Shuttered Kelly-Moore Paints Stores Reopen Under H-I-S Paint

After Kelly-Moore Paints suddenly ceased operations at 157 stores nationwide earlier this year, Oklahoma City-based H-I-S Paint has stepped in to reopen seven of the shuttered stores in Oklahoma and Texas.

H-I-S Paint CEO Joe Cox said his company, a paint-industry leader with more than 50 years in business, saw an opportunity to save jobs and give customers access to the same quality of paint product at the same locations.

“When the Kelly-Moore stores closed, tenured employees lost their livelihoods while customers were left without an equal alternative,” said Cox. “We’re pleased to be able to give jobs back to more than 30 employees while allowing customers to return to what they know and love.”

H-I-S Paint reopened stores at the following locations:

727 Broadway Ave.
Edmond, OK 73034 

108 24th St. SW
Norman, OK 73069 
  
12011 S Memorial Dr.
Bixby, OK 74008 
  
2901 N Grandview Ave.
Odessa, TX 79762 
  
3437 N First St.
Abilene, TX 79603 

Additional openings are also planned in Wichita Falls and Amarillo, Texas.

These former Kelly-Moore locations have been reopened to with the same team and quality of products as before, enabling DIY enthusiasts, contractors and builders to return to the paint they trust.

Coatings World recently spoke with Tony Cox, President of H-I-S Paint regarding the reopened stores. 

CW: Please tell me about H-I-S Paint. When was it founded, how many employees, how many facilities does it have and where it is headquartered?

Cox: H-I-S Paint was founded in May 1972. We have two manufacturing plants in Oklahoma City, plus seven stores in Oklahoma and Texas. Across the company, we employ more than 100 people. Our company was ranked #21 in the Precision Coatings, Inc. Top 25 list of Coatings Manufacturers in North America. We are known for integrity, providing our employees with a positive work environment and a ministry of meeting genuine needs for our customers. We’re proud of our history – you can read more here: https://hispaint.com/about-us/.

CW: What types of paint and coatings do you manufacture?

Cox: We offer a variety of architectural paints and coatings, as well as ultralow-VOC compliant water-based and solvent-based 1k and 2K coatings. We serve a broad range of industries, including industrial OEMs; drums; oilfield, propane and energy; agricultural equipment; trailers; containers; structural steel and bridges; wire coatings; millwork; and aerospace.

CW: Why did you feel that reopening the shuttered Kelly-Moore stores would be a good business decision for your company?

Cox: Kelly-Moore had built a loyal customer base through excellent paint quality and personal service. The decision to shut down 150 stores without notice left a significant product and service void for customers that needed to be filled. Additionally, many great employees were displaced overnight, and we knew we could help by opening stores in the same locations and hiring the same employees. Now, when loyal customers return, they get a great paint product while also seeing familiar faces. This was also an opportunity to provide a needed service that aligns with our mission and our values.

CW: What are your plans for the reopened stores?

Cox: At all seven of the reopened stores, we’re engaging with existing Kelly-Moore customers through the same store managers and sales representatives they had previously. The stores are also providing products which are comparable to the Kelly-Moore products they relied on most to build their businesses.  We are also planning to expand our industrial coatings presence in these markets by using each store as an industrial tinting and architectural coating distribution center.

CW: How many employees were rehired?

Cox: We have brought on 33 Kelly-Moore employees so far, and we have plans for a few more. This includes executives, chemists, store managers, assistant managers and sales representatives.

CW: What is the customer base for these stores and what specific products are being sold?

Cox: The customer base for these stores is paint contractors, builders, retail D.I.Y, industrial manufacturers, steel fabricators and all other paint and coatings users. We provide H-I-S Manufactured Paints and Coatings, in addition to a line of ancillary lacquers and sundries. As always, we’ll provide the quality, integrity, service and expertise our clients deserve and expect.