Harris Paints 50th Anniversary Feature

Our Mission

To ENRICH the lives of people wherever Harris chooses to market its products and services. We will achieve this by producing ideas and inspiration that enable our customers to decorate, enhance and protect their living and working environments with OUTSTANDING products and solutions that bring superior VISUAL DELIGHT and LONGER LASTING CARE to their surroundings.

Our story

About 50 years ago, two young men in Barbados complained about the island’s poor paint supply which was in the control of a single, imported label back then.

The unassuming conversation set in motion a big idea – an idea that challenged a monopoly and upset the status quo; an idea that was fuelled by the fierce spirit of independence that inspired the culture and politics of the region in the 1970s; an idea that created an iconic brand, known throughout the English-speaking Caribbean – this is the Harris Paints story.

Brand Story

Harris Paints was created to provide Caribbean customers better decorative and protective choices to express our unique cultures and styles, to support our purpose, to withstand local conditions and to protect our region.

In a nutshell

We make and supply a wide range of quality decorative and protective finishes hand-picked for the Caribbean.

50 years of innovation across the

environment.

1980: First automotive paint – Harris Automotive. BARBADOS

1985: First water-based floor coating – Porch & Patio. REGIONAL

1988: First water-based roof coating – Roofing Compound. REGIONAL

1991: First thixotropic paint – Durashield. REGIONAL 1993: First water-based varnishes – Duraglaze/ Aqua Overglaze. REGIONAL 1994: First computer colour-matching system – Colour Creations. REGIONAL 1995: First water-based enamel – Duragloss Hydro Enamel. REGIONAL 1996: First automatic colour-dispensing system. REGIONAL 2004: First to offer High Performance Coatings – Devoe Coatings. REGIONAL 2013: First decorative paint with five technologies in one can – Ulttima Plus. REGIONAL 2016: First commercial brand for contractors – Pro Speed Cover. REGIONAL 2019: First Zero VOC Interior Paint – Ulttima Plus Pure. REGIONAL

2021: First one-base paint brand powered by proprietary Quantum i12TM Technology. WORLDWIDE 2021: First automatic ‘made to order’, vending-style, colour tester machine of its type. Produces mini colour pots in 1000+ colours at the touch of a button. WORLDWIDE

FROM THE BEGINNING, Harris Paints set out to provide customers with more choice, competitive prices, quality paints made for the Caribbean and new innovative products. We are so proud to have introduced over a dozen first-of-akind products to the region; to have world-class ‘best by test’ products; and to have played a significant role in changing norms and encouraging the use of modern emulsion technologies in the region that are safer and gentler on users and the

Little only in size

BORN OF HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, Harris endured several very tough years to survive in the face of market dominance by a much larger competitor.

From the very first year of business in Barbados, advertisements bore the little paint can figure in overalls and The Little Man quickly became the symbol of the company, its audacious attitude, confidence in the quality of its products and belief in its ability to deliver unsurpassed customer service despite its diminutive size. In 50 years these have remained the key guiding principles behind Harris

Today the company’s circumstances might appear very different. Harris has factories and offices in six countries, employs approximately 250 people, sells its products in over 15 territories throughout the Caribbean region and serves thousands of clients.

However, owing to the considerable shift in regional economic policies towards liberalised ‘open’ markets, Harris must now be able to meet the substantial challenges posed by global players with low-cost extra-regional goods that wish to establish a local presence.

Armed with a clear strategy and vision, and lessons learned from the Little Man over five decades, Harris is confident that it has a bright future ahead.

Among the company’s strengths has been the ability to access technological platforms in order to provide leading edge products to the Caribbean region. This has been achieved through partner agreements with several international companies and organisations.

Such technological arrangements have afforded Harris the opportunity to drive innovation, to benchmark and test product performance and to lead the

market in colour and environmentally friendly paints, a position the company has held since the 1980s.

Harris has also been able to implement this strategy to build the broadest portfolio of trusted brand names in a wide range of categories, from paint brushes and tools to high-performance coatings; Harris is the most comprehensive one-stop coatings supplier in the region.

Harris has been sure to move with the times and was one of the first companies in Barbados certified to meet the international ISO quality management standards in 1998. The maintenance of these certifications attained at regional plants around the region to this day speaks to the high level of operating standards implemented throughout the organisation.

Significant investment has also been made in re-engineering and upgrading the information technology systems to support a modern, regional business model and future development. Among the company’s forward-looking programmes, which include initiatives in safety, health and the environment, is the inspirational Harris Training Academy.

This brings together technology and learning to create convenient access to information for employees across departments and business units. Employees can find paint and industry resources to refresh and build knowledge – available 24 hours.

Additionally, there are a fleet of goat-your-own pace courses through partnership with a major online education platform. While Harris has always strived for excellence, the company is finding new creative ways

Success over the years despite setbacks

• From Page 5E.

to invest in talent and to better equip them to service customers’ needs.

If further testimony was needed, Harris has been proud to be distinguished by several awards. In June 2012, Harris copped four out of the five top prizes by the Barbados National Initiative for Service Excellence (NISE), which underscored the company’s achievements as a regional leader in customer service excellence and commitment.

Harris was further distinguished in earning the Prime Minister’s Award in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments. At the ceremony Harris’ chairman, Ralph Johnson expressed the importance of Harris staff in delivering on their commitment to customer service excellence: “nothing can replace the magic and the awesome power of engaged employees as they can move mountains” and he emphasised the positive impact such initiatives had on customer loyalty and positive brand recognition across the region.

