As the temperatures begin to warm and the days get longer, the exterior painting season begins to blossom for another year. The economic climate in the US is beginning to shows signs of recovery, which can only help the number of home owners and building owner/managers budgeting exterior paint projects to refresh curb appeal.

Kelly-Moore Paints, headquartered in San Carlos, California, does business in the eight Western states of Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and Idaho as well as the Central states of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. “K-M market penetration comes from strategically placed stores, 200 miles around the San Francisco Bay area, but K-M also have stores in the Northwest and over 40 stores serviced by the manufacturing plant in Hurst, Texas,” Mark Zielinski reported, VP of Business Development. Kelly-Moore has the reputation as makers of great house paint. “In fact”, Zielinski says, “44% of our sales volume comes from loyal professional painters specializing in the repaint market that rely on consistent product and performance. But, we are much more than your neighborhood paint store, manufacturing and/ or distributing industrial coatings, lacquers, traffic paints, tank-farm & bridge coatings on the global market.”

Founded in 1946 by William H. Kelly and William E. Moore, Kelly-Moore Paints is now one of the largest employee-owned paint companies in the US. The majority of the 2,000-plus employees service customers in the company stores. The K-M chemists are focused on creating innovative, quality products and the production units find ways to work cleaner and more efficiently.

Earlier this year, Kelly-Moore was the recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Industrial Wastewater Control by PS3 of the California Water Environment Association in 2008. KM was recognized by the City of San Carlos, CA as a Certified Green Business; then, the Board of Supervisors for the County of San Mateo as a Green Business within the County; and lastly, declared a Green Business by the California State Legislature Assembly. “Imagine that!” Zielinski states, “A paint company, manufacturing in the State of California, being declared ‘a green business!’” Additionally, working with PG&E, Kelly-Moore was also recognized for its carbon-offset program that has resulted in its San Carlos plant being declared carbon-neutral.

Because of the partnership with the small painter, K-M continues to offer exterior lines in ready-mixed colors, a contractor’s best friend. Zielinski states, “With the prevalence of the custom tinting capability within the industry, many paint companies do not carry stock-color anymore to save inventory dollars.” K-M offers 24 ready-mixed colors in the premium lines of paint sold at company locations since 1971. “We will never forget who brought us to the dance!” says Zielinski, CONTACT US Kelly-Moore Paint Company, Inc. 987 Commercial Street San Carlos, California 94070 1-800-874-4436 Toll-Free www.kellymoore.com “The Professional Painter relies on the consistent factory-ground colors in popular sheens seen throughout our distribution areas. Best of all for painters, they’re returnable!”

The future of paint will forever be influenced by the regulatory pressures being applied to the laboratory by various agencies. “The VOC levels being mandated may be the driving measurement for regulators, but the ‘environmental functionality’ of paint will drive acceptability in the market.” Zielinski claims. “The real reasons consumers purchased low-VOC paint lines 15 years ago, was not for the air-quality advantages for the planet, but for the low-odor characteristics on the project.” To push this strategy into their paints, Kelly-Moore will introduce heatreflective paints for exterior applications this summer. “This HR-tech product has been applied to hi-rise residential buildings.” Zielinski says. Kelly-Moore expects this paint to reflect a percentage of radiant heat away from the outside wall, lowering the available heat transfer to the inner space. The cooler room will not require as many air-conditioning cycles, decreasing the energy requirements over time.

K-M paint products are being applied to wall surfaces literally all over the world, including major residential projects in China, Vietnam, Korea, and Mexico, and many other remote countries. The neighborhood K-M paint store that most people see has the depth of knowledge and industry experience to be a dynamic manufacturer for the future. “We’re paint people.” Zielinski finally stated. “We’re not afraid of innovation or new markets. We’re small enough to still greet our painting contractors by their first name, but big enough to share products with the world.”

CONTACT US

Kelly-Moore Paint Company, Inc.
987 Commercial Street
San Carlos, California 94070
1-800-874-4436 Toll-Free
www.kellymoore.com