The owner of a new paint shop which has opened in Feniscowles hopes to inspire other businesses and bring the community together.
Karl Harrison from Mill Hill has more than two decades of experience in the paint industry, managing decorating centres and working for both manufacturers and independents.
The Paint Station opened on Monday, December 4 in Preston Old Road, Cherry Tree. The business offers a 'retail-focused paint and decorating service' providing advice on colour selection, a state-of-the-art mixing machine and colour-matching services.
Karl said he noticed a shift in the market over the past two years, with smaller businesses thriving while larger ones struggled so the owner, along with his partner Laura, decided it was time to open their own store.
They considered locations in Preston, Leyland and Blackpool but ended up choosing Feniscowles, noticing a gap in retail-focused paint and decorating supplies.
Karl said: “There is so much focus on trade here but very little focus on retail. People don’t have the option of choice or mixing colours – you just choose what’s available online and that’s it.
“A lot of people want that old school business, service and care and I want to help a customer from start to finish rather than just taking the transaction."
Driven by a passion for quality service, Karl hopes The Paint Station will revitalise the sense of community between businesses and customers.
He said: “People enjoy speaking to people on tills, we need that kind of service back so that’s what I’ll be offering. People are always welcome to call in for a cup of tea and a chat. It’s a very homely feel and we want to inspire people and make them feel cared for.”
Karl is determined to make the shop accessible to everyone by ensuring smaller paint sizes for more smaller projects and avoiding high margins on products.
He added: “The feedback so far has been great and people have highlighted the need for a hardware shop in the area, so I hope our paint shop will help the local community and inspire more local businesses so we can bring the community closer together.”
The Paint Station is open 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and 8.30am to 12.30pm on Saturdays.
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