Such acclaim has not been limited to Barbados alone. Harris has been recognised on numerous occasions over the years by the St Lucia Manufacturers’ Association and again was selected for business year 2021 in the highest category (Diamond), as winner of five quality

awards for excellence in the areas of leadership, product and consumer service quality, implementation of standards and best practices, social responsibility and human resource management.

While Harris has managed to defy the odds and continues to improve profitability despite the prevailing headwinds and increasing global turbulence, it is equally important to the company’s future success to recognise that the road has not always been a smooth one. Critically undercapitalised, Harris faced an extremely serious crisis in 1975 as the ambitious founders grappled to gain a foothold in the Barbados market which was 80 per cent dominated by a single competitor.

They later invested in nail and wire production, a category that never really produced satisfactory results; the nail section was disbanded after about a ten-year detour and the wire and fencing efforts were reluctantly sold off in 2002.

While Harris has had a large degree of success regionally, efforts to edge into the super-competitive Trinidad market went spectacularly awry and even prized prospects such as the 2005/6 purchase of the Jamaican company BH Paints, raised a plethora of complex problems and posed a substantial challenge for management to resolve.

The company has also had to cope with the untimely passing of several team members and stewards of the business including founders Andrew Phillips in 1996 and Ralph Johnson in 2020. One of the most winning qualities that Harris has possessed in its 50 years of operations is its overarching resilience, persistence and determination in the face of adversity.

To succeed, such trials require drawing on reserves over and above what might normally be expected. Chief executive officer, Ian Kenyon says he has seen this time and time again. In 2010 in Jamaica when the Dudus Coke Gang War forced Kingston into virtual lock-down, the team rallied to keep initiatives on track in these inconceivable circumstances.

In 2017, when Dominica suffered brutal destruction caused by Hurricane Maria, the team, under their own recognisance, hardly skipped a beat and in 2020, teams around the region stepped up to the daily challenges and uncertainties of living in a pandemic and found a way to make it work.

As Harris looks forward to the next 50 years they plan to continue to dream big and to be propelled by their passion for colour; the belief that beyond each lifted paint lid is an exciting new outlook, fresh perspective and new possibilities for a better future. Harris remains committed to providing the best products specially designed for the Caribbean region, where new walls can lead to new worlds for individuals, families and communities, inspiring colourful changes to delight customers.

FLASHBACK: Ralph Johnson accepting the Icon of Industry Award from then Deputy Prime Minister, Honourable Mia Amor Mottley in November 2006 (GP)

carter, founding member. (GP)

Tribute to our founders

The creation of a Barbadian brand

One cOuld argue that it was a love of motorsport that brought Harris Paints into being. It was at a rally club event when a couple of members, back in 1972, started to talk about the difficulties they were having in their respective businesses. Both complained of service challenges from the only paint brand that was available and imported into Barbados at that time.

These young men were andrew Phillips, a young painting contractor and the other richard carter, of carter & co ltd general stores, and perhaps emboldened by the libations being served that night, they hatched a plan to start their own paint brand. In short order, they talked rally club social secretary and track favourite, ralph Johnson into joining them.

They had no experience, no money other than the initial investment and a Harris Paints brand that no one had ever heard of. What they did have was lots of energy and determination to establish the first locally-owned paint company in Barbados and they were able to inspire Barbadians to give them a chance.

at the celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary, chairman robert Jones, remembered, “we started with nothing, only an idea and a conviction we could succeed. We had no money and no possibility of obtaining money from a bank. We even had to borrow a desk!” He said the company’s commitment to innovation, strategic risk-taking and the production of quality products were foundational to the company’s success, but above all, he expressed gratitude to the very many Bajans and their willingness to support a local brand, without whom this would never have been possible.

Factory renamed in honour of Andrew Phillips

as a special tribute to the first chairman of Harris Paints, the company announced that the main premises which opened in 1979 would be named The andrew Phillips Building and marked by a special plaque.

“andrew led the company with wisdom and vision for the first 24 years of our existence,” declared chairman robert Jones. He had immense energy and was a tremendous support to the team. after the dominica office had sustained damage by Hurricane David, he became very involved in establishing the new offices and fell in love with the island. He died suddenly in 1996 and was remembered fondly as a big guy, with a big personality. Jones said his contribution to Harris Paints was “immeasurable” and without his leadership (1972-1996) there might be no story to tell.

The posthumous honour to Phillips which commemorated him as a visionary and founder was made in the presence of son graham Phillips, on behalf of andrew’s widow Wynona and the Phillips family.

Mickey Hutchinson’s contribution remembered

Harris Paints found a lifelong supporter in construction magnate Sir charles Williams who in the early years designated his financial

Mickey Hutchinson to be his representative on the board. Mickey’s

experience were invaluable to Harris in helping the business

financial footing.

robert Jones, chairman of the board, remembered that at the beginning, Harris was very short of funds and had limited personnel, so having a financial director on board was well out of their wheelhouse.

advisor,

guidance and

establish a sound

Director DaviD tinDale (left), and chairman robert Jones (far right), making presentation to Graham Phillips, honouring his father andrew Phillips, first chairman and founder of Harris Paints. at left is andrew Phillips. (GPs)

Mickey HutcHinson’s daughters natasha Bayley and charmaine cox were present at the ceremony on presentation of the plaque in his honour. at left, is Mickey Hutchinson. (GPs)

ricHarD

Johnson’s lasting legacy

• From Page 8E.

“Mickey provided the financial acumen that we so sadly lacked,” recounted Jones. He was extremely helpful to Andrew and Ralph and very generous with his time and advice.

Mickey died prematurely in 1991 and the board acknowledged his contribution and 14-year service to the company by placing a plaque on the then Customer Service Centre in Wildey. The building was later destroyed by fire and the plaque lost.

