opened two new stores, one in Metairie, LA, and one in St. Louis, MO; CANPRO DECORATING PRODUCTS COOPERATIVE added JBI COATINGS INC. with two locations in Sarnia and Etobicoke, Ontario; MCS HOME CENTER will be opening their second store this spring in Hattiesburg, MS; RICCIARDI BROTHERS will be opening a new store located in Kennett Square, PA; RING’S END, INC. added a new store in Portsmouth, NH; RODDA PAINT added 58 new locations in northwestern U.S. – four in Idaho, 29 in Oregon, and 25 in Washington; SARASOTA PAINT COMPANY will be opening their seventh store, located in Venice, FL; SOUTH BAY PAINTS will be opening their fourth store, located in Cupertino, CA; and TEXAS PAINT & WALLPAPER CO. opened a new store in Flower Mound, TX.

SHARE YOUR NEWS!

If you are involved in a community event, special project, charity, or are celebrating a milestone, please share your news with Susie Fontana at susie.fontana@allprocorp.com

ALLPRO Leadership BOARD PRESIDENT Scott Herling EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Mike Beaudoin

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.

ON THE COVER:

VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING Scott Morath

Anne Dages, The Buried Life’s Ben Nemtin, and David Nutt by Aubrey James Projects.

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Jonathan Garrett

HOW TO REACH US

MARKETING MANAGER Susie Fontana

Write to us at ALLPRO Corporation 4946 Joanne Kearney Blvd., Tampa, FL 33619

Or contact us at: 813.628.4800 | allpro@allprocorp.com

All publishing services provided by

2024 ALLPRO Excellence awards BRADLEY CALKINS DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING AND SYSTEM OPERATIONS Bradley won the Excellence Award due to his contributions in launching a new automation tool that converts account payables to account receivables in the SAP system. In addition, he was architect of the new Warehouse Ordering Portal that modernized how the warehouses receive orders from the Magento based distribution ordering websites. Both were vast improvements from the existing process that were prone to shutting down. This is in addition to his dedication of constant oversite of our systems.

DEMETRIA MILES ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE Demetria won the office award for her great work with championing the new Smart Capture technology which maps PDF invoices to SAP. She worked hard to understand the new technology and take a leadership role teaching others and managing the process. The result cut down manual entered invoices by more than 80%.

SCOTT COSTA NORTHEAST DISTRIBUTION CENTER MANAGER Scott won the Excellence Award due to his excellence in embracing new technology such as the warehouse portal ordering system. He was instrumental in helping to improve sales by more than $1.3M in that warehouse with his excellent service to the members. He was also a big contributor at the Spring Show in Orlando, Florida working in the ALLPRO booth for all three days selling ALLPRO Branded assortments to members.

Gallon Creative www.galloncreative.com

January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT | 5

Pictured (front row L to R): Aquialino, Lora, Louis, Ash, Scott, Clement, Erick, and Charlotte

6 | January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

SPOTLIGHT | CLEMENT'S PAINT

clement's paint n Austin, Texas, Clement Ebbo is the father of paint. Ebbo bore his namesake store, Clement’s Paint, back in 1986 and since then has welcomed an additional eight brick and mortar locations, with another on the way.

“The business is like a child to me,” he explains. “I brought it up from inception.

I was part of the delivery process.”

For 38 years, Clement’s Paint has been providing professionals and homeowners with top quality products, competitive prices, and unmatched customer service.

But Ebbo hasn’t always operated his own store. In fact, the entrepreneur’s plan to go out on his own was conceived while working for the competition.

“In 1974, I interviewed with Sherwin-Williams,” says Ebbo, adding that Derrell Palmer, then Regional Director for Sherwin-Williams and a former defensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns interviewed and hired him as an assistant manager. Over the next 12 years, Ebbo climbed the Sherwin-Williams corporate ladder, running a small store in the Garland area before moving to manage a medium-sized store, and then being promoted to the Dallas commercial branch, Sherwin-Williams’ largest store.

“A year and a half later, they asked me if I wanted to transfer to Austin,” Ebbo recalls. “The manager of the commercial branch in Austin was being promoted to a district manager in Oklahoma. My wife and I drove down here, and it was a charming little college town, and so we accepted the job.”

The first year Ebbo managed the store, it turned the biggest profit in the southcentral region for Sherwin-Williams.

“I stayed another year and in early ‘86, I decided I wanted to do it on my own,” he says. By August, Ebbo had given his two weeks’ notice and on October 20, Clement’s Paint opened its doors for business. While most people would use their family name as the name of the company, Ebbo went with his first name to draw attention because of another notable Austin resident.

Images: Aubrey James Projects

“In 1986, the governor of Texas was Bill Clements. Being the governor, he lived in Austin and at the time, I wanted any angle at all to make the business succeed.”

Ebbo’s decision made good business sense. Unfortunately, the road to success wasn’t smooth and Clement’s Paint hit their first bump when a large area contractor declared bankruptcy.

“It wasn’t the right time to open up a business,” Ebbo explains. “Having said that, in order to keep the business going, I started selling floor covering, wallpaper, and window treatments. Floor covering was really what kept the business alive. I promised myself that once the paint business took off, I would discontinue everything and just carry paint.”

That opportunity came in the ‘90s when Dan Calkins, current Chairman and Chief Executive Office of Benjamin Moore, was a sales rep with the company and called on Ebbo.

January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT | 7

“He convinced me to buy Benjamin Moore [paint],” he tells. “Dan Calkins was a sharp young man. He and I would go out on sales calls every Friday. We made a lot of calls, and it worked very, very well.”

FastFour

What's your dad's greatest strength?

ASH: His negotiation skills have always really impressed me, whether it’s for a new lease, or it’s one of the vendors at an ALLPRO show - trying to get them to match or beat somebody else’s prices. It’s something that I’ve always been impressed with.

What is something you have in common?

CLEMENT: Both Ash and I have math skills. I guess we inherited that from my father, but we dream numbers.

What's the best piece of advice your dad has given you?

By 1996, the paint business was going well enough that Ebbo kept his personal promise and discontinued floor covering, window treatments, and wallpaper and carried on as a paint store. But the ambitious entrepreneur was eager to expand the success he’d achieved and started looking to add to his paint house.

