Small Business: Meet the Paint Color Guru at Eastway Paint
I have a rule at our house: We (my husband) paint a room a year so that we keep our house updated. Since 1998, I have been going to Eastway Paint near the corner of Eastway Drive and Central Avenue.
Every time I have gone in, there has been a line of women waiting to talk with Frank Harrelson. They are usually holding a pillow, piece of fabric or furniture. Harrelson, 55, has been called the Paint Color Guru. He can match anything or recommend a color that you were bound to love. He has been asked to match shoes, butter, fruits, flowers and even a Kraft Catalina salad dressing once.
on has a lot of experience with paint. His first job out of college was working at his brother’s paint store in Savannah, Ga. Then, in 1988, he bought Eastway Paint. Over time, Harrelson’s sons Matt and Kyle, and his wife Kathy joined the family business.
The store gained the reputation for choosing good colors, providing excellent customer service and custom ordering products.
Harrelson talks with CharlotteFive for the Small Business Series:
(1) What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
“Several years ago when the economy was bad, I would have said, ‘You are better off working for somebody else because you don’t have the headaches of the overhead, cash flow, paying people, insurance, health insurance.’ There are a lot of problems to juggle.
When the economy is good, it’s not that much of a headache. It can be done. “
(2) What advice would you give someone who is thinking about starting their own business?
“It’s a lot of work. It’s going to be a lot of hours. Your family will suffer because the time you will have to put into it. And if you don’t put that kind of time into it, you won’t make it.”
(3) What drives you?
“I like my job and my family, providing for them. Now that they are grown, there isn’t as much overhead. If I kicked off tomorrow, I know they would be okay.”
(4) How have you had to change over the years to stay competitive?
“In 2007, the bottom dropped out and we had to scale back. We had to run a tight ship and let go of employees. We went after commercial and maintenance accounts. We introduced cheaper lines of paint.”
(5) Who has helped you the most? How?
“Back when things were really bad, the banks would not help you at all. The bank was not the answer.
My supplier, Richards, has been a God-send for me. They are family-owned and awesome. When I needed paint for inventory and cash-flow was slow during the winter months, they asked if I wanted a truckload and how long I needed to pay them.”
Motivated to DIY and paint a room now? Think $80-$100 for 2 gallons of paint, paintbrush, roller, pan, tape and plastic drop cloths.
Eastway Paint: 3124 Eastway Dr., Unit 600
Photos: Vanessa Infanzon, Eastway Paint
Family history and my own fascination with people and their motivations prompted me to begin this series about Charlotte’s small business owners. Industry, situation and questions will vary. Have a suggestion for a small business owner or entrepreneur to interview? Email it to vanessainfanzon@gmail.com with the subject line “Small Business Series.”
This story was originally published August 15, 2016 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Small Business: Meet the Paint Color Guru at Eastway Paint."