Harris Paints was happy to announce that the plaque dedicated to Mickey’s memory had been recreated and would be installed at their Six Roads Colourcentre store.

Legacy of Ralph Johnson commemorated

Perhaps best known as the face of Harris Paints, the memory of Ralph Johnson was honoured at the company’s 50th anniversary with the announcement that the corporate headquarters property at Wildey would be renamed, The Ralph Johnson Building, in a tribute to his legacy.

Ralph Johnson joined Phillips and Carter in creating the local brand and while they both had other business concerns, it was largely Ralph who rallied support for the new business and managed the dayto-day affairs of the company. From inception, Ralph dedicated his life to Harris and served as managing director from 1972-1996 and after the loss of Andrew Phillips, he became chairman of the Board 19962018.

In his remarks at the company’s gala event, Robert Jones, the current chairman of Harris who conceived the award, lauded Johnson as the “consummate promoter” and said he was “a people person who instinctively knew the importance of relationships”.

Johnson, who was a well-known character and businessman, wore Harris Paints on his sleeve. “For 48 of our 50 years, Ralph was the face of Harris Paints and the embodiment of the Little Man. When he died (2020) we lost not just a colleague but a friend and mentor,” said Jones.

At the unveiling ceremony which commemorates Johnson as “an outstanding leader”, the company’s chairman said that the renaming was a small effort to recognise Ralph’s almost lifelong dedication to Harris and to perpetuate his legacy but he said, that the true way to ensure Ralph’s name lives on is by ensuring we lead the Little Man to even greater heights in the future.

Director DaviD tinDaLe presenting tokens of appreciation to family members of ralph Johnson at the unveiling ceremony. At left, ralph Johnson. (FP, GP)

DESPITE NUMEROUS CHALLENGES affecting the region in the past few years, Ian Kenyon, CEO, reports that Harris Paints has been growing steadily and celebrates 50 years of business, having had their best financial results to date.

It has probably been one of the most volatile periods in history. Threats to the business include volcanic activity, hurricanes, a pandemic and now the RussiaUkraine war. It’s not an over-exaggeration to term it turbulent.

“It has been a very tough road and, in some ways, we have been extraordinarily lucky,” said CEO Kenyon, “Conditions called for swift response and Harris answered that call in spades.” He revealed that the Harris Paints Group managed to grow their top line each successive year, except for 2020, and the company had just achieved its best financial year ever. Quite a feat, all things considered.

Innovation has been key. It has been a driving principle of the company since the 1970s and CEO Kenyon is himself an ardent advocate of innovation who believes “the best way to control your future is to invent it”. Innovation creates excitement in the marketplace; adds value for a customer by solving a

Success despite formidable pressures

problem and enables the company to win and retain market leadership. What has made the difference, claims the chief executive, is that Harris Paints grew out of a customer-centric philosophy and not a manufacturing-led outlook. This, he says, was critical to delivering the right solutions to customers.

While it is important to listen and be open to new ways of doing things, Kenyon points out that innovation is a process and that idea generation is just one part. “You certainly have to have the right culture,” but he stresses, “this has to be supported by the right organisational structure, one that is fast, flexible and adaptive. We have also had a Board that were willing to take calculated risks - risks which we work to reduce through the use of business analysis tools, testing and quality management processes.”

Close relationships with global industry organisations outside the region have also gone a long way to keep the company competitive. The global paint market has undergone tremendous consolidation and as a result a few behemoths tend to dominate. However, by forming these partnerships Harris Paints can access the best pricing, top research and technology and best practices across the board. “It’s

been game-changing”, says Kenyon.

The Caribbean paint manufacturer was honoured by being invited to join the prestigious Nova Paint Club in 2017, an organisation of the leading independent coatings companies in each part of the world – a further endorsement of the Harris leadership position in the region. The organisation facilitates valuable exchange of technical information, technological advances, and sharing of expertise in all areas of operations.

“Our key partnerships, our willingness to listen and to adapt and change are each main drivers that continue to help us to weather the inevitable storms,” concluded Kenyon.

IAN KENYON, CEO of Harris Paints, speaking at the recently held 50th anniversary gala celebrations. (GP)

Reflections on 50 years

CHAIRMAN ROBERT JONES invested in Harris from the start and though much of the time he was based in Venezuela, he has been an active director and closely participated in strategic discussions and Board meetings from inception. He became more involved with Harris from the early 2000s when he relocated, back to Barbados, his country of birth, and as the principal shareholder assumed the leadership of the Harris Group of Companies. Below he shares some insights on the last five decades.

Q. How did you develop your business acumen?

“When I joined my father’s insurance brokerage firm in Venezuela …I got the chance to see how all types of businesses worked from large multinationals to smaller family-owned companies and how they dealt with different issues across all types of sectors from manufacturing, retailing, wholesaling etc. so it gave me the opportunity to see how the dynamics differed from one type of business to another. I think I’ve learned the most from watching people I’ve worked closely with and being able to see how they operated.

Working with my father I learned that success is largely dependent on really hard work. You not only need to be able to visualise, but it’s the ability to focus and execute that really makes the difference. I also learned a lot from my involvement with Harris, particularly from Richard Carter, who was the quiet one of the group. Andrew [Phillips] and Ralph [Johnson] were both big, exuberant characters with big vision and Richard, I’d say was the steadying influence.

He had a lot of experience and was very willing to share and guide. He made a tremendous contribution to Harris’ success in the formative years which shouldn’t be underestimated. I found it very valuable not only seeing how influential people worked in the business field but also how they lived their lives and interacted with people; it was a big lesson. One very much drives the other.”

