Dick’s Color Center Gains a Reputation for Always-Full Inventory

Current owner Lou Boss started his career working as a salesman for a paint company. After gaining some experience, he bought the original Dick’s Color Center, located in Milwaukie, Oregon, more than 30 years ago. In the years since, he acquired three more stores in Portland, Lake Oswego and Beaverton, Oregon. The business is about 60% targeted at commercial business and the remainder serves DIYers. 

Always Ready for Business

Boss takes pride in the store’s in-stock inventory, meaning customers will always be able to get what they need. 

“We believe in keeping a fully stocked inventory,” Boss says. “If a customer comes in here, the odds of us not having what they need are pretty slim.” 

This motto came in handy for their operation when inventory was tough to come by in recent years, so much so that the big-box competitors in the area were sending customers to Dick’s Color Center. While most stores have inventory in the back, they also have a fully stocked warehouse in downtown Portland they can fill from. 

“Our business flourished during the pandemic,” Boss says. “The more people stayed home, the more projects they wanted to do.” 

Another way the operation is prepared to serve customers is by having more than 4,000 sample colors poured and ready to purchase. When they closed the flooring side of the business in 2019, Boss opened more area on the salesfloor to dedicate to paint. He decided to go all in and added two walls of sample paint colors available to be purchased. 

“If I have a customer who asks for 20 different samples, I can easily grab those and ring them out quickly rather than having someone pouring them in the back,” Boss says. “At only $3.99, sample color is a convenience and something our customers appreciate.” 

The Milwaukie store has plenty of windows with natural lighting, and lower aisles throughout, making it easier for staff to scan the room and help customers from across a few aisles. The store is very organized and clean. Behind the register, a wall displays the latest sales offerings. 

The main bread and butter for the business is its exclusive line of Benjamin Moore paints, but the store also offers all the sundries and additional product lines one would need, like Festool power tools. 

A Strong Team

Although Boss says hiring has become more difficult in recent years, he’s grateful for his hard-working employees, which includes two of his children and his daughter in law who are also involved in running the business. 

“I feel very lucky, my kids are very hardworking and the team we employ has a strong work ethic as well,” he says.

While the big-box paint stores are plentiful in the area, Boss says his team can compete because of the people on his staff. 

“I’ve had competitors come in and jokingly ask for my employees,” Boss says. “I know the team I have enjoys working for our company and I value them.” 

The stores also have color decorators on staff who can help customers pick through different color options, even doing home consults to help a customer pick just what they want. 

To keep his staff engaged, he knows flexibility is important. Boss offers full medical and dental insurance for his employees. 

The best advice Boss has for those considering getting into the paint industry is considering if customer service and working with people is something you like. 

“The paint business is a good business,” Boss says. “I enjoy working in the paint industry because I’m a people person. I genuinely like talking to people and I really think you need that to succeed in this industry.”