It started back in the early 90’s in London, Ontario. I was working as a jack-of-all-trades but soon found myself repainting apartments for a property management company. 

I remember being told that it would be steady work, but there was no compromising the firmly established rate for materials and labour per unit. A two-bedroom apartment at the time fetched $220.  Starting out, I was not particularly skilled at the craft. I remember that first two-bedroom apartment taking me the better part of a week to complete! Small repairs, prep work and mediocre tools made it difficult to work quickly without making a mess. I was discouraged and ready to throw in the towel. How could anyone in their right mind, make a living doing this?!

How to Re-paint Apartment Rental Units Cost-Effectively

Then I met a guy who ran a small crew doing re-paints and doing them well. They had a couple of vans and some specialized equipment. But more importantly, they had a system in place where they were able to get in, do the job and get out within a few short hours.

So I learned from them and put into practice the system that they were using. It took a while, but eventually I was able to start making those units profitable. What used to take several days to complete was now taking less than a single day. And as promised, the work kept coming in steadily, month after month. Before long I hired an assistant and we continued to focus on refining our own system together.

We started to gain a reputation with other property management companies for doing quality work on-time and on-budget, at the fixed rate they expected. Within 2 years we had a crew of 12 painters and our services evolved from rental repaints to newer homes and commercial work for retail and industrial properties. With additional training, two of us obtained certification as Industrial Coatings Consultants which brought new opportunities for work like Dry Fall Painting and Specialized Epoxy Coatings for large-scale projects. We also developed our own in-house spray-painting program for building contractors and installers requesting professionally pre-finished doors, sidelights and overhead door panels. They would have their new orders shipped to our location (a 5,000 sq.ft spray painting facility) instead of the job site. We would then finish them with the specified paint colours for pick-up, prior to installation.

As members of the London Construction Association, we began to consult on new development projects with architects, interior designers and building contractors. Accurately reading construction blueprints was imperative to a successful job outcome. For instance, cost estimation for materials and labour and scheduling with other trades.

Then came the unions and overwhelm and complications that go along with growing a company too big, too fast. And the joy of what we started was lost. It was a time for lessons learned and for change. Around that same time, a good friend and business partner passed away unexpectedly. I decided to move out west, to Merritt, BC, and start a new life.

Those early days were very rewarding. I especially enjoyed the process of building something from scratch. What started with a simple paint brush and roller became a thriving business. Our crew was like family and many of our clients became good friends. 

Now fast-forward to about a year ago. I was asked by a friend if I would be interested in helping paint the interior of our local post office. I told him it had been a while but that I would love the opportunity and enjoyed the break away from my regular desk job. Since then I have completed a number of local painting projects as a side-gig. 

Most recently my good friend (and now business partner) Steven Bauwens asked me to help him paint their new family home. As we worked together, the topic of starting a painting business began and the more we discussed it, the more it seemed to make sense. You see, our main business is helping small businesses succeed through on-line marketing. Why not use our skill-set for both?

Together we have decided to take the leap. For Steven, a new venture and for me, a chance to relive some of the good old days. 

When it comes to painting, we recognize that over the year’s one main thing that has changed. The cost of materials and labour has certainly increased. But the principles of the craft, good honest hard work, attention to detail, customer service, giving back to our community and of course good marketing, remain the keys to success.We also recognize that the timing is right, with an increasing demand for good quality trades. 

So here we are. A new business. A new brand. New energy and enthusiasm.

Welcome to Merritt Painting!

We hope you'll consider us for your next painting project. In the meantime, feel free to subscribe to our blog and we will keep you posted on our progress. We also plan to provide painting resources and tips 4 those of you interested in do-it-yourself projects. Join us on social media and share the love!