Q.What are some of the keys behind Harris’ success?

“When we first started out it was a challenge to break into the market and win consumers’ trust. Producing quality products that we could stand behind was the cornerstone of the business coupled with service. As the company has developed, that has broadened into finding new technologies or new ways of doing things which has been key to staying competitive.

We pride ourselves in being able to provide the most complete product portfolio for any coating solution. We’ve earned a name as people who innovate and I think the company has been very successful at actively going out there and searching for opportunities and making that happen. We have never compromised on the quality of our product.

Another area of differentiation is the fact that we run operations across several countries in the Caribbean. Our regional footprint is important to us.

Most paint companies in the world would tell you that is very inefficient and makes no sense whatsoever to have multiple small factories. They would probably set up a big factory in Florida and ship everything down, but we try, as much as possible, to operate at a local level and actually become a part of the local fabric of the communities in which we operate. We believe this is what regional companies should do.

In terms of leadership: we were fortunate to recruit Ian Kenyon who has brought a wealth of international knowledge of the industry and implemented international standards.

In the last few years, we have introduced external Board members who have different areas of expertise. This provides another point of view and these individuals normally ask a lot of questions that maybe persons working inside the company would not do. When you have a strong Board working in harmony with a strong executive, I think you have a strong operation.”

Q.

What accomplishment has made you most proud?

“I think Harris was very fast off the mark to introduce point-of-sale tinting when we launched Harris Colour Creations (introduced 1994). Everything was ready-mixed up to that time.

We were the first in the market to introduce computer colour-matching and the company did an excellent job in doing the preparatory work, planning, packaging and rolling out the new system.

We realised we didn’t have anyone in-house who could focus on it, so Ralph got hold of his brother-in-law Mike Riley, who I think had recently graduated and he was able to step in. He did an excellent job leading the initiative and it was launched on budget, quicker than anything we had done before.

That is something we really got right. We saw the opportunity and implemented it seamlessly. We were first movers on a whole new approach to tinting paint - a little company that bucked the trend worldwide. It was an incredible achievement and it opened up a lot of other opportunities.”

Q.

What do you think is in Harris’ future?

“I would like to see the company increase its footprint. There is still a lot of opportunity in the region, but I think we have the potential to service extra-regional markets as well.

This would allow us to earn foreign exchange which would reduce currency exposures and improve our financial resilience. In spite of our success, we remain a very small player in a segment that has seen major consolidation in recent years.

My idea of success for Harris would be when somebody wakes up and they want a coating solution, they automatically think Harris. And if you’re in school and want a career, you think about coming to Harris. We need to be able to attract the best talent if we are to achieve our goals. It is nice that we’ve got to 50 but like a batsman in cricket, you really want the 100 and then the double century.

For the people who make up Harris and that are involved in making the company better, that’s the mindset, that we will build a company that will be here for a long time to come and which they will be proud to be a part of.”

CHAIRMAN ROBERT JONES, speaks at Gala to mark Harris Paints’ 50th anniversary. (GP)

Leader of the year, Don Gooding

OVER THE LAST half century, Harris has been a place for growth, innovation, and excellence. Simply looking at the vast swathe of employees who have been with Harris for decades shows the staying power and development offered by this ever-modern company.

Congrats

At the recently held 50th Gala, Don Gooding was awarded the CEO’s Award for Leader of the Year In February 2023, Gooding will be celebrating 16 years with Harris and he couldn’t be more jubilant about his colourful journey.

“I came on, in the role of maintenance assistant. So, I was overseeing plant maintenance and, by extension of that, the colour centre equipment, which is the machines in the stores that actually makes the paint,” Gooding recalled.

After four years in that role, Gooding spoke to HR about trying something new. He was offered an opening in marketing involving graphic design, which he was good at but didn’t feel it was his calling.

The Colour Delivery Department, which he currently oversees, was created by prompt of his curiosity and drive. A need to oversee the colour technology aspect of Harris was realised through this creation. How colour is created and developed, improving the bases, and improving equipment came under Gooding’s purview.

At the time, Harris was launching something revolutionary for the Caribbean with their new paint formulations and zero-VOC, highperformance colourants. Along with this came a change in the software platform used to match colours and create the colour ranges.

Eight years on, Harris Paints was working to launch their latest Quantum i12TM technology which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic and Gooding became the champion of that, learning from the experiences of the previous launch.

“When everybody was home on COVID lockdown, I was here. I had a pass and I was in the office doing a lot of work. It helped not to have any interruptions. I spent eight hours a day

focused on this project and this project alone,” according to Gooding.

“It’s revolutionary,” Gooding proclaims of the new product. “With traditional systems—you have the pastel, intermediate, deep, and accent bases, that are selected based on the depth of colour being made. With the Quantum i12 product, it’s now gone down to actually one base – much simpler.”

“The analogy I give in training is to think of the four-base system as a manual vehicle. Going in between gears, there’s a little lag. Colour is the same way. In between pastel and intermediate you will have colours that we call fringe colours that are difficult to match because you’re trying to overcome the amount of white in the bases. Whereas with the master, you load exactly what you want into it. It’s more like a CVT transmission where you just put your foot on the gas and accelerate smoothly up to full speed,” he shared.

“We have more than 100 machines across the region which we are replacing with the systems territory by territory. It’s been a lot of work over the last couple of months, by no means not an easy task, but I do have a nice team -in all, I have a team of nine persons directly under me.”

Since introducing Quantum i12TM , Harris has seen a considerable reduction in colour issues and higher colour quality.

“Quantum i12 is a step change and that’s how Harris has always been,” Gooding shared. “We were the first ones to bring the automatic tinting to the Caribbean and we will continue to be the first to step up the game and bring something completely revolutionary to our markets.”

