Sherwin-Williams has introduced its latest innovation, ColorSnap, the company’s most comprehensive,
integrated color selection system ever offered. Designed to help consumers and
professionals make confident and efficient paint color selections, ColorSnap
includes a first-of-its-kind, in-store display that makes color selection fast and
easy, in addition to enhanced online and
offline tools, and new colors, the company reports.
ColorSnap will be available in all
4,000 Sherwin-Williams stores across
the U.S. and Canada by the end of
January 2016.
Customers can explore color in an
entirely new way with the interactive,
in-store ColorSnap Studio display, which
groups color by family, such as red, yellow or blue, then displays color by saturation level from bright to neutral with a
new category just for whites. Each color
family is set on one of 24 rotating panels.
By turning a panel, customers can see a
curated selection of nearly 50 paint chips
of specific colors within that color family — making the selection process simple
and fun.
The display, which will be the centerpiece of every Sherwin-Williams store,
also features new 2-by-3-inch take-home
color chips, rather than strips, so customers can get a bigger, better idea of how
colors will look in their space.
Sherwin-Williams conducted extensive testing to ensure the new ColorSnap
system would improve the overall customer experience. During in-store testing,
on average, customers found their paint
color of choice in 60 percent less time
than with the previous display.
Sherwin-Williams collaborated with
IDEO, an award-winning global design
and innovation consultancy, on the in-store display, which uses a human-cen-tered, design approach to help simplify
the color-selection experience for both
DIYers and professionals.
“We were honored to work with
Sherwin-Williams to reimagine the color
selection journey through the lens of the
company’s many diverse customers. After
a thoughtful and iterative design process,
we’re excited to see ColorSnap come to
life,” said Michelle Ha Tucker, portfolio
director, IDEO.
As part of the new display, a central
work area will be added for customers to
arrange and review their color choices,
explore Sherwin-Williams color tools and
interact with store experts. Customers
will also be able to browse and take home
nine new color guides and 12 postcards
that are designed to inspire, educate and
simplify color selection.
In addition to ColorSnap Studio, the redesigned in-store color display, the all-new
system includes a refreshed and integrated
online set of tools including ColorSnap
Visualizer for iPhone, iPad, Android and
online (at sherwinwilliams.com). The tools
allow users to explore color before ever
picking up a paintbrush. With the mobile
app, customers can scan the new 2-by-
3 inch color chip with their iPhone or
Android smart phone for instant access to
room scenes featuring that color, options for
coordinating colors, and more. ColorSnap
Visualizer also inspires by matching a color
in a photo to a specific Sherwin-Williams
color, allowing users to virtually paint a
room or simply browse details on the full
range of Sherwin-Williams colors. The iPad
app also features inspirational room scenes
that showcase expert color picks.
The ColorSnap system also seamlessly
integrates with Sherwin-Williams indus-try-leading Sher-Color Advanced Color
Matching Technology, which calibrates
color formulas specifically for every product and sheen, ensuring outstanding color
accuracy and consistency when ordering a Sherwin-Williams color or matching a color to an accessory or to a color
from another paint brand. Sher-Color™
is available in-store for fast, precise and
custom color matching.
Professionals will also find color selection easier and faster, thanks to the variety of new resources available to them,
whether in the office or on the job site.
The ColorSnap Design Pro Suite includes
an updated and expanded suite of tools
for professionals (including a new ergonomic fan deck, portable and desktop
kits and more), along with the ColorSnap
Visualizer online tools. The ColorSnap
Design Pro Suite creates a powerful color
selection system that can differentiate
a design practice. It will be available in
early 2016.
PPG Foundation Donates
$120,000 to Penn State for
Undergraduate Research
The PPG Industries Foundation has donated $120,000 to the Pennsylvania State
University (Penn State) for its Materials
Research Institute (MRI) Student
Assistantship Program and additional
programming. This marks the third year
the PPG foundation has supported Penn
State undergraduate students participating in the 10-week summer program, this
year funding eight fellowships, as well
as one graduate student for a full year’s
research along with additional student
opportunities.
“PPG Industries values Penn State’s
MRI programs because they help pre-
pare students for careers in fields related
to PPG’s business, such as coatings re-
search and development,” said Sue Sloan,
executive director of the PPG Industries
Foundation. “We’re excited to continue
our relationship with Penn State and pro-
vide funding that expands opportunities
for students and grows our ties with this
well-respected research institution.”
Each summer student who is named
a PPG Undergraduate Research Fellow
conducts a materials research project
under an advisor’s supervision, and then
summarizes it in a poster presentation
held in conjunction with the National
Science Foundation-funded Research
Sherwin-Williams Launches
System to Simplify Color Selection