“In January 2008, I approached Arrow Paint & Supply,” he shares, adding that the owner was nearing retirement, and he saw the opportunity to expand. Over the course of the year, Ebbo called the owner every few months to touch base and reiterate his offer. By the end of the year, the owner was ready to sell. “It was a tough negotiation, but in December 2008, I took control of Arrow Paint & Supply, the largest Benjamin Moore dealer in Central Texas at the time.”

The expansion propelled Ebbo to start buying paint products directly from the manufacturer to get the best price. And through the paint vine, he learned about ALLPRO and the group buying benefits, becoming a member in 2011.

“It levels the playing field with Sherwin-Williams, PPG, Home Depot, Lowe’s,” Ebbo says of his ALLPRO membership. “The prices we get, we’re able to compete at a high level.”

ASH: He’s always telling me to be a little bit more patient. He’s told me that throughout my entire life, but when I’m stressed out, I’m quick to let my temper take over, and that’s not always the most productive, especially in a business situation when you’re speaking with people. So, take a deep breath, calm down, take a step back and look at the situation a little bit closer.

His membership came with other perks, like attendance at ALLPRO shows, and Ebbo began connecting with other members and peers in the industry, appreciating the knowledge and experience sharing.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?

The business leader has been guiding his team at Clement’s Paint – a few who have been with the company for more than 20 years – with his vast paint expertise, commitment to customer satisfaction, and family values.

Clement: For the past 35 years, I’ve [played in] a Monday night poker game. Occasionally, I golf with a group on Saturdays. Everybody throws in $10 and first and second place share the winnings. I’ve won once and I’ve come in second a couple of times. It’s tough! My wife and I travel a lot. We babysit a lot too, which is fun.

Ash: If I’m not at work or at school, which is pretty much my life right now, you’ll probably find me somewhere on a street or a trail, going for a run, or reading a book.

MOST LIKELY: ASH OR CLEMENT EDITION Who is most likely to come in late for work? Clement.

Who is most likely to tell a joke? Clement.

Who is most likely respond to a text a week late? Neither.

Who is most likely to spring for lunch? Clement.

Who is most likely to stay up late? Neither.

Who is most likely to travel the world? Clement.

Who is most likely to get a speeding ticket? Ash. 8 | January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

“I know a lot about the paint business, but I don’t know everything,” he says. “You can always learn from other successful businesses, and they learn from you.”

“We do our best to take care of our employees, and it shows in that they generally stick around longer, meaning they gain more knowledge and they’re more capable of helping the customers,” explains Ebbo’s daughter, Ash. “We strive to make sure that our employees are knowledgeable and are able to assist the contractors better.”

According to the employees, they appreciate the tight family culture, trust amongst the team, and opportunity for growth with the company.

As pleased as Ebbo is with turning his paint store dreams into reality, the business leader is most proud of his actual family, a few of whom work at Clement’s Paint. Ash has taken over as President, while his son-in-law, Scott, is Vice President of Operations. Ebbo himself has taken a step back to advisor and CFO. “The decision-making is on Ash’s and Scott’s shoulders. And I couldn’t pick two smarter people to run the business, frankly. The company’s never, ever been run better,” he affirms.

COME JOIN OUR FAMILY

Pictured: Dan, Rich & Cindy; 3 of the 5 partners/owners of Medallion Paint Centers.

12 | January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

SPOTLIGHT | MEDALLION PAINT CENTER

medallion paint center hile most business partners are just colleagues, at Medallion Paint, they are family. Brothers William, Daniel, and Richard, brother-in-law Miguel, and cousin Cynthia are in their fourth decade of working together.

In 1969, their fathers moved down to the Sunshine State from Illinois to work in construction, but the tropical southern climate soon had them rethinking their business plan.

“When the store where they purchased their paint came up for sale, they decided working in the air conditioning was much better than working outside in the South Florida heat,” says Daniel Lawson. “In 1972, they purchased Medallion Paint Center in Hollywood, Florida.”

Medallion Paint Center was originally one of 11 Medallion locations down the east coast of Florida. While the manufacturer of Medallion Paint went out of business in the mid ‘80s, and many of the other stores changed names and ownership, for the Lawsons, the name was there to stay.

As marriages grew the family, life behind the paint counter got more crowded and the younger generation was ready to expand the business with a new store.

Lawson was 21 years old in 1989 when his older brothers came to him asking if he wanted to be a partner in the new location. Having worked together in the family store growing up, expanding Medallion Paint Center seemed like a logical next step for the young Lawsons.

“So, in ’89, we opened up our new location in Cooper City. In quick succession, Color Counselors in Lighthouse Point became available in 1990, and we were ready to acquire it as well,” he explains. “In 1998, our father and uncle decided to retire and the five of us came together to purchase the original store.”

Later in 2003, a competitor of Medallion’s that sold Coronado Paint put his Paint World store up for sale.

Pictured: Mike, Tim, Steven, Nina, Abiel

Aubrey James Projects

“In the early ‘80s, we were selling some Coronado Paint, but another business obtained a county exclusive, and we ended up parting ways with Coronado,” Lawson details, adding that their main manufacturer was Benjamin Moore. “Then we ended up buying this business in 2003 and Coronado and the county exclusive came with it. But then in 2007, Benjamin Moore bought Coronado, and the rest is pretty much history.”

With the Medallion brand long gone and Coronado now under the Benjamin Moore umbrella, Medallion Paint’s four locations are focused on selling Benjamin Moore paint and their expanded portfolio, a manufacturer that Lawson says has always remained committed to the independent dealer.

January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT | 13

“We try to do good by them and they always do good by us. It’s been a great relationship.”

According to Lawson, it was Benjamin Moore that encouraged Medallion Paint to become members of ALLPRO. “ALLPRO has been a fantastic partner,” he says. “We worked with John Shingledecker who is retiring at the end of this year. He leaves big shoes to fill! John is instrumental in helping us find our place at ALLPRO. We reorganized a few things, became members, and now we buy the lion’s share of our sundries, and obviously all of our Benjamin Moore paint through them. It’s been a very positive and profitable relationship.”

Fun facts Where is your go-to hot spot in Fort Lauderdale?

I’m not really a hot spot kind of guy, but I go to a place called Packy’s Sports Bar. They’ve got great wings. The hard part about it is it’s a Buffalo Bills bar and we’re Miami Dolphins fans.

If you're not at work, what would we find you doing?

Traveling. The last place I went to was England and Scotland and the next place I’m going to go is Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary.

And then next year, I’m going to be in Italy and Croatia.