According to Gooding, “Harris has taught me to grow.” He went on to say that the launch of the Quantum i12 has been one of the proudest moments that he has had.

“It’s been an interesting journey with Harris. The Harris Paints staff isn’t just staff, we’re a family. We all have one common goal, to see the company succeed and to ensure customer satisfaction.”

Proud Partners of Harris Paints

of providing Best-by-Test products to the Caribbean

DON GOODING, winner of the Leader of the Year Award being presented by CEO Ian Kenyon. (GP)

Special award for leadership

DUE TO THE significance of the celebrations, Harris Paints decided to present a special inaugural award to recognise the contribution of a member of the senior leadership team, which was received by top executive, Marguerite Desir. Desir is the Senior Vice-President of Human Resources and Head of Business Units for Antigua, Dominica, Guyana and Saint Lucia, and she is a member of the Harris Board of Directors. CEO Ian Kenyon remarked that Desir had been an exceptional leader with 16 years service and had shown outstanding consistency and performance with an ever growing, broad portfolio of responsibilities and was very deserving of the award.

Since joining the company in 2006, Marguerite initiated the centralised operations of the Human Resource function companywide. She has also spearheaded professional development through Harris Academy’s learning platform. There has also been no shortage of tough times and Marguerite together with other team members have had to rise to meet severe challenges including the devastating hurricane that hit Dominica in 2017 and of course, through COVID-19 with the constant need to adapt to a changing situation and need for a high level of communication.

Despite a very demanding position that includes leading the Harris Paints business in four countries that all have very different dynamics and cultures, Desir particularly enjoys bringing people together through shared experiences and understands that people are often motivated through the quality of their relationships. To this end she has led many social outings and inter-company exchanges aimed at enriching the lives of people wherever Harris markets its products and services.

Harris Paints directly employs on average 250 full time staff and 50 temporary staff throughout the year in six countries across the region.

MARGUERITE DESIR, Senior Vice-President of Human Resources and Head of Business Units for Antigua, Dominica, Guyana and Saint Lucia, winner of the Special Award for Leadership. (GP)

BEFORE A NEW paint product comes to market, it must be perfected in the lab. While this intense research and development may be demanding work, Charles Kirton, VP of Technical Services and Innovation at Harris Paints, would not want it any other way. A legend within Harris and with industry professionals and specifiers, Kirton has been making paint products for, what some would say, a lifetime.

A one-time teacher, it has held him in good stead as he has become the go-to resource for all things paint, inventing numerous new Harris products, many the very first of their kind in the Caribbean. Although his first love was biology, he studied chemistry and he could not have imagined then that he would go on to create some of the best loved brands in Barbados and the Caribbean.

“I have been with Harris Paints for 39 years now and still love that no two days are ever the same,” said Kirton. “The process of taking a product from concept to customer presents many different challenges. Sometimes things go right and sometimes they go wrong –but even those times are an opportunity to learn something new. It keeps you on your toes.”

If there is one thing he’s learned he says, is never to rest on your laurels. There are so many changes in materials and possible interactions you never really know how a formula will turn out. He lives by the mantra “Test it. Test it. And test it again!” In addition to developing, testing and improving products for the Harris Group, Kirton keeps his ear to the ground for the latest industry breakthroughs.

He also works closely with his sales and marketing teams to respond to customers’ needs. After all, new products must not only meet the company’s high standards for performance and quality, they must be effective and easy for customers to use. Among their most successful collaborations has been the development of Harris’ premium Ulttima Plus brand that features a combination of five special technologies engineered to provide superior performance in the harsh tropical conditions found in the Caribbean.

“There have been significant

technological developments over the past ten to 20 years and Harris has been quick to take advantage of them, to the benefit of customers through advanced formulations,” says Kirton. One of the most revolutionary changes of his career was yet to come. It was at the 2018 Nova paint industry conference in Genova when a visiting technical team presented their innovative approach to tinting paints that would fire Kirton’s imagination and set him on a course to change how paint is made.

It then took him and his team three years of dedication and painstaking analysis in close collaboration with the Italian partners (amidst a pandemic!), to customise, set up and perfect the system. The system that Charles Kirton perfected was first implemented in Antigua in late 2020. The concept, as refined by Harris, was launched in 2022 as Quantum Technology in Barbados and Jamaica and is expected to deliver significant and far-reaching benefits including substantial manufacturing and retailing efficiencies and exceptional colour and performance properties for the end user.

If all goes as anticipated, Harris expects to roll out new products based on Quantum Technology over the next two years across the region and also into new territories. “Up until now, paint has been tinted by adding colourant to one of four bases depending on the colour intensity required, but the Quantum products use just one base, as it allows for all the critical components of colour to be added at the point of sale and fully customised in each can,” explains Kirton, adding that this revolutionary system not only produces better than ever results but dramatically reduces complexity.

“It’s a very exciting development that opens many opportunities for us and our customers. It’s a total gamechanger and this is just the beginning!” Since implementing the new platform, Harris has already introduced a new, tiny, colour-accurate paint sample (about the size of a small yoghurt pot).

These mini pots are made to order and would not be possible without the Quantum Technology. It makes testing

CHARLES KIRTON, Vice-President of Technical Services and Innovation at Harris Paints. At left, a flashback of Kirton on the job. (GPs)

Lab in honour of Kirton

• From Page 14E.

colour much more affordable for customers and mini pots can now be produced as easy as buying a can of soda from a vending machine!

