Inspirations Paint Echuca owner Josh Smerdon has worked in the paint industry and across different paint stores, watching how they operate, for a long time.
“My father was always in paint stores in the western suburbs of Melbourne, and I always worked for him when I was a kid,” Josh said.
“I went to study something outside of paint, which he wanted me to do, which was agricultural science.
“But I fell back into paint.
“I worked for a year or two up in the Mallee, then came back for a bit of a break, a gap year, and started working for Dad for what I thought would only be a few months.
“Ten years went by, and that was that; I was in the paint business then.
“I ended up buying into the business with Dad, and we sold those stores five years ago to Dulux.
“So, then I went on and worked for Dulux in various roles until now when I’ve got hold of a paint store again.”
Josh’s wife, Perri, grew up on the family farm at Bunnaloo. They moved to Moama five years ago to be closer to family and now have a young son.
“I guess the move behind getting a paint store locally was being closer to family and not having to travel back and forth in the corporate gig,” Josh said.
“And wanting to offer a decent service to the community.”
Inspirations Paint Echuca is part of the Dulux network of 130 stores nationwide and has every type of paint for any surface you can imagine.
“We have your standard paint, which is called decorative paint, the sort mums and dads paint their house with,” Josh said.
“We cater for tradies and builders.
“We cater to engineers, structural engineers, and steel fabricators.
“We have a lot of heavy industrial coatings, tools and equipment, spray guns, sanders, vacuums, and all that sort of stuff.
“And everything else in between you will need for your painting project.
“Woodcare is a big one in Echuca and Moama with everyone’s boats and their time on the river.
“(And) 100 per cent, you can bring in a sample of any colour, a sample of something, and we will match it spot on.”
Inspirations Paint Echuca is at Shop 6-8/101 Hare St, Echuca;they’re contactable by phone via 5482 4317.
They’re open weekdays from 7am to 5pm and Saturday 8am to 12.30pm.
If you want some inspiration, tips and painting hints, follow them at https://www.instagram.com/insppaintechuca/