14 | January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

“ALLPRO breakout sessions are also a valuable resource for our business. These sessions, often featured at ALLPRO shows, provide insightful information and practical strategies that we can implement to improve our operations.”

According to Lawson, these sessions have been instrumental in positively impacting their business by leveraging the information shared.

With an ever-changing economic landscape and technology accelerating, Lawson is grateful for the support of the buying group and the shared knowledge and information. He says ALLPRO has been instrumental for his company when competing with big box stores.

“The biggest challenge has always been the big box stores,” says Lawson. “I started in ’85 and Home Depot had just opened its fourth location in Hollywood, Florida. At that time there were still a lot of local hardware stores and lumber yards.”

Much has changed since that time, with Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Sherwin-Williams stores in every shopping district or development.

But as much as the competition has grown, so has the opportunity for smaller family-owned shops to showcase themselves as a one-stop shop, catering to all segments of the paint market. While Medallion has adopted some digital media and online advertising, Lawson says it’s more complicated than a basic print ad.

“Now you’re dealing with likes, and you’re dealing with reviews.

It’s certainly something that you have to navigate and roll with and learn, and it’s something that is constantly changing.”

What hasn’t changed is Medallion’s commitment to serving the Broward, Dade, and West Palm Beach Counties with quality products, expert advice, custom computerized color matching, and friendly service.

“What sets us apart is that we are truly a family-run business, and we make sure that we treat everybody like family! We’re here to take care of you honestly and professionally.”

With the next generation behind the counter, whether you’re a customer of 50 years or walking in for the first time, with Medallion, you are finding “your place for everything paint!”

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ALLPRO TALKS | NEW TO THE TEAM

allpro talks

NEW TO THE TEAM

SAY HELLO AND WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS

In addition to listening to one of the most inspiring and motivational speakers, enjoying Austin’s laidback vibe, and taking advantage of an exhibitor-packed show floor, highlights from our Fall Show included meeting some of our newest members. Read on to find out a little bit more about them and what they’re looking forward to as members of ALLPRO.

Paintpourri est. 1980 president: Matthew Capano Sr. location: Hackettstown, New Jersey allpro member since: April 2024

What’s the biggest benefit of being an ALLPRO member? I am excited to be a new ALLPRO member. Being so new, it is hard to say what the biggest benefit of being a member is, but I am looking forward to finding out.

you can throw away your to do list. His point was that the customers that come to your store will dictate what you do that day and that their needs are most important. As a retailer, I believe that was great advice and always reminds me that the customer comes first.

What is a 2025 business goal? To continue to form a culture of continued growth and learning for our team and to help them become the best “Paint, Blinds & Wallpaper” salespeople in the industry.

What does your store do better than most? I would like to think that we have created a culture of valuing our team members and supporting them in becoming successful.

What is the most popular paint color sold in your store? Most popular color in our store is Benjamin Moore, White Dove OC-17. As for me, a go-to color is Benjamin Moore, Manchester Tan HC-81.

If you attended the Fall Show in Austin, what was your highlight? The Fall Show was very uplifting, and I left with a real sense of belonging to a group of serious and dedicated retailers who together form a network of business owners who are willing to communicate with each other, work with each other, and help each other grow and become stronger.

What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? The most accurate piece of business advice I received was very early on in my paint retailing career. A seasoned sundry rep told me: As soon as you unlock the front door of your store to start another business day

18 | January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

Describe your team in three words. Dedicated, loyal, inspiring.

Star Scenic Paint & Coatings founder: Donald Stern

est. 1993

president: Paul Muto

location: Orlando, Florida slogan: The paints & coatings you want, the expertise you need allpro member since: May 2024

Fun fact

What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? Be yourself. Form your own identity and separate yourself from your competition.

What does your store do better than most? Customer service is priority #1. Our store cannot compete with the company-owned stores and big boxes on pricing, but service they cannot touch us.

Describe your team: The best! This is the best store personnel I have worked with in 35 years in the paint industry.

Star Scenic was founded in 1993 to meet the unique requirements of scenic artists working in the film industry and on theme park projects in Central Florida.

Bakersfield Paint founder: Wade Eurto & Dennis Matice

What’s the biggest benefit of being an ALLPRO member? Pricing.

Better pricing, better margins!

est. 1987

president: Dennis Matice

location: Bakersfield, California

What is a 2025 business goal? Increase sales and margins, increase customer service, decrease waste.

What is currently on your radar? The economy of our industry.

Is pricing going up, vendors being purchased, and staff wages.

What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received?

Don’t worry about what the competition is doing.

What does your store do better than most? Customer service.

If you attended the Fall Show in Austin, what was your highlight?

Connecting with other dealers and product vendors.

slogan: Bakersfield’s #1 Benjamin Moore Dealer

Describe your team in three words. Absolutely the BEST.

allpro member since: June 2024

What is a 2025 business goal? To surpass 2024 sales numbers.

What’s the biggest benefit of being an ALLPRO member? Availability of products and price advantage.

What is the most popular paint color sold in your store? Benjamin Moore, Swiss Coffee OC-45.

Wallpaper, Paint & More

What does your store do better than most? Customer service.

founder: Robert Mohrman

est. 1994

president: James Mohrman

location: St. Louis, Missouri slogan: We’ve got you covered allpro member since: August 2024

What’s the biggest benefit of being an ALLPRO member? So far, the biggest benefit that I have seen is the additional buying power and convenience of the ALLPRO warehouse.

What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? Put yourself in your customers’ shoes and treat them the way I would want to be treated.

If you attended the Fall Show in Austin, what was your highlight?

Meeting dealers from all across the country.

Describe your team in three words: Knowledgeable, meticulous, dedicated.

What is a 2025 business goal? Continue to increase sales.

What is the most popular paint color sold in your store? The first half of the year seemed to be a toss-up between Benjamin Moore, Chantilly Lace OC-65 and Benjamin Moore, Simply White OC-117, but lately I have been seeing a lot of medium and darker colors like Benjamin Moore, Pashmina AF-100 and Benjamin Moore, Wrought Iron 2124-10.

What topics are currently on your radar? Increasing margins without sacrificing quality or raising prices.

January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT | 19

Revere Paints

ALLPRO also also welcomed welcomed ALLPRO the following new the following new members in in 2024 2024 members

est. 2024

president: Jeffrey Sabo

location: Fayetteville, Georgia

slogan: Let’s Make Life Beautiful!

allpro member since: October 2024

BARTEK’S PAINT & DECORATING Temple, TX

When did you open your doors? Originally Village Paint, Jeffrey Sabo purchased the store in 2024 and renamed it Revere Paints.