The painstaking hours of testing the new system has resulted in the top chemist getting credit for his breakthrough development. Kirton is officially cited as Inventor of the company’s first internationally patented coatings technology – a key part of the overall innovation and another Harris first! The road to developing Quantum Technology has been the crowning achievement to date on his 39-year career at Harris and Charles Kirton is excited to see where it leads to next!

Lab dedicated to Harris chemist

To mark Charles Kirton’s extraordinary career, Harris Paints has announced that the laboratory in which he has spent so much time formulating products for the company, would be named in his honour: The Charles Kirton Research & Development Laboratory.

In addition to a wide portfolio of products over the years, Harris Paints company Chairman Robert Jones credited Kirton with instantly recognising the potential of a new ‘one base’ technology which was presented at a business convention in 2018 and further developing one of the system’s key patented formulas – finding success where many other companies, much larger than Harris Paints, have failed.

Attending the gala event with his daughter, Kirton who is vice president of Technical Services and Innovation was delighted at the news and the recognition as “the principal architect of Harris Paints products” which was received to loud applause.

In his speech, Jones explained that for the last 39 years, Kirton has been at the heart of designing and formulating Harris products. He said the company had had some initial help in getting started but the intention was always to develop their own products and brands.

Jones painted a picture of Kirton as “a quiet selfeffacing individual who spends much of his time in his lab out of the limelight” and went on to say that he was a “star” and “his importance to the organisation could not be underestimated”.

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WELL DONE. At left, Charles Kirton vice-president of Technical Services and Innovation being congratulated on his achievement by Chairman Robert Jones. Above, Kirton savouring the moment with his daughter. (GPs)

Glamorous gala

CUSTOMERS, PARTNERS, FRIENDS, management and staff of Harris Paints came together to celebrate 50 Years of Harris Paints at a glamorous gala on Saturday, November 19.

Barbados’ only locally-owned paint manufacturer was honoured by the attendance of dignitaries Her Excellency, the Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, President of Barbados and the Honourable Santia Bradshaw, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Works

and Water Resources and Leader of Government Business.

Among the glitz and the gowns were notable invited guests including leading retailers and construction executives from around the region and international suppliers who flew in for the event.

The fun-filled evening was packed with memories of where it all began in 1972, special tributes and awards as well as an enticing look towards future prospects.

CHARLES WILLIAMS and Sarah Williams are welcomed to the event. (GP)

SUZETTE EDGHILL speaking with Mark Douglas. (GP)

NEETHA SELLIAH, Programme Coordinator at Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) and Senior Lecturer, Dr Janice Cumberbatch. (GP)

JOHN MARSHALL, Vice-President of Operations and Business Unit Head, Harris Paints Barbados. (GP)

WENDY KENYON and Ian Kenyon, CEO Harris Paints Group greet Mr and Mrs Michael Edwards, Carters & Co Ltd. (GP)

DON GOODING (right), Colour Technology Manager, Harris Paints Group with son Jédon, Retail Representative. (GP)

HER EXCELLENCY, the Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, President of Barbados, was escorted by Robert Jones, Chairman, Harris Paints Group on her arrival. (GP)

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, the Honourable Santia Bradshaw sharing a moment with Marguerite Desir, Senior Vice-President of Human Resources and Head of Business Units Antigua, Dominica, Guyana and St Lucia. (GP)

ANTONIO VASCONCELLOS (right), Vice-President of Procurement and Research & Development, Harris Paints Group, hosting guests from Latin America. (GP)

A Night to Remember! cont’d

ZYREENE SARAFAT-NURSE, Senior Vice-President Finance, Harris Paints Group. (GP)

SUZANNE YARDE, Sales Representative Trade & Specifier, Harris Paints Barbados, greeting a colleague. (GP)

DEBORAH EDWARD, General Manager, SOL EC Ltd, St Lucia. (GP)

COLLEEN EVERSLEY, Customs and Logistics Coordinator, Harris Paints Barbados. (GP)

CHRISTINE JONES, wife of Harris Paints Group Chairman, Robert Jones. (GP)

MARGARET ALLMAN-GODDARD, Master of Ceremonies. (GP)

MELCIA ROGERS, Technical Officer, Harris Paints Barbados. (GP)

KERRYDALE PLUMMER, Senior Manager Information Technology, Harris Group; Ashley Serieux, Retail Representative, Harris Paints Barbados; Cita Carter, Receptionist, Harris Paints Barbados; Roslyn Sorhaindo, Retail Services and Export Sales Manager, Harris Paints Dominica; and Claudette Dangleben, Logistics and Inventory Manager, Harris Paints Dominica. (GP)

ASHLEY GRAHAM, Retail Representative, Harris Paints Barbados and Employee of the Year, Barbados. (GP)

BARBADOS RETAIL REPRESENTATIVES.

(From left), Josiah Stephen Nelson, Malik Savoury ,Tristian Griffith.

CHARMAINE ROACH, Retail Representative, Harris Paints Barbados and Cherish Bowen, Colour Laboratory Assistant. (GP)

MRS RALPH JOHNSON (right), greeting Susan Gill, Senior Inventory Assistant, Harris Paints Barbados. (GP)

DONETTE WHARTON, Logistics and Inventory Manager, Harris Paints Barbados, with Richard Greenidge. (GP)

Celebrating

THE VALUABLE EMPLOYEES are the heroes of Harris and a surprising number have been with the company for 25 years or more.

That’s half the time Harris has been in operation! While acknowledging that long service is by no means the only significant measure, Harris wishes to recognise the 19 veterans currently with the company who have accomplished this incredible milestone.

They have been invaluable members of the team, sharing their knowledge and experience and have been a part of Harris’ rich history.

