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The story of how Sherwin-Williams began is the entrepreneur’s dream: A company enters the market with an innovative product that solves an age-old problem and the business grows to success.
What makes the Sherwin-Williams story unique, and one worth getting to know a little better, is the fact that the company has been able to not only stay relevant, but continue to thrive as an innovative industry leader for more than 150 years.
That kind of ongoing success doesn’t happen by accident, which is why we are going to take a closer look at how it has been able to adapt throughout the years.
A History of Innovation
From the beginning, Sherwin-Williams has been sensitive to the needs and pain points of its customers and put time into researching and developing products that solve existing problems.
The company first entered the commercial paint market in 1880 with their “Painter’s Prepared” ready-mixed paint.
Prior to the introduction of this product, painters would have to mix paint by hand, which produced inconsistent results. Pre-colored and pre-mixed paint allowed for a more uniform look and stable formulas.
From that very first disruptive product, Sherwin-Williams has continued to embrace technology, recruit top talent and look for new ways to stay on top of its innovation game.
Embracing New Technology
In today’s fast-paced business environment, Sherwin-Williams has been quick to adopt and embrace new technologies.
For example, they immediately began using emerging cloud technology, which freed up its IT department to focus on innovation rather than maintenance.
Instead of spending time managing servers and backing up data, the IT team was able to focus on industry game-changers like developing the ColorSnap® Precision color matching system.
Using this technology, designers and consumers can create a precise color match paint from practically any material, including fabric and paper. This has opened the door to limitless design creativity.
Realizing the value of a skilled and motivated IT department, Sherwin-Williams ensured continued innovation by launching an apprenticeship program where college students can learn about the company and be mentored by a veteran IT professional.
This program allows Sherwin-Williams to actively cultivate qualified IT experts through mutually beneficial and educational initiatives. Instead of waiting for the talent to come to them, they are investing time and money in fostering the next wave of top recruits themselves.
Reaching into New Markets
Most people associate Sherwin-Williams with residential paints, but the company is making waves in a wide range of industries from healthcare to industrial energy production.
Again and again, the company has used technology to develop cutting-edge solutions that directly address long-standing problems.
Most recently, the protective and marine coating division of Sherwin-Williams has been winning international awards for creating innovative products that prevent corrosion on steel structures. In the past, bridges, oil rigs and other industrial facilities required constant painting to keep up with harsh weather conditions.
In response to the needs of the healthcare industry, Sherwin-Williams developed Paint Shield, a microbicidal paint that actually kills pathogens. Just one application can continue to eliminate bacteria for four years, creating healthier facilities.
Working for a Better Future
Sherwin-Williams has also shown great foresight and demonstrated the company’s commitment to sustainability by creating a new paint formula that consists of soybean oil and recycled plastic bottles.
The eco-friendly paint was awarded the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White House.
Instead of sticking to formulas that have performed well in the past, Sherwin-Williams continues to invest in new solutions that recognize the evolving priorities of consumers.