What’s the biggest benefit of being an ALLPRO member? The ability to get advice and help from an amazing peer group.

Describe your team in three words: Service, integrity, industry.

What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? Make sure you take the time to work on your business and not in it every day.

What does your store do better than most? Networking and relationships.

What was your highlight from the Fall Show in Austin? The open trade show. As my first one, it was amazing to see how many quality vendors we have.

What is a 2025 business goal? Expansion, adding the next store.

What your most popular paint color sold? Benjamin Moore, White Dove OC-17.

What topics are currently on your radar? Business development - finding new opportunities in my local market.

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INDEPENDENT | FALL SHOW

ALLPRO IS BIGGER IN TEXAS

The Lone Star State was once again the host of ALLPRO’s Fall Show with attendees saddling up and heading to Austin, Texas. The full show lineup was music to members’ ears with 112 exhibits, breakouts from popular suppliers like Benjamin Moore, PPG, Rust-Oleum, and Tower Sealants, and opportunities to explore the area’s vibrant culture.

A

ALLPRO members, trusted vendors, enthusiastic newcomers, and plenty of live music aficionados came together in Austin, Texas, for the 2024 ALLPRO Fall Show. Hosted at the Fairmont Austin from October 23–26, the annual event delivered on its promise to provide the ALLPRO family of independent retailers with both connection and innovation. Attendees enjoyed signature fall show highlights, including a bustling exhibitor floor, insightful vendor breakout sessions, exclusive show specials, a dynamic NextGen roundtable, and a powerful keynote that moved the audience to tears – all in an atmosphere brimming with camaraderie and collaboration.

Members made sure to soak up Austin’s southern hospitality, sampling the area’s flavorful food scene, including iconic barbecue

22 | January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

and Tex-Mex staples. And Austin lived up to its nickname, the Live Music Capital of the World, with many members venturing out to explore and enjoy the countless venues hosting live performances.

At the show’s general session, ALLPRO Executive Vice President Mike Beaudoin shared stats on the group and the rise of the independent channel. ALLPRO corporate finished at $1.36 billion in 2023, and Beaudoin estimated an 8% increase this year (+$100M) to land at $1.47 billion. The ALLPRO private label sat at $39 million at the end of 2023, with the leader expecting a 9% increase by the end of 2024, bringing the total to $42.5 million. And Beaudion said he expects a 25% jump for ALLPRO distribution, increasing last year’s finish by $7.3 million with an estimated $36.5 million finish.

growth of allpro distribution

65,2007 58,220

Sales

37,000

19,959

23,011

26,918

51,982 41,440

46,413

29,246

13,495 2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Beaudoin was excited to introduce attendees to not only the exciting opportunities at the fall show, but also upcoming events, like the Women’s Empowerment Event at the ALLPRO Spring Show in San Antonio.

“The intent of the event is to bring together women from the ALLPRO community — both members and suppliers — with the goal of providing meaningful content specific to the development of women in our industry,” he shared.

Held during the 2025 spring show, the special showcase event will feature a panel discussion made up of women exploring their journey as well as team building.

And not without mention was the muchanticipated 2025 ALLPRO Fall Show in Dublin, Ireland. Beaudoin teased the first-ever overseas ALLPRO event with a jam-packed schedule, complete with planned excursions (Dublin Coast & Castle, Discover Belfast, Saints & Sinners, A Drop of History, and Lakes & Gardens Escapes) and still some time to peruse the exhibit floor.

Also during the general session, Dan Calkins, Chairman and CEO of Benjamin Moore, delivered an insightful update on current trends, challenges, and the industry's outlook on the coming year. His presentation provided valuable perspectives for ALLPRO members.

Before the group went their separate ways for the day, Beaudoin and ALLPRO President Mike Weber recognized ALLPRO’s John Shingledecker for his 25 years of dedication to ALLPRO. Congratulations on your retirement, John!

2027

2028

2029

Allpro allpro Rookies

The ALLPRO family has welcomed several new members. We were happy to give them an official, in-person shout out and personally welcome them to the group. If you haven’t had a chance to say hello and introduce yourself to the following new members, please give a warm greeting to…

E

Bakersfield Paint

E

Bartek’s Paint & Decorating

E

Billings Paint Center

E

Kwikze Paint

E

Maumee Paint & Supply

E

Meldrim’s Paint Center

E

Paintpourri

E

Paintstop, LLC

E

Revere Paints

E

Star Scenic Paints & Coatings

E

Stevens Paint & Blinds

E

Wallpaper, Paint & More

January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT | 23

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE? Speaker Ben Nemtin inspired and motivated ALLPRO attendees to chase their dreams, unlock their potential, and turn the impossible into reality.

Co-founder of The Buried Life movement, keynote speaker Ben Nemtin delivered an inspiring and memorable motivational speech at the Fall Show.

Drawing from his firsthand experiences and engaging storytelling, he encouraged attendees to dream big, focus on what truly matters, and pursue their goals with unwavering determination. As the #1 New York Times bestselling author of “What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?” and ranked the second-highest motivational speaker in the world by Global Gurus, Nemtin left a lasting impression (as well as a few tears) with attendees departing the session. Members walked away energized and equipped to unlock their true potential and turn the impossible into the achievable.

24 | January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

HIGH NOTES We caught up with a few ALLPRO members to hear all about their highlights from the ALLPRO Fall Show in Austin.

The big benefits of the ALLPRO shows in general are the opportunities to hear from industry experts like Dan Calkins about the state of the industry, but the biggest benefit is the opportunity to network and learn from each other. Specifically, at the fall show, the vendor presentations and workshops are useful to hear the new products and plans for the new year, like the plans for the industrial products from Benjamin Moore this past show. The exhibits and show prices are a bonus which we take advantage of every show.

- Pari Annamalai, San Antonio Paints

I had been out of the industry and as a result disconnected from the ALLPRO group for a few years. I was amazed at the size, scope, and energy of the fall show! The group has grown significantly over the past several years. I have always appreciated the camaraderie and cooperation among members, and the energy at this show was tremendous. The opening session and keynote speaker were great. It was also beneficial to have many vendors there. I brought back a handful of things to implement to make our business better.

It’s great to be back in the industry and back together with ALLPRO. I can’t wait until the spring show!

