Today we’d like to introduce you to Colin Rick.
Hi Colin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started painting professionally in 2001. I was introduced to a man named Tom Cox. He is an extraordinary man and a fantastic painter (perhaps the best I’ve ever meet). He was willing to hire me and teach me the trade. Over the next several years, I worked for Tom and learned a lot more than I ever thought I would. I went into this trade thinking it would be easy. It’s just painting… right? It turned out that there was a lot more to painting than just brushing and rolling walls! Yes, that was part of it, but there was also many different processes, substrates, products, and applications involved. Not to mention the proper prep work required before the painting could even begin. While Tom very patiently and intentionally taught me the trade, he was also teaching me about honesty and integrity in business. I know now that he taught me lessons that I wouldn’t realize until many years later. I am forever grateful to have meet him and had the opportunity to learn my trade and so many other invaluable things from him.
I went on to start my own painting business in 2005. I loved painting and was exited to be on my own, but there were hurdles I struggled with on the business side that I had no experience with. Insurance, taxes, employees, and marketing to name a few. I found myself discouraged and exhausted, but I knew I didn’t want to go back to working for someone else.
As fate would have it, a very business minded friend of mine came to me with a partnership opportunity. He was starting up a company in the manufacturing and retail space. He thought I would be a good fit to partner up with to help build and grow, so in 2011, I went on a business side quest. I shut down the painting business and went all in with my new business partner.
I am glad I took this opportunity, because it taught me so much in the ares of business that I was lacking. I was able to gain experience in contract negotiations, marketing, social media, working with outside contractors, and we had many employees, so culture and team building was huge. The company thrived, but the partnership did not. A day came where it became clear that I had to exit this partnership, so I decided to go back to my painting roots.
In 2016 I established Principal Painting, LLC and I’ve never looked back. It was slow starting, but we’ve grown every year. It started with just me working out of an Astro Van doing all the painting myself and my wife doing all of the bookkeeping. Today, we have grown to having a full time project manager and estimator, over 10 painters, a CPA (my wife still does our daily accounting), and I no longer have a paintbrush in my hands. We service mostly residential projects, but we are growing our footprint in the commercial space every year. I get to spend my time running and growing the business, supporting and coaching our team, and working on our marketing and social media. I love this business, our team, and our clients! I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not a smooth road. Some of the struggles have been finding, growing, and retaining top tier team members, and having the workflow to keep them busy year round. If I can’t keep them busy, they will go somewhere else, and I wouldn’t blame them. There has been a lot of time and effort spent on finding the right marketing strategies to keep the leads coming in. Slow times are stressful, and as a business owner, the harsh reality is that nobody is coming to save you. You have to figure it out and keep going!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We do residential and commercial painting.
We are known for delivering a top quality service while keeping a clean and professional job site.
I am most proud of the team we have. I get as many compliments about our people as I do about their work!
I believe what sets us apart is our communication. There is never any gray area when it comes to when or if we will be there, what work will be performed, or when the project will be completed. We are very attentive to our clients.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t know if I would call it luck, some might. I just believe that I am always where I’m supposed to be, doing what I’m supposed to be doing. That goes for the good times and the bad times too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.principalpainting.com
- Instagram: principalpainting
- Facebook: Principal Painting and Pressure Washing
- Other: Nextdoor – Principal Painting
