Adding some new paint to a downtown building is one of the easiest and visually appealing things that a building owner can do to enhance the appearance and perception of their building. However, if not done correctly, it can actually harm the building and cause issues down the road. Here are some things to consider when painting a downtown building:

1. Make sure surfaces are prepped correctly before painting. Replace rotten wood and repoint brick if necessary. Remove all peeling and loose paint with a scraper, wire brush, or carefully apply heat to the area.

2. Prime the area, especially on wood surfaces.

3. Talk with the local hardware store on the appropriate paint for the project and that it will provide the desired effect and color. Oil-based paints are generally more durable but harder to apply; latex-based paints are easier to apply but don’t last as long. Use quality paint so that it will last longer and not peel. 

4. Use two or three complementary colors to accent the architectural features on the building. Choose colors that express your likes and/or the business color scheme, but that also complements the historic fabric of your downtown and the other buildings in it. 

Mornings on Main with Seanette Corkill and Anne Marie Luthro
Wednesday, September 16 at 8:30AM 

To say that COVID-19 has changed things is quite the understatement! In this 60-minute, “Getting Back in the Game” presentation, retail specialists, Seanette Corkill and Anne Marie Luthro, will explore where shoppers are now both emotionally and physically and what retailers can do to accommodate them and still deliver a great store experience during this pandemic. This presentation and conversation will cover shopper expectations and behaviors, best practices for storefronts, what a new level of customer service means, floor plans and visual merchandising tactics that accommodate social distancing, and no-touch shopping.

Seanette Corkill is the owner of Frontdoor Back, a store design and visual merchandising firm. Seanette’s focus is helping independent businesses stay competitive. She is an experienced and objective retail environment expert. Seanette is also a frequent National and regional Main Street speaker and presents on topics such as store design, building facades, window displays, lighting terminology and techniques, and visual merchandising to retail groups and business districts across the country. Seanette provides custom training and design solutions for store owners. She is effective at applying retail space planning and design principals to improve a store’s “retail sophistication“ and stimulate sales. Her forte is identifying small changes that create big impacts.

Anne Marie Luthro, principal of AML Insights, is a shopper behavior and retail strategy expert trained at focusing a critical eye and a keen ear on all things retail. Anne Marie researches the MAZE– any retail environment, the MOUSE– key shoppers, and the CHEESE– the stores’ products and services. Finding the right balance of power, the pain points, and the moments of joy in stores are keys in creating profitable retail experiences. She spent twenty years studying Fortune 500 retailers and their shoppers’ behaviors. AML combines databased research and historical perspective when consulting for retailers.

Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3373867231777344784