- Mike O’Donnell, Harrison Paint Company

I took away a lot. We talked about artificial intelligence and how we can maximize our time and use AI features to accomplish things that have previously either not happened or taken way too long. We’re also going to try to work more on doing some evaluations internally, and so it was good to hear from other people on how they do those and I’m going to try to take some of those tips. We talked about inventory and cycle counts as inventory has always been one of our struggles on how to make it more accurate. Just hearing what’s most successful for everyone else was good and comforting.

- Amy Coleman, Hoover Paint Store

We enjoyed the NextGen roundtable discussions – we gained a lot of insight into various topics, especially since we were broken into groups by store size. Of course, the NextGen River Boat was a lot of fun; there’s a lot to be gained from having genuine interactions with our peers in a less formal setting – it allows us to continue conversations from the roundtables in a meaningful way. Rust-Oleum took a different approach to their breakout room – rather than a sit down lecture-style room, they had various booths set up to showcase their products. Being able to interact one on one in the room kept us more engaged and excited to learn.

- Brandon Donahue, Westerly Paints Inc.

The Fall Show was very uplifting. I left with a real sense of belonging to a group of serious and dedicated retailers who together form a network of business owners who are willing to communicate with each other, work with each other, and help each other grow and become stronger.

- Matt Capano Sr., Paintpourri

One of the best experiences at these shows is the roundtable discussions. I was at the NextGen roundtables – you get some quality time with a new group of people that you can share ideas with.

You are afforded the time to build relationships and contacts. It’s much more valuable than a social hour or sitting at the dinner table.

- John Rudolph, Anderson Paint Company

We look forward to seeing our members and vendors in San Antonio, Texas, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country for the ALLPRO Spring Show!

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INDEPENDENT | MOVING DEAD STOCK

Moving SlowMoving Stock How to Dilute Your Dreaded Dead Stock Inventory surpluses are a fact of life in our industry. From sudden shifts in consumer behavior to unexpected product defects, the potential causes of slow-moving stock are numerous. Thankfully, so are its solutions. Explore both proactive and reactive measures you can implement in your showroom (or on your website) today to mitigate the costs of slow-moving stock and limit your share of dead stock.

THE COSTS

Surplus stock in your showroom or warehouse can be placed into one of three categories: Excess Inventory Any surplus stock on hand – products you have in quantities that are greater than customer demand.

Slow-Moving Products Products that aren’t sold within your projected product life cycle.

Dead Stock Inventory that is not selling at all, and there appears to be poor or no demand.

28 | January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

Dead stock in particular, can be an extremely heavy burden on retailers, taking up valuable square footage in your showroom or warehouse without the expected profits to help with rent, maintenance, electricity, and property taxes.

This type of inventory also costs you in labor, with staff’s time spent on moving, upselling, or strategizing. In order to eventually move this stock, you may have to resort to steep discounts which disrupt your bottom line. Additionally, any resources poured into the sale of dead stock are done without ROI, negatively impacting your opportunity costs and ability to sell high-demand products.

POTENTIAL CAUSES Low Demand: Because market conditions can be largely outside of our control, changes to consumer behavior can quickly render our demand forecasts inaccurate, leaving members with a sudden surplus of previously high-demand product.

Overlooked Inventory: It’s only natural to devote attention to bestselling products, especially when they have the power to offset profit losses in other product categories. However, experts suggest that slow-moving stock requires attention, effort, and sometimes, re-education to prevent it from slipping into the dead-stock category.

“We print a slow-moving stock status report every month…. I find that a lot of these items we have simply forgotten about, and they need to be brought back to staff’s attention to be able to move them correctly. I think we sometimes overlook the weight that staff have in helping clients and customers make decisions on items we actually like and use. A big help for this is having staff do projects in the store.” – Katie Prus, Abbotsford Paint & Decorating

PRO TIP

Retailers in geographic areas where exterior seasons factor into sales and buying decisions should be particularly aware of slow-moving stock nearing the end of any given season. Lean on outside sales reps to keep on top of what painters require for upcoming projects to close out the season and eliminate excess summer inventory as you head into winter months.

Product Flaws: Defective products can result in mass customer returns, leading to excess stock. Work with your staff to ensure new products are tested for quality control so any manufacturing issues can be resolved directly with suppliers and returned if possible.

SOLUTIONS

Lack of Strategy: Showrooms with exceptional sales know how to optimize their inventory to spread demand and prevent dead stock. This involves strategic positioning throughout your store to expose customers to new product pools.

“I’ve thought about doing a sidewalk sale once a month during the warmer months. It might be a way to get rid of old stock and get new customers in the store.”

– Anne Dages, Dages Paint Company, Inc.

Inaction: Waiting too long before intervening on slow-moving stock will cost your company money. Pivoting at the right time to optimize your tools and resources is highly advisable.

Product Bundling: Combine bestsellers with slow movers to help move inventory while improving your average order value.

“I take a more hands-on, intuitive approach to evaluating slow-moving stock. Instead of relying on reports or data from a POS system, I lean on my experience and daily involvement. I personally order much of our inventory and make it a point to walk through our warehouses and stores every day. This keeps me closely connected to what’s moving and what’s not. When I notice something that’s been sitting too long, I take a closer look to understand why and make adjustments, whether that means running a promotion or unloading it altogether. It may not be the most high-tech or efficient method, but it’s one I’ve relied on for years, and it works well for me.”

– Joe Tuttolomondo, Southern Paint & Supply Co.

STRATEGIES & SOLUTIONS Conduct a Dead-Stock Analysis: Identify the problem areas in your inventory by looking at sales data with an eye for trends and patterns. Look at each product individually and investigate what the likely causes are. Consider where these items are positioned in your store or on your website, whether they are seasonal in nature, or whether they have become less desirable due to the introduction of newer products. All this information will help you accurately pinpoint a cause, and, therefore, a solution.

Micro Promotions: Rather than blow-out liquidation sales, opt for smaller-scale promotions that gradually eat away at excess stock. This might involve coupons, free shipping, or coupons.

Forecasting: The best way to manage dead-stock problems is by preventing them in the first place. The more information you incorporate in your projections, the more accurate they’ll be. Look at historical data, market trends, and customer feedback for a holistic perspective and predictions.

