Coatings World spoke with Dee Schlotter, PPG senior color marketing manager about the company's free virtual color consultation service.

CW: Do you see an increase in people starting DIY painting projects during the COVID-19 outbreak?

Schlotter: While consumers continue to stay home as a result of COVID-19 directives, PPG has experienced a noticeable uptick in both color consultation requests and do-it-yourself projects. Today, homeowners could be feeling inspired to tackle DIY projects they’ve had on a long-standing to-do list, or they may want to use this newfound time to create a space that brings them comfort during an unsettling situation. While PPG Paints retail stores are temporarily closed to retail traffic, we are offering no-contact delivery or pickup. PPG is here to help navigate the color selection and purchase process virtually once inspiration strikes.

CW: How are you meeting their color consultation needs remotely?

Schlotter: For customers having trouble choosing colors for an interior or exterior space (or both!), PPG is now offering free virtual color consultations in the U.S. This unique virtual solution allows PPG color experts to continue providing recommendations to DIYers, all from the comfort of their own home.

When submitting a request, customers are asked to provide details about their project, initial color preferences and photos of the space. Then through text, e-mail or FaceTime, PPG color experts provide color recommendations and details on how to order free color swatches from ppgpaints.com. Once a color is selected, customers can either schedule a no-contact delivery or curbside pickup option at PPG Paints stores, or order paint from www.homedepot.com.

[To learn more about this free virtual color consultation program, click here.]

For customers that aren’t ready to commit to a color quite yet, PPG also offers a color visualizer. Users can simply upload their own photos or use existing photos on the tool to quickly colorize the walls of a space using their phone or computer. This can allow homeowners to test various colors and shades in a space before committing to a swatch or purchasing paint.

CW: Are customers pleased with the remote consultations, typically how many samples do you send out before they make a selection?

Schlotter: Virtual consultations have been more than doubling every week, with PPG color experts assisting with color selection on a variety of projects including front doors, multiple rooms and entire exterior projects. Through this process, our color experts are also able to recommend additional project ideas that homeowners may not have thought of, such as accent walls or transition colors into the next room or hallway. 

Our color experts closely study pictures or videos of a customer’s space, helping them understand what colors would be complementary to existing décor, flooring and other room elements. From there, we are able to pinpoint the best shades and provide three or four strong color swatch samples for customers to consider. These samples are mailed directly to their home, free of charge.