Posts Tagged ‘Retailer to Retailer’

For Retailers, Education Is the Key

Friday, November 9th, 2012
From left: Bryan Trick, Randy Hill, Tyger Kempton and Chuck Kempton from Dugan’s Paint & Flooring Centers, whose flagship store is in Sedalia, Mo. All four have completed the online PDRA Coatings Specialist Course..

From left: Bryan Trick, Randy Hill, Tyger Kempton and Chuck Kempton from Dugan’s Paint & Flooring Centers. All four have completed the online PDRA Coatings Specialist Course.

Posted by Diane Capuano

In Paint & Decorating Retailer magazine’s latest edition of “Retailer to Retailer,” the importance of industry education is in the spotlight.

Gary Fahndrich, owner of West Side Decorating Center in Saginaw, Mich., confirmed just how important product knowledge is to the store’s success.

“Because we have the reputation for being the place to go for answers, it’s really important that we have ongoing education,” said Fahndrich, noting that he takes advantage of industry programs as much as possible. “It’s hard to participate in 100 percent of what’s offered, but we do a high percentage. We take advantage of maybe 80 percent of the programs that come across our desk.”

Among the education programs that West Side Decorating Center tapped into in the last year was the online PDRA Coatings Specialist Course. (more…)

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Retailer to Retailer: Mike Fleck

Wednesday, June 13th, 2012

Mike Fleck

Mike Fleck

Posted by: Diane Capuano

Mike Fleck, the newest member of the PDRA Board,  is the owner of Flecks Paint Spot, which has stores in Toms River and Forked River, N.J.

To introduce Mike to our readership, Paint & Decorating Retailer magazine recently conducted a Q&A interview. Below are excerpts from that interview.

Q: First, can you provide a bit of background about you and your store? How did you get involved in the retail paint and decorating business?

A: I guess you could say I was born into the industry. My grandfather was a painter/paperhanger out of Philadelphia in the 1930s, and my dad, Bob Fleck, followed in his footsteps during the 1950s. (more…)

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Retailer to Retailer: Jim King

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

Jim King

Jim King

Posted by: Diane Capuano

In the May issue of PDR Magazine’s new “Retailer to Retailer” feature, we introduced you to PDRA’s Vice President/Treasurer Jim King, owner of Colormagic in Cookeville, Tenn. Excerpts from that interview are posted below:

Q: Can you provide a bit of background about you and your store?

A: My start in the paint industry was in college. I worked part-time as a stock boy. When I graduated from college with a degree in Wildlife Management, the owner of the store needed a manager. I told him I would serve as manager until he could find someone else to manage the store and if I could look for a job in my major. He became ill, and four years later, I bought the store. Forty years later, I still enjoy the business and hope to have many years to come. (more…)

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Retailer to Retailer: Charles Smith

Tuesday, March 13th, 2012
Charles SmithPosted by: Diane Capuano

In the most current edition of “Retailer to Retailer,” we introduce you to PDRA Board Member Charles Smith, Smith Paint Co. Inc., Roswell, N.M. Learn a bit about his background and his work with the PDRA Board in the Q&A interview, below:

Q: Can you provide a bit of background about you and your store?

A: My dad started the business in 1967. I had worked off and on for him through high school and college. After college, I went to work as a bookkeeper for a construction company. It only took a few months to realize that I wasn’t meant to sit behind a desk. I worked as a sales rep for a paint sundry wholesaler for about a year and then as a rep for major paint company for about six years. They were both great jobs, but I wanted to get back to retail. I came back to work “on the other side of the counter” in 1981, and I’ve been here ever since. (more…)

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PDRA’s New Customer Service Training Course Launches Online

Sunday, March 4th, 2012
CSS logoPosted by: Diane Capuano

PDRA has officially launched the new PDRA Customer Service Specialist online course.  As part of the PDRA Board of Directors’ new Retailer-to-Retailer initiative, this powerful new training course has been designed by paint store owners specifically for paint and decorating stores.

The course covers all aspects of professional customer service—from greeting your customers when they first walk through the door to finalizing the sale and everything in between. Chapters include: advantages of dealing with an independent store, selling add-ons, how to explain paint quality, telephone techniques, dealing with angry customers, competing against the “big boxes” (more…)

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Retailer to Retailer: Jim Wolcott

Monday, February 13th, 2012
Jim Wolcott

Jim WolcottPosted by: Diane Capuano

Posted by: Diane Capuano

In the most current edition of “Retailer to Retailer,” we introduce you to PDRA Board Member Jim Wolcott, Sioux City Paint & Decorating, Sioux City, Iowa. Learn a bit about his background and his work with the PDRA Board in the Q&A interview, below:

Q: Can you provide a bit of background about you and your store?

A: I worked for a large retailer for 17 years in about all areas of the business, starting in the warehouse unloading freight and checking in orders and then merchandise ordering, management and new store setups. While working for them, I enjoyed the building materials department about the best. It was long hard hours but great training for my own store. I was financed by my main paint supplier and spun off from them in a little under three years. I could not have done that without the hands-on education I received by working in retail.

Q: What is it about your business that sets you apart from other paint and decorating stores in your community?

A: We continually try to do something different than everyone else. We do “how-to” clinics. We try just about every new product that comes out. We put on programs for ladies’ groups, community colleges and service clubs. (more…)

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Excerpt from new “Retailer to Retailer”

Monday, January 9th, 2012
Rebecca Dumas

Rebecca Dumas

Posted by: Diane Capuano

The first edition of “Retailer to Retailer” makes its debut in Paint & Decorating Retailer’s January 2012 issue. This is a feature in which you, the retailer, share your thoughts, advice, wisdom and experience with other retailers in the industry. Each edition of “Retailer to Retailer” will include advice for retailers on how to succeed in specific product categories or how to improve their business. In the January issue, the topic is succeeding with faux-finishing sales. In the February issue, retailers share their advice on effective store displays.

“Retailer to Retailer” will also feature a “Q&A” with a member of the PDRA Board of Directors. In our January issue, we chatted with PDRA Board member Rebecca Dumas, Gregory’s Paint & Flooring, Johns Creek, Ga. Here is what she had to say.

Q: Can you provide a bit of background about you and your store?
A: My husband managed a store in 1993, then opened his own store in 1997. I left my very lucrative job selling corrugated packaging to help him in the store.  I went back to school in the evenings to get an additional degree in interior design to provide services for the store.  (more…)

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Introducing “Retailer to Retailer”

Friday, December 2nd, 2011
Project1Posted by: Diane Capuano

“Retailer To Retailer” is Paint & Decorating Retailer magazine’s new reader initiative that puts you, the paint store owner, manager or employee, front and center as part of our editorial coverage. In each issue, readers will provide their greatest ideas, anecdotes and advice to other readers about such vital topics of the day as customer service, social media, marketing, advertising and more—truly a way for retailers to learn from other retailers.

We would like to invite any paint and decorating retailer (store owner, manager or employee) to participate in “Retailer to Retailer” by sharing your thoughts on any of the topics listed below by the specified deadline for each issue. Then, follow these four steps: (more…)

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