Members of the Harris family

ADMINISTRATION: (From left), Cita Carter, Receptionist; John Marshall, Vice-President Operations and Head of Business Unit Barbados, and Cheryl Brathwaite – Human Resource and Training Manager. (Pictures by Jameel Springer.)

RETAIL STORE: (Front row from left), Jennifer Husbands, Customer Service Representative, Retail and Trade; Dwayne Drakes, Retail Services Manager, Key Accounts Barbados and Export; Charmaine Roach, Retail Services Representative; Wendy DelCastilho, Sales Representative, Key Accounts. (Back row, from left), Retail Services Representatives Ryan Grosvenor, Javan Franklyn, Tishona King, Trey Ward, Devon Wiltshire, and Dario Hope. (Inset top left) is Ashley Graham. (Bottom left) is Gavin Wilson, Retail Services Supervisor. (JS)

IAN KENYON, CEO of Harris Paints (GP)

Harris family cont’d

ANTONIO VASCONCELLOS, Vice President Procurement and Research and Development (JS)

SAMANTHA CRICHLOW –Export Sales Customer Service Representative (JS)

DON GOODING, Colour Technology Manager (JS)

KAREN BECKLES, Senior Retail Services Representative, Shane Hanson – Retail Services Representative (JS)

DISTRIBUTION: (From left), Sydney Wilson, Inventory Assistant; Fred Daniel, Driver and Inventory Assistant; Susan Gill,Senior Inventory Assistant; Jermaine George, Senior Inventory Assistant; Donette Wharton, Logistics and Inventory Manager; Nathan Lynch, Inventory Assistant; Hakeem Bradshaw, Inventory Assistant; Patrick Wilson, Driver and Inventory Assistant and Rodney Cadogan, Senior Inventory Assistant. (JS)

RETAIL: (From left,) Jedon Gooding, Retail Representative; Chris Edghill, Retail Representative, and Gregson St. Hill, Retail Services Supervisor. (JS)

DOLORES DABREOPOPE, Business Management System Manager (GP)

Harris family cont’d

PRODUCTION: (From left), Delano Roach, Production Assistant; Wendell Brathwaite, Production Assistant; Shamario Payne, Laboratory Technician; Natalie Sobers, Production Assistant; Michelle Hackett, Production and Technical Manager. Production Assistants: Shalimo Daniel, Calvin Bailey, Lashida Taylor, Jatroy Moseley, Nathaniel Sobers, Adam Drakes, Kemel Tony and Davian Roachford-Gittens. (JS)

FINANCE: (Standing) Dale Morgan, Senior Finance Officer (left); and Kurt Walcott, Senior Manager Procurement. Sitting, Mordea Farley, Financial Controller (left); and Sandra Holder, Finance Officer. (JS)

TECHNICAL: Melcia Rogers, Technical Officer; Charles Kirton, Vice-President Technical Services & Innovation and Shane Murray, Technical Officer. (JS)

COLLEEN EVERSLEY, Customs and Logistics Coordinator. (GP)

DAVID TINDALE, Director. (GP)

HARRIS PAINTS is once again shaking up the paint industry by unveiling new revolutionary next-gen products that are among the first of their kind worldwide.

Harris Paints’ next generation products are powered by the new proprietary Quantum Technology colour platform.

“This is a boundary-breaking innovation,” said CEO Ian Kenyon who indicated that the new colour platform provided a myriad of benefits for all stakeholders involved in decoration, stocking or tinting paint colours and none so important as producing even better, more durable colours for customers.

“What matters is being able to provide paint colours that match customers’ expectations and will look as good as they imagined,” said the CEO. “Tests on our new products have shown that the new system has superior accuracy and precision when compared to traditional methods of tinting and produces cleaner, clearer, colours that last longer in our climate.”

The company has been working alongside a number of international agencies for several years, to harness and adapt emerging technologies to develop the superior, new colour system that is applied from factory to in-store environments. The research and development team was led by vice-president of Technical Services and Innovation, Charles Kirton who has been the man behind Harris Paints formulations for 39 years. Kirton was the first to see the opportunity and has been hands-on with thousands of hours in the lab and is credited with an international patent for creating a key formulation or ‘the secret sauce’ central to the innovation.

Lifting the lid on the new platform, Kenyon explains: “Quantum Technology brings together many elements; engineering, chemistry, colour science, pigments and special formulations to produce better than ever colour results for our customers. The one-base products are made on

new advanced tint dispenser machines specially designed for the purpose. The new style dispensers have also earned multiple technological patents for advancements in engineering and colour production and can control a dot of colour ten times smaller than average traditional tint machines used in the industry today.”

The first of the next generation products available are Harris’ top sellers and high quality emulsions: Ulttima Plus Flat, Satin and Porch & Patio paints. The company will gradually convert all product lines to the new system.

(Picture by Jameel Springer.)

Get crafty with Mini Colour Pots

From Page 25E.

Quantum Technology, an advanced new dispensing technology which is capable of extremely high levels of precision.

“It is because we now control tinting to a much finer degree, that we can produce accurate colours in this new tiny pack size for customers to try before they then scale up to the larger gallon and five-gallon pack sizes,” explained Gooding. Harris is at the cutting edge and one of the first adopters to utilise the innovative colour tester machines.

The company is currently the only one in the world to have machines that can produce two finishes, operating on the latest and fastest software and making this available to customers in store.

The Mini Colour Pot machines were

installed in two locations: Wildey, Barbados (2021); and Premier Plaza, Kingston (2022) and have been very well received by both homeowners and contractors, who no longer have to wait and worry but can see their colours in advance – it has made a significant winning difference in the colour decision process.

Chelsea gets crafty

Want to add some personality into your decorating? Take a look at what 11-year-old, Chelsea Goddard created with a little bit of paint and a whole lot of imagination.

