Whether your business is in architecture, decorating, or construction, you need to make the most of your paint distributors and wholesalers. These days wholesalers don't just provide products in bulk, they oftentimes help you fulfill other significant needs. When picking and choosing the ideal distributor, determine your business's objective and how potential distributors can help you meet it.

By making the most of paint distributors and wholesalers, you can build strong relationships with them. Additionally, you can limit the number of distributors you purchase from. Consider the following when selecting a wholesale paint distributor that is right for your clients' needs:

1. With the environment an issue more now than ever, consider partnering with paint suppliers that offer green, eco-friendly paints.

2. Many paint product wholesalers provide product samples so you can better determine your purchasing needs.

3. The customer service provided by your paint wholesaler reflects on the service to your customer, so make sure it meets your needs and the needs of your clients.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose wholesale paint distributors that can help you grow your businesses

With so much competition out there, many paint distributors offer additional resources above and beyond selling paint wholesale to stay on top of the market. Many distributors offer software, color visualizers and other business enhancement tools.

I recommend: Kelly-Moore Paints features a color center tool that includes free Click & Paint tool. Pratt & Lambert offers custom services for architects, designers and contractors, in addition to a color visualizer tool.

Take advantage of membership opportunities and benefits from wholesale paint distributors

Signing up as a preferred member of a paint distributor can prove beneficial. Many offer discounts, reward points and other additional services. Some warehouses will assign you to an individual contact who can keep track of your specific requirements, and thereby foster a long-term business relationship.

I recommend: General Paint offers reward points for all its preferred painter club members. The Sherwin-Williams preferred customer program features exclusive savings, in addition to decorating tips and how-to advice.

Select paint distributors that offer ongoing educational opportunities

As a business owner, you should stay current with the trends in your industry. Many paint wholesalers can help you do this by offering classes, workshops and seminars on painting techniques. Take advantage of these opportunities so you can offer your clients a wider range of options.

I recommend: Hirshfield’s offers an extensive listing of decorating ideas, tips, solutions and classes. Benjamin Moore offers online "How To" videos on the latest and greatest in industry techniques and finishes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you choose a paint supplier that offers a diverse selection of products, you can accommodate a wide variety of projects, thus building your buying power and increasing your discount opportunity.

Wholesale paint distributors can often act as a company morale officer. If your employees seem to be moping about with mindless, empty gazes (maybe Joe from accounting mutters "...brains...brains..." like a voracious zombie one too many times for your liking) perhaps you need to brighten up the office environment. Change the drab olive green walls to a lively blue. Turn the feel of the hallway from hospital ward to happy hour.

Paint distributors offer something no one else can offer. They can create virtually any color your mind can imagine. All they do is add a little of this, a little of that, shake it up real good, and presto, magic happens. It's like crafting the perfect martini. Paint suppliers are the bartenders of the architecture and design world.

Paint distribution companies offer different levels of service. Keep the following in mind when choosing one:

1. Which paint distributors and wholesalers offer the best choice of color?

2. What wholesale paint company can offer the amount of paint you need?

3. Where is the paint supplier who can give you the best price?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose the perfect color with paint wholesalers

To keep with the bartender analogy, choosing a paint color can be a difficult as choosing the perfect drink to suit your mood. Even the most subtle change in ingredients can profoundly alter the final product. Adding just a bit more blue to your paint choice can be akin to a bartender who's hand is just a bit to heavy on the Vermouth. So its important to use the paint wholesalers and their available resources to find the right color.

I recommend: Benjamin Moore allows you to download color palettes directly to your computer to allow you to easily incorporate color schemes into design plans. Pittsburgh Paints also offers three different ways to select paints, including photo painting and a color personality quiz.

Save money with paint suppliers and do it yourself

Want to kill 2 birds with one stone? While we don't advocate using lethal force against any avians, animals or accountants named Joe (no matter how many times he mutters '...brains...brains...') we do think it's possible bring your office team together in the painting process. Shut down operations for a couple days, arrange for catering and have your team paint the office. Get them engaged in the color selection process and let them have some fun. Just buy paint and let them grow together as a team.

I recommend: Don't let your paint wholesaler oversell you too much paint. Use Lowe's handy paint calculator to determine just how much you'll need. Paint supplier Valspar also offers a number of helpful tips on preparing your rooms for painting, if you decide to do the job yourself.

Be eco-savvy with your paint distributors and wholesalers

The colors have been selected, the walls are primed and ready and your has brush in hand. If you've selected wisely, your painters will not be overcome with dangerous chemical fumes emanating from the paint can. What? You didn't consider the impact on the environment when selecting your paint? Shame on you. There are a number of eco-friendly wholesale paint options available and the list is ever growing.

I recommend: To buy paint with the environment in mind, Home Depot offers a number of online and in-store options for eco-friendly paints and supplies. Eco-Wise also has a number of safe and responsible options.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When planning to paint, use your paint distributors and wholesalers to get all your ancillary supplies, like tape, tarps, brushes and rollers. Buy bulk and save.

Paint distributors, paint wholesalers and paint distribution companies need to keep up-to-date on paint trends and paint application techniques. Paint distributors and wholesalers involved in a wide spectrum of industries should know how to choose paints for specific projects and how to store and dispose of paint safely.

Training courses to enhance the education of distributors of paint and paint wholesalers are available on both the local and national levels. These courses, coupled with hand-on training, can solidify your area of expertise as a paint distributor. When you consider training courses geared toward paint distributors and wholesalers, you should:

1. Take the necessary courses to become a certified paint distributor.

2. Attend seminars and conferences to keep up-to-date on changes in the paint industry and to network with other paint suppliers and paint distributors.

3. Learn how to safely store and dispose of paint properly.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Become certified as a paint distributor or paint wholesaler

Whether you are a wholesale paint supplier or a custom paint distributor, certification as a paint supplier promotes your expertise to your customers. Manufacturers of paint brands often offer free certification courses.

I recommend: DuPont offers Standox training courses that are tailored for paint distributors. They also offer advanced certification courses for a well-rounded education of the Standox brand. PPG Commercial Coatings offers a certification program for PPG Platinum distributors.

Attend seminars and conferences to learn techniques and to network

Seminars and conferences allow you and your employees to gain hands-on learning. From new trends in paint to painting techniques, reap the benefits of seminars and network with wholesale paint distributors.

I recommend: The National Paint & Coatings Association offers meetings and conferences for paint industry professionals throughout the year and in various locations. Attend conferences hosted by the Paint & Decorating Retailers Association. Trade shows that feature paint demonstrations and other industry-related events are scheduled throughout the year.

Be an eco-friendly paint supplier

Learn how to safely and effectively store your wholesale paint and practice proper paint disposal techniques to keep the environment safe from contamination. Offer eco-friendly paints in your business to promote environmental awareness among your customers.

I recommend: Follow the storage and safety procedures provided by Lowes. The information covers how to safely store paint and how to dispose of different types of paint. The Master Painters Institute offers information on the best types of environmentally-friendly paints and the standards the paints must meet to gain this qualification.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Showcase your paint supplier certification status within your business and in advertisements to promote your expertise to potential customers.