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Hold This Rope
For the second time this year employees at Pittsburgh Paints have experienced mass layoffs losing as many as 100 coworkers last week...
Jul 2, 20253 min read


THE Right Not to Remain Silent
Last week Benjamin Moore laid off 50 employees bringing to 60 the total number rif’ed by Montvale in the last two-months, likely...
Jun 25, 20254 min read


I Was There in Spirit!
My father was not bothered by the disrepair he allowed his paint store to fall into over his 30-years behind the counter. Irresponsible...
Jun 17, 20253 min read
Dear Desperately
Under the nom de plume of Silence Dogood founding father Benjamin Franklin helped establish the modern advice column, a Dear Abby for...
Jun 10, 20253 min read
But How Was Miami?
I spent much of last week surveying independent paint retailers on sentiments towards their brands, leaving Pittsburgh Paints CEO Brian...
Jun 4, 20253 min read


THE Wait is Over!
Last week Billy Joel cancelled all live performances after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus , a condition of the brain...
May 27, 20254 min read


THE Promise Keeper
In 2001 when Berkshire Hathaway purchased Benjamin Moore Warren Buffet promised independent retailers that THE brand would forever...
May 7, 20254 min read


THE Good Advice You Can't Take
Were it not for the 1099's and W2's in the trash I might not have noticed that my daughter Miranda had been home to visit. THE former...
Apr 30, 20253 min read


Riding THE Wave
In December of last year the private equity firm American Industrial Partners completed an acquisition of the architectural coatings...
Apr 23, 20253 min read


Can I Pick Another Color?
THE third largest city in a deep blue state my hometown of Stamford, Connecticut suffers a misfortune conspicuous in one-party rule:...
Apr 16, 20253 min read
Things My Daughter Never Told Me!
In the news last week were tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on all goods imported into the country. Those taxes, plus...
Apr 8, 20253 min read


Roman Holiday
Executives from Pittsburgh Paints gathered in Cabo San Lucas Mexico in March, assembling with the preeminent customers of their company...
Apr 2, 20253 min read
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner!
If you are an independent paint or hardware retailer please click here before reading this week’s blog, thank you. It’s been more than...
Mar 26, 20253 min read


Play it Loud!
After three-weeks on the road it was Netflix and chill with my fiancéeic last weekend, the longest traveling of my career forcing the...
Mar 19, 20253 min read


Layoffs at Pittsburgh!
There were layoffs at Pittsburgh Paints’ corporate headquarters last week, the end of anticipation for an unlucky few. Riffed were as...
Mar 11, 20252 min read


GREAT Question!
Executives from American Industrial Partners gathered in Florida last week to meet the team at Pittsburgh Paints, including newly appointed CEO Brian Carson who was likely in attendance. Carson is the third to helm Pittsburgh since AIP completed their acquisition of PPG’s architectural division just three months ago and he replaces Joe Durham , who for those keeping score at home had replaced Jaime Irick. You may notice both Carson’s and Durham’s mentions above are li
Feb 27, 20252 min read


Something (Else) Someone Told Me
On the February 6th episode of Mad Money , the show’s host Jim Cramer opined on the current share price of Sherwin-Williams stock; THE...
Feb 19, 20253 min read


Something Someone Told Me
I spent Monday and Tuesday this week in Chicago, passing the hours in a boardroom strategizing a path for a client’s innovative new...
Feb 12, 20252 min read


Irick's Folly
In an ongoing effort to monetize their investment the new owners of Pittsburgh Paints offer their assets for sale to anyone with...
Feb 4, 20253 min read
Better Left Unsaid
It’s been nearly two-months since American Industrial Partners completed their acquisition of PPG’s $2 billion architectural coatings...
Jan 29, 20252 min read
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