In the realm of home and commercial painting services, Chris Dwyer stands out as a seasoned professional with a remarkable journey in the industry. The business, aptly named Chris Dwyer Painting, is a testament to over 30 years of experience, attention to detail, and an unwavering commitment to delivering quality craftsmanship.
Chris Dwyer’s career trajectory took an unexpected turn. Initially aspiring to be a banker or accountant, he found himself drawn to the world of painting. Fate intervened when his employer, on the verge of retirement, offered Chris the opportunity to take over the business at the cost of the equipment. Seizing the chance, Chris embraced self-employment and discovered a passion that would shape his professional life.
“Success for me is doing what I love without the headaches,” says Dwyer. “I can do better quality work that I am proud of, rather than wondering what unsupervised employees might be doing.”
Check out our full Q&A with Dwyer below…
Tell us about your business and the role you play in it.
At Dwyer Painting, we don’t just offer top-quality interior and exterior residential and commercial painting services, we also provide home and business owners with a wide variety of other services designed to help you create the beautiful space you desire. From front doors to deck refinishing, Dwyer Painting is the smartest choice to protect your home with over 30 years experience, attention to detail , friendly people, a written contract, and a defined scope of work, that is done with quality, clean and thorough.
Where did your career find its start? How did you get involved with your company?
I went to college to become a banker or an accountant, but like many others, I took a job as a painter on the way. When my employer decided to retire, he offered to sell me his business for the cost of his equipment. How could I say no? I became self-employed and I was wrecked for life.
How has your company grown over the years?
My first year in business I inherited contracts to paint over 100 units and ended up hiring over 25 painters to get them done. Over the many years the company grew to over 55 employees with 10 office staff. We owned our own commercial building and worked all over Northern Nevada and Northern California with most of our work being at Lake Tahoe.
What was the biggest hurdle you had to overcome?
The biggest hurdle it seemed we had to constantly overcome was having the cash-flow to fund the ever increasing growth of the business. Along with the growth came the challenges of putting business systems in place and getting our painters to buy-in to growing with the business. I think we succeeded, since many of our employees stayed for us for more that 10 years before we moved to Asheville.
What’s a little-known fact or trivia about your business?
One of the facts about our business that I like to share is that we spent 25 years working at Lake Tahoe and we painted more than 25 lakefront homes in that time. We painted for some of the wealthiest people in the world. (Most of whom I never met). It was fun being in their properties and enjoying the perks of their lifestyle!
Was there ever a time you felt like you had to completely start over?
I did completely start over after 2008 like many others. I even quit painting for a while to become a financial advisor!
How has your/your company’s idea of success transformed?
After leaving the desk job I disliked, I realized I preferred being outdoors and self-employed. I re-started the painting business after five years of being away from it, but this time instead of trying to grow big, I decided to grow smart, and only do the kind of work I want to do. Gone are the days of large payrolls, and putting out fires. I take on jobs I enjoy, and only hire on an as needed basis with painters I and my customers like having around. Success for me is doing what I love without the headaches. I can do better quality work that I am proud of, rather than wondering what unsupervised employees might be doing.
What’s the greatest business advice you’ve been given?
The best business advice I ever received is: “Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life.” Now I try to live by that.
What is most important to you/your company now?
The most important thing for me and my company now is to do less work, but do it with excellence and not worry about advertising and social media. I let the jobs come to me and only do what I can handle.
What do you see as your company’s legacy?
I’m not so concerned about a legacy for my company. I just want to be know as someone who did what he said he was going to do and he did it right and he did it with all his heart.
What’s on the horizon?
Asheville is such a great community to live in. Just like the motto of our business: “Make your home beautiful,” I intend to continue however I can to “Make Asheville Beautiful.”
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your business?
We want people know, that when they look to hire a painter, they see in Dwyer Painting a painter they can trust with their things, that does quality work, is clean, and finishes on-time! That is Dwyer Painting.
Learn more about Chris Dwyer Painting: dwyerpainting.com