It's One or the Other
- Mark Lipton
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
THE chicken and egg are the most acclaimed of the causality dilemmas, a paradox philosophers have been tempted with since they sighted the first chicken. Or egg. And though science has finally settling that score, I still spent the week in the grips of that classic paradox. Unsure where it all began.
Eight days ago, I received a tip I felt compelled to peruse—making that impulse seem the cause of my week spent obsessing. Until I mention that I was only compelled to follow the lead due to an ongoing obsession with that topic, at which point it becomes less clear which came first. No matter, the outcome was the same: a pace of activity which left me hoarse, and with readership trending in a most unlikely place.
Which you will start reading about here in the coming weeks, though until then my blogs will be shorter by necessity. And more personal, as that writing requires less research than a typical blog, freeing time for a pursuit far more critical than turning a paint word here.
On my podcast this week I’m joined by Gary Dandreaux, who tries to explain how artificial intelligence might impact paint manufacturing. And how it already has, in the labs, field, manufacturing and distribution facilities of our industry’s supply chain. Next week I’ll have another episode with Gary talking plant-based coatings, now available from both Sherwin-Williams and Behr.
Friends or Family
The slivers of free time I had away from my investigation last week were still spent with paint, mostly writing the report of my inspection, after I was engaged as an expert witness in a paint dispute. If the parties don’t settle, my report will become the facts of that case. So, I’ll be sure to lay them out plainly, which one party will not appreciate. But I’m getting used to breaking bad news.
And on Sunday I cruised through the Pacoa Dealer Market, a twice-yearly event for New York area dealers to buy at discount and meet vendors.
My grandfather was one of Pacoa’s first customers, when founder Teddy Geismar began selling rollers and brushes from the trunk of his car in the 1960s. When I sold my stores some 50 years later, we were still with Pacoa, by then delivering throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic.
Over three generations, Pacoa grew to be one of the segment’s best brands. Still family-owned, they’re an independent distributor servicing independent retailers, explaining my admiration for that firm. My relationship with Teddy’s grandson Steve remains THE oldest in my Rolodex at 38 years, beating out these two–but not by much.
Who says you can’t go home again?
Danny Cavallo, California Paint and Rick Ackerman, Arroworthy.
