The PPG Platinum Distributor® Network turns 30!
January 28th, 2025
Thirty years ago, Gary and Kathy Allen made the leap for ColorVision to become part of the PPG Platinum Distributor® network as one of the founding members in the inaugural year. The Allen’s saw the vision that PPG had to be the leading experts in the coatings industry. When the business made the transition to sell PPG Refinish products exclusively, paint was entering the stage of increased complexities. The need for a focus on expertise and streamlining inventory became clear to the family business.
In its founding stage, “The PPG leadership team valued the input that the network provides, with increased opportunities to share and act upon the needs of distributors and their customer base. Gary reflected, “The PPG leadership team really communicated with distribution, asked for, valued, and acted upon our opinion and needs. PPG had a vision of a sustained partnership so they could use our entrepreneurship spirit to drive growth.”
Co-Founder, Kathy Allen, shares, “Obviously for our customer base there is no “one size fits all”. From Collision to Commercial to Industrial and now with the addition of Traffic Solutions, we strive to be true partners with our customers.”
In her role overseeing the Platinum Program for the past three years, Platinum Director, Natalie Scott shared that she views the primary advantage of working with a Platinum Distributor as, “the ability to tap into a robust network of expertise and collaboration, which not only enhances the distributor's capabilities but also significantly improves the customer experience in the refinish industry”.
Scott believes that there are five key benefits of partnering with a Platinum Distributor:
Expertise and Knowledge Sharing
Collaborative Problem Solving
Enhanced Customer Service
Trust and Reliability
Advancement of PPG’s Mission
Customer service has always been a top priority for the network's dedicated participants. Scott states, "This commitment results in better customer support, faster response times, and a more personalized approach to meeting their needs."
The exclusive focus on PPG Refinish products enables ColorVision and its partner distributors to become true experts in the field. The program offers specialized training and certification for its team members, with Technical Representatives earning PPG Certified Distributor Tech Representative status. To reach this milestone, representatives must pass both written and in-person certifications. Gary Allen agrees that the PPG Certified Distributor Tech Representative program, with its ability to recertify painters in the field, remains a key competitive advantage.
When a collision center or body shop encounters technical issues, there is no better partner to assist with troubleshooting than a PPG Platinum Distributor Certified Technical Rep.
Kathy agrees that collaborative problem solving is an advantage of the program, “We lean on the PPG Platinum and Refinish Teams, as well as our PPG Platinum Distributor Network across the country, to enable our ColorVision Team to help our customers grow and reach their full potential. We owe our successes as a company to the partnerships we have been fortunate to maintain with both our customers and the PPG Platinum Network.”
Today, this robust network composes of 170 distributors with over 680 locations across the United States and Canada. ColorVision is proud to have been a member since its inception 30 years ago.
When asked what Platinum means to him all these years later, Gary Allen reflected, “Thirty years later I’m proud of our Platinum Network. Our Forum groups have been invaluable to all who have been involved. Being able to bounce successes and failures off your peers has been such an advantage. Advantages of singlemindedness is still there. We have grown into the largest independent distribution business in our industry. We are still strategically using our entrepreneurial spirit to expand and drive growth.”