In my last podcast of the summer Steve and I finish our conversation about the condition of American cities including a discussion of the book Happy City by Charles Montgomery. American cities continue to suffer from poor planning and decades of maintenance backlogs, so that most offer a degraded lifestyle by the standard of what is possible. Will we fiddle while Rome burns?
Paint is not my only interest, though it's been the only topic I've podcasted about. Until now! Over the last several years due to work and good fortune I've spent time in numerous major cities around the US and world. Noticing THE disparities, it's been on my mind to share that experiences with you. If you're an American you might not want to hear it, though you need to. The problems with US cities and our failing infrastructure are more than 60-years in the making, so if you think that I've go...
Because one episode on this topic was not enough! Part two of my survey with independent paint retailers, asking all THE questions Ben Carson and Dan Calkins want to know! Next week, something completely different.
Now we get to THE good part: I've begun my work surveying dealer sentiment towards their manufacturing partners. I've only performed a few interviews so far and have already been impressed by how willing dealers are to share their views. Join us as Steve and I discuss this current and most interesting engagement. I'll be back with a new blog on Thursday!
Finally back behind the mike, join me as I catch you up on what I've been doing the last few months including talking tariffs, applicators, a recent paint store road trip plus an update on one of several consulting gigs I currently have going on in paint.
Mark, My Words and Friends! Episode 1: Tariffs and THE Consultant by Mark Lipton
Join me as the president of Farrell-Calhoun, Anthony Ward, shares THE story of his company's transformation in the moments after Kelly-Moore's closing. Unlike Dunn-Edwards, Farrell-Calhoun had not prepared for the closing of Kelly-Moore. As word spread of Kelly's collapse, Anthony and his team had no plans to hire a team of Kelly-Moore alumni. Until he met them!
As word of Kelly-Moore's closing spread a few companies took fast action to ensure that Kelly's losses would be their gains. Dunn-Edwards was one such company, though their story is less about their response to Kelly-Moore's closing and more about their preparation for the possibility that their once mighty competitor may one day close! Join me as Monte Lewis, the COO oof Dunn-Edwards shares their story.
As word of Kelly-Moore's closing spread a few companies took fast action to ensure that Kelly's losses would be their gains. HIS Coatings was one such company, Join me as the president of HIS Coatings Tony Cox shares how his family's business transformed their business in an instant to capitalize on THE opportunity. And there's only one place to hear their story!
In the wake of the events at Kelly-Moore three companies took bold action to ensure that Kelly's losses would be their gains, each transforming their businesses in THE process. THE Opportunists is their story! Plus an update on paint news, because independents are doing so well I couldn't keep it to myself!
I think I've made my point, so what comes next? For my content, for Gassenheimer, the Flacks Group and for the Kelly-Moore family of now former-employees? This is where you come to find out!
This is it for our time with Charlie and His Lying Factory, at least as far as my coverage is concerned. I'm certain his lying will go on! And it's not just the lies he told which were evident at that time we recorded, like his boasts of his success at Corizon or the experience consumers will have using Kelly-Moore paints now that he's at the company's helm. But time has also made lies of every word he spoke that day, as he clearly never intended to pursue any of the endeavors we discussed. Even...
THE most aptly named podcast on YouTube! Halfway through that original podcast and Gassenheimer is waving THE red flags!
When Charles Gassenheimer told me of his experience at Corizon Health on a podcast recorded with the Kelly-Moore CEO he offered Corizon as evidence of executive skills saying the company was doing "fantastic." Which is a fantastic fucking story, but that's all it is! Days after spinning this tale, Corizon would settle one of the many wrongful death suits against the company. What could he have been thinking while he said that? TEXT ME!
The news was not good for Kelly-Moore chief executive Charles Gassenheimer last week as Kelly-Moore became the least of his problems! Watch THE episode here and catch my blog on Thursday!
News and commentary on the closing of Kelly-Moore, and tracking THE lies of Charles Gassenhemier.
Join me and my co-host Steve Rice as we test a new format created just for you. If you're a paint geek! This episode I'll introduce you to both Steve and our new format, starting you off with some tips for dealers about diversifying their businesses. And the one about my daughter Miranda. Join us for the laugh!
