Crown Paints opens Nakuru showroom as it targets low-cost interior finishes

By STANDARD REPORTER

Nakuru, Kenya: Crown Paints has unveiled a showroom in Nakuru County. This is as it seeks to grow sales by targeting consumers in the residential and commercial property market.

Nakuru is among the fastest growing towns in Kenya. During the opening ceremony, Crown Paints Kenya Chief Executive Rakesh Rao said the company is now working on reducing the cost of building materials, especially interior finishes.

“The housing market has been changing fast, with more people using texture and stone finishes,” said Rao. “Professionals in the construction industry have also been asking for quality paint and finishes and we will develop strategic partnerships with local traders, including the partnership with CK Patel in Nakuru,

He said the firm was exploring ways to reduce the cost of wall, floor and kitchen finishes. “We will be reducing the cost of some of the stone and texture finishes by up to 40 per cent per square meter,” he said.

Architectural Association of Kenya chairman Waweru Gathecha said the cost of building materials in Kenya will come down once local manufacturers are given incentives to produce them. He singled out the high cost of interior finishes as a hurdle for many home builders yet more Kenyans are opting to own their own house.

“The more we manufacture locally, the more chances of bringing down the cost of construction materials,” said Gathecha.

The new Crown showroom in Nakuru will feature the latest innovations in paints and interior finishes, offering consumers tips on how to enhance building aesthetics using quality products.

 It is designed as a one-stop colour expression centre, complete with colour visualiser to simulate room sets.

Rao said the firm has put in place several initiatives geared at promoting use of quality products to ensure safety and long-life of buildings.

The showroom will also showcase designer fashion finishes, textured finishes, Italian design marbles waterproofing and construction chemicals from Pidilite.

“Consumers in the property market have become quite sophisticated and are demanding more quality products. We plan to put up similar showrooms in Kisumu, Mombasa, Eldoret, Malindi and two more in Nairobi,” said Rao.