Paint & Wallpaper Stores Industry Overview

Excerpt from Paint & Wallpaper Stores Report

The US paint and wallpaper store industry includes about 3,000 companies that operate about 8,000 stores with combined annual revenue of about $8 billion. Major companies include the retail divisions of paint manufacturers Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Kelly-Moore. The industry is concentrated: the top 50 companies account for about 75 percent of industry revenue.

Competitive Landscape

Home maintenance, home sales, and construction and remodeling trends drive demand. The profitability of individual companies depends on effective merchandising and marketing and the ability to establish relationships with contractors. Large companies have advantages in purchasing, distribution, finance, and marketing. Small companies can compete effectively by offering specialty products, providing superior customer service, or serving a local market.

Products, Operations & Technology

Major products sold include paints, coatings, wallpaper, and painting equipment. Paint includes interior (40 percent of sales) and exterior paints (23 percent). Coatings (10 percent) include stains, varnishes, and shellacs. Painting equipment (7 percent) includes brushes, rollers, sprayers, and tools. Companies typically also sell paint and wallpaper supplies, such as primers, adhesives, and caulks.