Kryston's Hardware Adds Muralo Paint Line

When Paints Plus on River Road closed in December 2009, there was no local Muralo paint supplier for contractors or home owners to turn to.

But when Muralo approached Steve and Nanette Kryston, owners of Kryston's Hardware, to carry the line, a new business opportunity was born.

The store previously carried Dutch Boy paints but Muralo's similarity to Benjamin Moore paints, a brand Steve has more then 35 years of experience mixing, was a reason why the Kryston's say an opportunity to make a change.

"When opportunity knocks, you take it," Nanette said.

The change in paint line has meant a change in hours. Kryston's used to be open from 8 a.m to 6 p.m. but Nanette said she and her husband soon realized they needed to open earlier to accommodate contractors needing to pick up paint before heading to job sites. Now, Kryston's is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The switch to Muralo, which Nanette said Kryston's can actually carry more of than Paints Plus did because of the storage the hardware store has in the basement, also necessitated new equipment. Nanette said the store could previously match colors to swatches but the move to Muralo inspired her to upgrade to the best color-shooter available. This and a new color computer enable Steve and Nanette to replicate colors from 64 other brands for customers.

But it's the customer service element to Kryston's that Nanette and Steve both say is keeping the customers coming, not a new paint brand.

In fact, less than 24 hours after the deal with made with Muralo to carry the line, customers were coming in asking for it.

Muralo had announced the new carrier on its Web site and soon the Kryston's had to rush an order of 600 gallons to start meeting the demand.

"It's a blessing," Nanette said.