In THE News! With News and analysis for independent paint retailers for August 21, 2023. THE earnings! With coverage of earnings and sales results from Sherwin-Williams, PPG and Masco. And guess what? Dealers are doing better!
As a paint retailer it's hard to distinguish your stores from other retailers in the space, often leaving price and location as the only reason a customer favors you over S-W, HD or even another independent. To ensure I stood above THE crowd while calling on NY's industrial coatings users, I stood on my certification NACE Level III Coatings Inspector. THE strategy paying off to the tune of million's of dollars in additional sales over the course of my career. Almost all of which were at a higher...
My analysis of the paint industry's performance so-far this year. Plus the one about the time John Morikis got caught stretching THE truth! Results and analysis on SW, PPG, Ace, Masco & HD, and THE independent channel! THE best 13-minutes in paint!
Mother-daughter painting contractors Billie Machain and Veronica Tucci made time in their busy schedules to record a podcast with me recently. THE women are so busy because in addition to managing their rapidly expanding Philadelphia-based commercial painting business the pair were recently named one of Behr's top "Women in Paint" for 2023! In this entertaining 15-minute episode Billie and Veronica do all the talking, sharing their paint bonafides with stints at Sherwin-Williams, Duron as well a...
Now the chain's paint department manager Jon Dazey began his career at White's as an OSR: an all-expenses paid outside sales rep for the chain of lumberyards compliments of Benjmain Moore. (Pssst, they'll give you one too!) And while interesting, we don't spend much time discussing Jon's career path because dealers want will want to hear how White's is using industrial products and a focus on governments to grow his paint sales. And he wants to tell you how to do it!
Join me as I talk insurance with Matt Rogers of Papenhausen Hardware in San Francisco. Matt is an accidental expert on what insurance independent paint and hardware retailers need: Rogers had to rebuild Papenhausen after a fire destroyed the 100+ year-old business. TWICE! When he was done rebuilding his store the second time, Matt started a trade organization for independent home improvement retailers and a LinkedIn group where paint and hardware dealers can connect with other independents. To o...
Join me as I discuss hiring and retention with Gina Schaefer of the 13-store Washington, DC ACE retailer "A Few Cool Hardware Stores" Despite chronic nationwide labor shortages and high turnover rates for retail employers, Gina continues to hire and retain employees. Gina's strategies, plus her efforts in employee training and development, has driven her turnover rate as low as 25% in some stores! Gina said all THE work, All you have to do is listen! (Sorry btw about the reduced audio quality. I...
In THE News! February 16, 2023. In the news this week are earnings reports from Sherwin-Williams, PPG and RPM. As well as forecasts from all three for a challenging 2023 for paint sellers! Plus, what body part Sherwin chief executive John Morikis most resembles when he bullies his employees!
If you're a Benjamin Moore dealer or employee you're not going to want to miss this episode with recently retired BM executive Budweiser Jim Gorman! Join me as Jimmy and I discuss the modern history of the Montvale paint maker, including the sale to Berkshire Hathaway and Jimmy's perspective on the six Benjamin Moore CEO's he served. Including our very own, #Dan!
Why does the chemical foundation of paint and its dependence on petroleum and heavy-metal mining remain unchanged for more than 150-years despite revolutionary advances in chemistry and technology during that time? And with the increased cost of shipping adding 2% to THE inflation rate, when will paint be made as a concentrate so we can stop paying to ship all this water? Chemist John Minerowicz has the answers, get 'em here!
Join me as as Garrett Florent of Rainguard shares how dealers can tap into the lucrative market for clears and anti-graffiti coatings. Garrett also shares how dealers can attract masons into their stores with just a small mix of products. Coatings which masons generally acquire at lumber yards or another building supplier!
Episode 67 with Grant Farnsworth of the Farnsworth Group by Mark Lipton
EARNINGS EARNINGS EARNINGS!! Sherwin-Williams, PPG and Masco report earnings and in ten-minutes, you can hear it all here! Spoiler alert....it's better to be an independent!
