Sherwin Williams : Paint Stores Group Celebrates 150 Years of Innovation

Employees to celebrate with community painting projects worldwide

LAS VEGAS (Jan. 19, 2016) - For a century and a half, Sherwin-Williams has been a groundbreaking pioneer in the coatings industry. Throughout 2016, Sherwin-Williams will be celebrating its 150th anniversary by highlighting the company's long-standing commitment to innovation, color and community.

'Sherwin-Williams has been revolutionizing the paint industry since our founding in 1866. It started with our first can of paint packaged in Henry Sherwin's patented resealable tin can, and continues today with our groundbreaking Paint Shield™ microbicidal paint, the first EPA-registered paint with the power to kill bacteria,' said John Morikis, president and CEO, Sherwin-Williams. 'During this milestone year, we look forward to celebrating with our employees, customers and partners.'

History of Innovation

Throughout Sherwin-Williams impressive history, homeowners, painting contractors, designers and other painting professionals have come to expect industry-leading innovation paired with exceptional product performance.

From introducing the first successful ready-mixed paint to more recent innovations including the industry's first cleanable true flat finish, the most comprehensive deck care finishing system available, and Paint Shield™, a coating with the power to kill bacteria, Sherwin-Williams commitment to product excellence has been an ever-present hallmark of the company. And the innovative spirit continues beyond product, including the recent launch of Sherwin-Williams most comprehensive color selection system ever, ColorSnap, which provides a fully integrated collection of color tools for use in-store, online or in-home.

Throughout its history, Sherwin-Williams products have been woven into the fabric of American culture, protecting enduring icons such as the White House, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Hollywood Sign.

Among the highlights of the Sherwin-Williams Paint Stores Group 150 years:

1873: First product introduced (raw umber in oil) and first color card, 'Our Own Colored Paints'
1877: Henry Sherwin patents resealable tin can
1880: Painter's Prepared/SWP, the first successful ready-mixed paint, sold with a money-back guarantee
1939: Sherwin-Williams color consultant Harry H. Scheid recommended the well-known 'school-bus yellow' as the ideal color for buses for its high visibility
1941: Kem-Tone, a revolutionary water-based paint, introduced
1950: Super Kem-Tone unveiled, the first Sherwin-Williams latex paint
1981: SuperPaint, the first paint with a 10-year warranty, debuts. SuperPaint is now backed by a lifetime limited warranty.
1996: Kem-Tone honored as National Historic Chemical Landmark
2013: Harmony Zero VOC Paint reformulated with exclusive technologies to help reduce common interior odors and promote better indoor air quality
2014: Sherwin-Williams Paint Stores Group opens 4,000th retail store
2015: Sherwin-Williams launches Paint Shield™, the first EPA-registered microbicidal paint with the power to kill bacteria

In celebration of its 150th anniversary, Sherwin-Williams will be launching community outreach initiatives globally. Around the world, employees will participate in paint renovation projects within their local community. These projects are in addition to the fifth annual National Painting Week community projects taking place across the U.S. this spring.

Visit Sherwin-Williams at Design & Construction Week at booth C4536 for more information.

ASK SHERWIN-WILLIAMS™

For nearly 150 years, Sherwin-Williams has been an industry leader in the development of technologically advanced paint and coatings. As the nation's largest specialty retailer of paint and painting supplies, Sherwin-Williams is dedicated to supporting both do-it-yourselfers and painting professionals with exceptional and exclusive products, resources to make confident color selections and expert, personalized service at its more than 4,000 neighborhood stores across North America. Sherwin-Williams has been ranked 'Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Paint Retailers, Three Years in a Row' in the J.D. Power 2015 Paint Satisfaction Study. For more information, visit sherwin-williams.com. Join Sherwin-Williams on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr.