WE ARE CELEBRATING our 50th year at Modesto Color Center. In 1973, a group of entrepreneurs from New York settled in the heart of California. The city lacked a reliable paint store, so they decided to start one.
In 2002, the business was put up for sale. My dad and I had experience in both paint and retail—my dad was (and still is) a painting contractor, and I had worked for several years at a paint store. So we took a leap of faith and purchased the business. We transformed Modesto Color Center into a family-run enterprise. I took over most retail operations; my mom ran the wallpaper department; and my dad and two brothers managed the paint contracting business. A few years ago, my wife Erin also joined the business. She brought valuable expertise from her career at Costco. Additionally, it is incredibly fulfilling to work on something you love with your best friend.
Throughout my 21 years running Modesto Color Center, innovation has been key to our success. For example, although Benjamin Moore has always been a significant part of our business, we have adapted by incorporating different product lines as opportunities have arisen. We became major suppliers of traffic paint as we developed relationships with the relevant contractors. We expanded into industrial coatings as Modesto's economy evolved. More recently, as California's volatile organic compound (VOC) laws have become stricter, we have experienced significant success with water-based lacquers like Gemini Evo and an Italian lacquer called Renner. This adaptability has paid off greatly: we have grown the business from $700k in revenue to nearly $4 million.
So, last year, when Joe and Nick from Rundoo walked into our store, I was curious. Their goal was to build better technology for paint stores, starting with a web-based point of sale system. In 2008, we switched from a DOS system to a Windows cloud system, which was transformative. Switching from a Windows cloud system to a web-based system was the logical next step and promised to be equally transformative.
I signed up for Rundoo because I wanted us to stay ahead of the curve. Having used it for some time now, here are three key ways it has improved our business:
1) cash flow, 2) security, and 3) employee training.
First, improved security. Many of our customers prefer to keep a credit card on file. I was always apprehensive about doing so in our old system. I am aware of a nearby store that was hacked and had to pay a ransom—what if that happened to us? With Rundoo, we can store credit cards securely, fully encrypted and off our servers. This provides the convenience of saved cards while ensuring the safety of our customers’ data.
Second, cash flow management. Rundoo has made it exceptionally easy for contractors to pay us. We can send them statements via email, and they can settle invoices with a simple click. Simplifying payment for customers increases the likelihood of timely payments. We have already noticed an improvement in cash flow.
Third, the onboarding process for employees. New employees learn how to use Rundoo quickly. We’re talking a matter of hours, not weeks. The software is intuitive, with functions where you would expect them to be. Employees don’t need to memorize SKUs. They can easily find products by searching.
The entire team at Rundoo is exceptional. They believe that our success contributes to their success—it’s a mutually beneficial relationship. They are always asking what new features would help us, taking our feedback to heart, and making improvements swiftly. It’s not just us—they apply the same dedication to all their clients. There is a strong sense of community, and I’m proud to be part of it.
At the end of the day, Modesto Color Center’s success is the result of dedicated employees who love what they do, loyal customers who continue to support us, and partners like Rundoo who genuinely care about our business.