“Once I identify slow-moving, old, or dead stock, I dig deeper with some research. I’ll review our POS system to check when the item was purchased and analyze its sales history. I typically start with the yearly sales summary from the past few years and then look at month-to-month trends over the last 12 months to pinpoint any patterns or issues. I also consult with store managers to get their insights, as they often have valuable perspectives. If I decide the item needs to go, I usually mark it down by 50% to move it

January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT | 29

PAINTWORKS IS GOLDEN TO THE FINISH.

“ Now that we have four stores, I can really plan out my buying power at the ALLPRO Spring Show.

I can order based on dating and what my reports have said I have sold in the year previous for those months. I can plan out some education before the product even arrives, so my staff are ready to sell what is coming.”

– Katie Prus, Abbotsford Paint & Decorating quickly. Additionally, I’ll check the sales history for repeat buyers or reach out to someone I know who might be interested to expedite the process because I want it gone ASAP.” – Joe Tuttolomondo, Southern Paint & Supply Co. Negotiate with Suppliers: You might be able to offset dead stock risk by discussing supply buyback deals with your suppliers or SPIFF incentives to keep product moving. Some may not offer this option, but it’s an idea worth exploring.

Change up your Floor Plan: ALLPRO member Katie Prus sees exceptional value in breaking habits, both for staff and customers, in order to expose them to new stock.

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“We move it to another store to try to sell at full price. If it doesn’t move there, we start by discounting. We have a 25%, a 50%, and a 75% discount. Old stock starts off at 25%, after a month moves to 50%, after a third month moves to 75%.”

– Anne Dages, Dages Paint Company, Inc. Donate to Charity: Although a last resort, donating dead stock to charity is one way to make lemons out of lemonade. Not only will you free up valuable space in your showroom or warehouse, but you’ll be making a worthwhile contribution to your community. Be sure to select an organization that aligns with your brand’s values and consider sharing more about the partnership on social media.

“We used to donate to a variety of nonprofits but that all seemed to stop with COVID-19. That was the easiest thing to do but not the most profitable.” – Anne Dages, Dages Paint Company, Inc.

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Create a Clearance Strategy: Implement a timeline-oriented approach to your seasonal discount structure. Identify how frequently inventory is reviewed, at what point discounts are offered, and how you will dispose of any of the remainders.

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30 | January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

R.I.P Forgotten Inventory

SPRING SHOW | SAN ANTONIO

NOT OUR FIRST RODEO SADDLE UP FOR THE SAN ANTONIO SPRING SHOW

This March, we’ll be returning to our 2020 stomping grounds for our annual Spring Show in San Antonio, Texas! The ALLPRO family is excited to gather at the stunning JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort for a week of connection, fun, and business development.

Tucked away in Texas Hill Country, the JW Marriott will be our home as we gather once again to celebrate another wonderful year with our members and vendors. Throughout the week, you'll enjoy engaging workshops, valuable networking events, and the resort’s impressive amenities, including its world-class spa, championship golf courses, and expansive pools.

To cap off the week, we’ll reconvene on Saturday evening at the historic Knibbe Ranch for a memorable closing party. From its breathtakingly clear sunset views and big sky stars to its skeet shooting range, dull moments are sure to be few and far between.

32 | January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

DEEP ROOTS: THE STORY OF KNIBBE RANCH Founded in 1852, Knibbe Ranch is one of the last standing Century Heritage Ranches in the state of Texas, history that is steeped into its antiquated, farmhouse feel. To this day, it’s still owned and operated by Charles J. “Chuck” Knibbe, the greatgreat-grandson of Hans Heinrich Dietrich Knibbe, the ranch’s original settler, and his wife, Sharon. Hans arrived in Texas after a harrowing journey from Bissendorf, Germany, which involved his sailing vessel, the George Dillus, crashing into a reef. After the collision, passengers were required to throw their farming equipment overboard in order to keep the boat afloat. This meant that Hans started Knibbe Ranch with nothing but his own two hands, fierce determination, and some funds he had on account with the German Emigration Society. After visiting the site of Knibbe Ranch, nestled in Spring Branch, and being reminded of home by its rolling hills and tree-lined creek, he officially became the area’s first settler. A community flourished around the ranch in the late 19th century: buildings like the Spring Branch post office, general store, Knibbe Brothers cotton gin, and the Spring Branch school house can still be visited today.

BIG CITY SIGHTS Although equipped with big city amenities, San Antonio has managed to keep its small-town charm intact. Originally founded as a Spanish mission and colonial outpost in 1718, the streets have been infused with rich culture and heritage, from its architecture to its restaurants. If you find yourself with an extra day or two to explore, don’t miss these world-class attractions.

Natural Bridge Cavern

2024

THE ALAMO

2024

Tower of the americas

2023

THE ALAMO: A piece of history in and of itself, the Alamo is the site of a pivotal moment in the Texas Revolution.

THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER WALK: A city park that runs alongside the beautiful San Antonio River, lined with popular bars, shops, and local fare.

HISTORIC MARKET SQUARE: Indulge in authentic Tex-Mex cuisine while you take in the city’s dynamic artistic scene.

THE SAN ANTONIO JAPANESE TEA GARDEN: An abandoned limestone rock quarry transformed into an unexpected and exquisite feat in landscaping and botanicals.

NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS: The largest in the state of Texas, the Natural Bridge Caverns features two distinct cave systems and a sublime 60-foot natural limestone slab.

TOWER OF THE AMERICAS: Located in the Hemisfair district, the 750-foot observation tower, originally built as the theme structure for the 1968 World’s Fair (HemisFair ’68), held the record for largest tower in the United States until 1996.

Ride up the elevator for a fee to see the city from its observation deck or stay for a bite at the revolving restaurant.

SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS: Don’t miss the largest of the mission buildings, San Jose, which has been nearly fully restored to its original 1930’s design and features family and soldiers’ quarters, and what remains of the historic Convento.

1WATSON: End a day of sightseeing at the indoor or outdoor terrace at 1Watson, featuring a breathtaking view overlooking midtown and Latin American cuisine.

SPRING SHOW TIPS From seasoned vets

“ To make the most of an ALLRPO show, meet a new member. I find that most of the time the most valuable thing I get from attending is the information gained from networking with other members.

The bigger my network, the better

NETWORKING 101 Creating connections with other attendees is one of the most talked about benefits of membership, and the ALLPRO Spring Show represents an exciting opportunity to take advantage of industry peers being in one place.

chance I have of learning new things to help me and my business.”

- Patrick Smith, Regal Paint Centers

Look for a Familiar Face: Sometimes all you need to gather up the courage to approach someone new is a little confidence.

