Paint maker to splash Sh100m on new outlets

By CORRESPONDENT

Paint maker Crown Paints will invest Sh100 million in opening up five new paints showrooms countrywide.

According to Crown Paints Kenya Ltd CEO Rakesh Rao, the outlets will equip customers, developers and the general public with more knowledge on paints. He said this recently when he opened a Sh9 million showroom in Nyali, Mombasa. Last week, Crown Paints opened another showroom in Nakuru.

“The real estate sector is enjoying a boom and consumer tastes are changing fast, with more people using texture and stone finishes. Many of Kenyans want to change their lifestyle, but shopping for paint outside the country will not help much. That is why we are determined to global paint products to your doorstep,” Rao said.

Speaking at the same event, Nyali MP Awiti Bollo disclosed that plans were underway to construct a dual carriage bridge in Nyali to ease traffic. “Most investors shy away from investing in Nyali because of traffic jams. We want to assure potential investors that plans are underway to build a second bridge to decongest Nyali-Mtwapa Road. When complete in two years, it will open up more business opportunities,” Bollo said.

He further assured investors that Nyali is safe for business. “We are working to ensure this county is a safe haven for investors. It is still risky to invest in Nyali but Crown Paints has made the right decision,” he said.

Rao said they plan to put up similar showrooms in Kisumu, Eldoret, Malindi and two more in Nairobi: “This is consumer-driven since our target customers have become quite sophisticated and are demanding additional quality products.”

The showrooms will offer detailed information on Crown Paints’ entire line of paints, as well as paint colour selection tools, professional services, and educational programmes.

Innovations

 “The new showroom will feature the latest innovations in paints and interior finishes and will offer 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,” said Rao.

The colour visualiser, a first in the Kenyan market, features a large touch screen that enables customers to explore different colour schemes in varying room settings. Customers can experience a virtual tour of the room while ‘splashing’ different paints on ‘furniture’, ‘floors’ and ‘walls’ to make an informed choice.

Speaking in Nakuru last week, Waweru Gatheca, the Chairman of the Architectural Association of Kenya, said the cost of building materials in Kenya would only come down if local manufacturers are given incentives to produce them. He singled out the high cost of interior finishes as a hurdle to many homebuilders yet more Kenyans are opting to own their own house.