Insider Info

John McDonald and Wanda Surowic were born to paint, but they have more in common that simply a love of color and textures. Both are businesspeople who count on word-of-mouth advertising to get by.

John McDonald has done plumbing, carpentry, drywalling and painting -- but if you check his toolbox you'll probably find more paintbrushes than anything else.

"I'd have to say painting is my favorite," says McDonald. "I really enjoy seeing the changes that I make. I'd have to say that I'm a painter by nature."

Part of the fun of being a painter is the variety the work brings. "There's always something different to do. Either you're working with different colors or different types of paint, and there's always the challenge of having to prepare a wide variety of different surfaces before you start," says McDonald.

"I'm never sure what's going to be expected of me when I show up for a job. Some people have damaged areas they want repaired and painted, others haven't painted in awhile and want a whole new look."

Sometimes McDonald finds himself helping people choose these new looks for their homes -- some owners know exactly what they want, and others don't have a clue. This aspect of his work is challenging.

"Once I had to take the same paint back to the store three times because the little old lady I was working for kept saying the color wasn't quite right." But McDonald doesn't mind putting in the extra time because it gives him a good name in the business. "It's all word-of-mouth referrals. I advertised a little bit when I first got started, but I don't need to now."

McDonald learned on the job. It took him about two years to really get the hang of things. Now he caters to seniors, mostly for renovation work. He does everything from painting the exteriors of houses to applying paints to countertops -- a process that's only possible thanks to the development of a new kind of paint. "New stuff like this is coming out all the time. It's a good idea to keep up to date on new products and processes," says McDonald.

New developments have changed the tradition of painting. In addition to paint that can be applied directly to countertops, there are products that can add texture and create a rich, grainy look. As well, advances in latex paints have made the job of painting much easier -- and latex paint products are less harmful to the environment.

"I think oil-based paint is being phased out because latex paints can be washed out of brushes with water. They're more environmentally friendly and they produce the same results," says McDonald.

Wanda Surowic knows her paints. On top of running a full-time business, she works part time in a paint store. Last year an opportunity arose to work part time at the store, and Surowic saw it as a way to further her knowledge of paint products.

And there are other advantages, too. "A lot of my clients come in [the paint store] and we look at paints or wallpaper together and that's a real bonus. I don't have to meet them there -- I'm already there."

Surowic definitely has a creative flare. After she left her job as a certified dental assistant to start a family, Surowic helped her husband build three homes on spec. They did all their own painting. "I tend to be a little on the creative side, so my color selections are a little different than most. Friends would start asking us to do jobs for them and we started doing their homes. Word of mouth got us going."

Surowic and her husband discovered a niche in the market. Wanda helps people choose their colors. "I find people really like to have a female touch or female input. Most painters won't actually help. They'll paint, but they won't have anything to do with choosing colors."

She's gratified when people have faith in her tastes. "People really like the fact that I'll come out to the job and help them pick colors and tell them what I think it will look like when they're done. What I really like is when people say, 'We really like what you do -- do whatever you want.'"

Originally, Surowic named her painting business Mom's Gone Painting. She changed the name because her painters were getting a little shy about it. She's now called Color Design and employs two painters -- her husband and a journeyman.

Surowic hasn't run into any real problems in the job, though she's gone out of her way to please a client. She's installed stereos and organized "little extras" to keeps people happy.

The only snag has been when a job overlaps and she doesn't get done when she expects. "Then you have to phone people and say we're behind a day, and you know people are anxious to get it done. Most people are pretty understanding."

Seeing the final results of their handiwork is what Surowic and McDonald consider the best part of the job.

"When you paint a room or a house, seeing the beauty that comes out of it when you finish -- that's the best part of the job," says MacDonald. "I really enjoy it when people comment on how the work looks, and seeing people's faces when the job's done."