Try chatting with someone you’ve already been introduced to and

“ The one thing I would advise is

challenge yourself to learn one new thing about their business.

commit to the whole show. For so

Bring an Open Mind: When we gather for these events, we

many it is hard to pull away from

come from all across the continent, sometimes further! Naturally,

their business for four days but it is

we’re going to have different ways of doing business. Sometimes, these

worth the investment. I learn so much

conversations bring us the most insights and ideas.

from being with my peers, asking

Come Prepared: It has been said that preparedness is the

them questions, hearing their concerns

antidote to nerves, so do a little homework and brainstorm some

about our industry, learning from their experiences. Additionally, Allpro always

thoughtful questions to help spark conversation. Think about your own goals as a business owner and what information you’re eager to gleam from your peers.

puts on such an outstanding show.

If you go to all of the events, guest speakers, break-outs, concerts etc., you

Be a Good Listener: The most interesting people are interested.

A little active listening will go a long way when it comes to encouraging your conversation partner to share and keep the chatter going.

will return to your business recharged, re-energized, and with a new focus and clarity. That has been my experience with the shows but especially the spring one because it is longer.”

- Sharon McGuckin, JC Licht

34 | January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

Stay in Touch: Don’t forget that this is the twenty-first century!

If you’ve created a new and exciting connection with someone that you’d like to add to your professional network, whether you’d like to bounce ideas off them or ensure you catch up next time you’re in the same city, exchange information to make it happen!

Austin

Houston

Corpus Christi

Laredo

While you’re here, check out some of our members in the Lone Star State.

Adams Paint Company | Lubbock Ashmore Paint Company, Inc. | Corpus Christi Bartek's Paint & Decorating | Temple Chapman's Paint Warehouse, LLC | Bryan Clement's Paint, Inc. | Austin El Paso & Juarez Paint Inc. | El Paso Epic Paint | Houston Helm Paint DBA Texas Paint & Distribution | Fort Worth Hill Country Paints & Dec. DBA Roosters Paint | Austin

Hill Country Paints | Waco Imperial Wallboard Supply | Houston Kwikze Paint | Cypress Landmark Paint & Supply Co. | Carrollton Laredo Paint & Decorating | Laredo Murphy Bros. Paint Co., Inc. | Houston Painters Supply HQ | Waco Permian Coating Supply | Midland Pintura Paint Store | San Antonio

Robert's Decorator Supply | Sherman Royal Lane Custom Paint & Supply LLC | Dallas San Antonio Paints | San Antonio South Texas Paint & Supply | Kerrville Southwestern Paint Company | Houston TCI Coatings | Lubbock Texas Paint & Wallpaper | Dallas The Paint Center | Abilene Tri-Country Paint & Spray, Inc. | New Braunfels

ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ALL YOUR

SANDING SOLUTIONS

CONTACT US CHAD KHALAF National Sales Director Bringing in SurfPrep’s product line has been a huge boost to our business over the past two years. We’ve been able to attract new clients who repeat their purchases, and sales have been consistently growing since we brought it in. The benefit of working with SurfPrep is that they’re a big company with a small-town family feel. Customer service is just a phone call away, and they’re the only vendor at the AllPro show I get hugs from!

KYLE HANSEN

OUTSIDE SALES REPRESENTATIVE

(714) 717-0752

@SURFPREPSANDING

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INDEPENDENT | CARD FEES

TO CHARGE OR NOT TO CHARGE: CREDIT CARD FEES & YOUR BOTTOM LINE Over the last several decades, attractive benefits and point programs have positioned credit cards as the primary and preferred method of payment for many consumers.

In fact, the percentage of payments made by credit card in the U.S. has been steadily climbing since they first began tracking it in 2016, accounting for 31% of total payments in 2022 according to Forbes. Their popularity makes their acceptance critical in retail environments – a fact that large credit card companies might be all too aware of.

“ W i th 90% o f my sales n ow b e i ng p ro cessed wi th c red i t c a rds , th e nu mb er i s a c o nside r able su m an d s ho uld no t be i gnored” ~ P eggy- Su e Wi n gard , O-Ge e Paints

Each time a credit card is swiped, merchants pay processing fees. Actual fee amounts depend on the specific card used and your service provider, but most are somewhere between 1.5 and 3% of the sale. Some retailers across various industries are opting to offset these fees by placing them back onto the consumer. This involves a surcharge that is either a flat fee or a percentage of the total payment, a practice that was largely outlawed until 2013 when a class action lawsuit changed the legislation.

To the customer, these surcharges are unlikely to be a huge hit for a single transaction. But to the business owner, those cents certainly add up. Some retailers may, rightfully so, have concerns about how shoppers might perceive these fees, wondering if they should consider transaction fees as a part of the cost of doing business. Others feel that the potential profits are too large to ignore.

Peggy-Sue Wingard, Co-Owner at O-Gee Paints, has noticed the increase in credit card transactions at her Miami, Florida, store and says that it’s imperative she mitigate the impact of such fees to her business.

“With 90% of my sales now being processes with credit cards, the number is a considerable sum and should not be ignored,” Wingard says.

With local competitors already using credit card surcharges in their stores, O-Gee Paints feels compelled to think outside the box in order to prevent their store from becoming the neighborhood’s go-to for customers keen on using their cards.

38 | January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

Payment method

Customer rewards

Company progress

Rather than adopting surcharges or exclusively relying on cash-incentive programs, independent paint retailers like O-Gee Paints could consider implementing a tiered loyalty rewards program based on payment methods. For example:

Cash/Debit Customers: Receive a small, upfront discount or loyalty points at a higher rate than credit card users.

Credit Card Customers: Still earn loyalty points, albeit at a slightly reduced rate, maintaining goodwill without absorbing as much in fees.

This approach encourages cash and debit payments without penalizing customers who prefer credit cards, preserving relationships and protecting the brand’s reputation.

If there’s one thing we can depend on in this industry, it’s change. And we know that success is dependent on our ability to adapt. The use of credit card surcharges appears to be a part of the evolving industry landscape, particularly for members in areas where surcharges are trending.

Modernize your bu#ine## with Rundoo Modesto, Ca

How Modesto Color Center Improved Cash Flow with Rundoo We are celebrating our 50th year at Modesto Color Center. In 1973, a few gentlemen from New York settled in the heart of California. The city didn’t have a good paint store, so they started one.

In 2002, the business went up for sale. My dad and I knew paint, and we knew retail—my dad was (and still is!) a painting contractor, and I had worked for a couple years at a paint store. So we took a leap and bought the businessr In my 2W years running the business, experimentation has been key to our success. While Benjamin Moore has always been a major part of our business, we’ve adjusted our product lines as opportunities arose. 9or example, we sold a lot of trafc paint as we built contractor relationships and expanded into industrial coatings as Modesto’s economy evolved. Recently, with stricter galifornia TOg laws, we’ve had great success with water-based lacquers like Gemini Evo and Renner, an Italian brand.

This adaptability has helped us grow from $700k in revenue to nearly $4 million. When Joe and Nick from Rundoo walked into our store last year, I was intrigued. They were building a web-based point of sale tailored for paint stores.

We had already switched from a DOS system to a Windows cloud system in 2008, and it was a game-changer.

Switching from a cloud to a web-based system felt like the next big step. I signed up for Rundoo because I wanted to stay ahead of the curve. Now, after using it for some time, I can tell you three ways it’s improved our business: 13 cash fow, (3 security, and (3 employee onboardingg First, security. Many customers want to keep a card on fle, but I was always nervous about it in our old system. After a nearby store was hacked and paid ransomware, I worried about the same thing happening to us. With Rundoo, card info is fully encrypted and off our servers, so we can offer the convenience of saved cards without compromising securityg Second, cash fow. Rundoo makes it easy for contractors to pay us. We can send email statements, and they can pay with a click. The easier we make it for customers to pay, the more likely we are to get paid. We’re already seeing improvements in cash fowg Third, employee onboarding. New employees learn Rundoo quickly—within hours, not weeks. The system is intuitive, and employees don’t need to memorize SKUs. They can search for products easily.

The Rundoo team has been fantastic. &ver the past year, we’ve built a strong relationship, and it’s clear they care about our success.

There’s a real sense of community, and I’m proud to be part of it.

Todd Knutson Owner, Modesto Color Center

Scan the QR code to book a demo Learn more at getrundoo.com Email: team@getrundoo.com Phone: (650) 334-3205

INDEPENDENT | NEXTGEN

Networking with

Get to know former high school math teacher, bonafide DIYer, and NextGen retail member Amy Coleman

1. SHE STARTED AS A MATH TEACHER Before joining the family business full time, Coleman was a high school math teacher for seven years.

“I enjoyed that season of life teaching high school math, but I wanted the opportunity to work with my dad and work in the business while I still could,” she explains, adding that the flexibility involved with working with family is also an advantage. “I’m also a mom, so balancing my family and work at the paint store has been a huge blessing.”

When Coleman joined the family business after teaching, she worked the sales counter to learn all sides of the business and better understand what other employees do every day.

“I slowly transitioned to working in the office on the business side of things,” Coleman says. While her title is vice president, Coleman admits to wearing many hats and handling account receivables, marketing, and hiring.

2. SHE CULTIVATES A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT Coleman and the management team at Hoover Paint understand the importance of creating a culture that prioritizes relationships, provides for their people and their families, and retains their excellent staff.

“Creating an environment that [employees] want to come into every day is important,” she explains.

“Having that camaraderie within stores is a little bit harder the bigger we’ve gotten, but [we try] to keep employee morale high.”

In addition to company parties and breakfasts, Hoover organizes manager retreats and in-person training sessions.

“We’ve been trying to do a lot more in-person training sessions to get our employees doing something different and get their minds focused on learning new things. And it really encourages that lifelong learner mentality, even though we have some people that are super experienced. There’s always more to learn, especially when we bring in new products.”

Amy Coleman is getting an A+ at Hoover Paint Store. In 2021, the former math teacher decided to hang up her backpack and join the class at her family’s paint store. Since then, Coleman, who is the third generation at the company, has worked the counter to learn the ropes, worked with her dad, Tim Bowling, to manage the business side of the company, and is now taking Hoover Paint to new heights with their own training center.

Here are five other things you might not know about our NextGen retail member hailing from Nashville, Tennessee.

The effort continues to pay off, with Hoover employees averaging a tenure of 10 years with the company.

“I feel like we have amazing employees and solid experience across the board. I think the goal is that we create a work environment where we can retain valuable employees and that they enjoy working with us,” Coleman shares.

3. SHE’S A PROPONENT FOR DEVELOPMENT As a former teacher, Coleman understands the value of continuous improvement, going so far as to help create Hoover Paint’s very own training center headquarters.

“We recently renovated a building to be our training center headquarters,” she explains. “I have been really proud of the training sessions we’ve been able to have over the past year, bringing in vendors and doing lunch and learns and just really trying to train our people and our customers.”

Coleman says that they invite vendors to be part of their education series and rotate employees from different branches through so that everyone is on the cutting edge of new products and developments.

4. SHE EMBRACES CHANGE “NextGen has been such a blessing,” says Coleman, explaining that being part of a family business can sometimes feel like she’s in her own little nucleus.

“It’s nice to get outside of that and talk to people that are facing very similar problems and find out how they’re handling them. I feel like the younger generation is way more open to change and curious to hear how other people are doing things. Why reinvent the wheel when someone else has already figured out how to do it, especially when we’re not directly competing with each other?”

Coleman has attended two NextGen roundtable sessions and an ALLPRO roundtable and is already looking forward to the next.

40 | January/February 2025 | ALLPRO INDEPENDENT

“There’s just been a lot of cool conversations that have come out of NextGen. I walk away with so many good ideas, and I feel rejuvenated and excited, which you don’t get every day.”

5. SHE’S A DIYER When she’s not working at the paint store or puttering in her garden with her husband and toddler-aged son, she’s doing her own DIY projects.

“It might sound crazy, but we’ve done a lot of remodels,” she admits. “We always find ourselves in a project, whether we’re remodeling our home – we’re currently doing a master bath and closet remodel – or helping my parents remodel a little cabin house.”

Coleman credits Nashville’s trendy paint and design scene, and many of Hoover’s clients, for inspiring her to take on new projects.

“We have painters doing the coolest things,” Coleman shares. “I mean, it’s Nashville – we have fancy people and really cool projects, and I see them on Instagram and it gives me too many ideas! It’s dangerous because I have access to all the products to make it happen.”

Fun facts What is the last book you read?

“Big Little Lies” by Liane Moriarty What is your favorite paint color?

Benjamin Moore, Vintage Vogue 462 What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react. - Charles Swindoll

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