Mum Heather confesses that she is usually the DIY-er in the family but says that last year when Harris Paints introduced Mini Colour Pots, her daughter was inspired to add a feature

wall to her bedroom. She had wanted to do it for some time, Mum said, but it would have been too much paint, in too many colours, but Mini Colour Pots made the whole thing possible.

Designed to test colours at home, Mini Colour Pots are also a perfect size for small craft projects and are available in over 1 000 colours.

For the project, Chelsea chose about 12 colours and bought brushes, painter’s tape and was ready to go.

Chelsea conceived and carried out the project completely by herself (not counting her audience of girlfriends who watched in on Zoom!) and had wonderful results.

Mini Colour Pots are available from Harris Paints, Wildey or via an order/ collect service from the Fitts Village or Six Roads Colourcentres.

ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD Chelsea Goddard got creative with her mini pots, creating an accent wall in her bedroom. (GPs)

WITH THOUSANDS OF colours available it’s no wonder that some homeowners or business owners wish to have more support through the colour selection process. When one gets into the nitty gritty of all the options including colours, sheens and products, it can become overwhelming.

The Colour Design service at Harris Paints is the perfect solution. This top package offers an athome or on-site consultation with a professional colour consultant. Meeting in the actual environment where the colour will be used is key to colour selection.

Customers benefit from having a dedicated time to discuss their project goals and their likes and dislikes without other interruptions that sometimes occur at the store. It is also much easier when you are in the space to give a full picture.

With this next level service, the homeowner can easily show the other colours already in the room that will result in better coordination. Paint colour selection will take into consideration all the existing colour components of a room whether it’s the sofa, the colour of the counters or the floors.

Ultimately, a home consultation provides the consultant with a lot more information so that you get better advice; advice that reflects your taste and personality so that you get better results, all without leaving your home!

Harris Paints prides itself on having an experienced team with

highly knowledgeable staff members such as colour champion, Karen Beckles who arranges all home consultations and liaises with clients throughout the whole process to finalising their purchase.

The company has also partnered with interior designer, Melissa Browne of M Designs, who has experience working on a wide variety of residential and commercial projects.

John Marshall, Business Unit Head of Harris Paints Barbados said, “We have a great team working with our Colour Design Service that really excel at making any client feel comfortable.

That is very important to us, that we give clients options and advice but this is about coming together to achieve the customer’s vision.”

Home consultations require a deposit of BDS$120– that is FULLY REDEEMABLE with spend of BDS$250.

Bright colours bring home smiles

HARRIS HAS ALWAYS been beyond the cusp of innovation.Throughout its 50 year span, the company has continued to value quality and customer service above all else. This dedication to surpassing expectations is divinely demonstrated through the Colour Design home consultation service that Harris offers.

Doreen and Ian Weekes are two customers that have experienced this service first hand. In November of 2019, the couple engaged Harris for the selection of colours for their home.

According to Doreen, “I was listening to the radio and heard Karen Beckles, Colour Design Coordinator from Harris Paints, doing a promotion on the Colour Design service.”

At $120 an hour, fully redeemable from Harris’ product line, the one hour session with a designer can’t be beat.

“Melissa Browne of M Designs was the consultant assigned to our project. Melissa was very professional, she listened to our ideas on colour schemes and the vision for the property. Ms Browne submitted a

comprehensive colour schedule for each room, which included some feature walls,” she shared.

“We are definitely satisfied with the end product. The colours selected make our home feel warm and welcoming to us as owners and to our friends and family. There is a uniqueness and theme to each room,” said Doreen.

For Doreen, “As a home owner although you may have ideas on a colour scheme for your property, the professional advice offered by the Colour Design service provides a different perspective. It is an excellent service, the initial cost is minimal and it is fully redeemable at Harris Paints.”

Likewise, Kemar Saffrey President and Project Manager of The Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness sought out Harris for a touch of brightness to help make the organisation truly come together.

“We engaged them for their expertise in colour. We wanted to coat the area so that we could have a more attractive look with regards to the business

• Continued on next page.

KAREN BECKLES, Senior Retail Services Representative and Colour Design Coordinator, Harris Paints (GP)

HARRIS COLOUR DESIGN consultant and interior designer Melissa Browne of M Designs. (GP)

Brighten your day with colour

• From Page 28E.

side of things,” said Saffrey.

Saffrey had Harris consult on their plans for improving the look of their locale. “It was different,” Saffrey said of the experience. He shared, “Some people will just tell you what paint to use but don’t actually send somebody with the expertise that Melissa has.”

“She gives an outlay and a 3D look at how the rooms will come together. That was different, I don’t find many other companies offer that. We could really see where we were going with colours. We really liked it,” shared Saffrey.

He added, “Being able to see the end product before we put paint to the walls definitely made us satisfied with the project. It was just a matter of bringing it to reality. When they engage you, they engage you fully.

“Melissa was able to carry us through the

process of what it would feel like and the process of what the colours will say and how they will bring the rooms together and the tones they will set.”

“Congratulations to Harris on their 50th anniversary. Harris has been championing colours for years, not only locally but in the region. For a company that is home grown, we really have to, as Barbadians, take pride in that and be able to be there for people.”

“Harris is constantly giving discounts on paint, they really try, in this hard economic time, to use colour to keep people’s moods in the right place. Nothing brightens up your day like colour.

“They have an unbeatable team that have always been engaging and welcoming with how they work with us and give to the charity. Continue on the journey, I am encouraging Barbadians to continue to support local like Harris so that they can continue giving back.”

FLASHBACK:

Earth friendly acrylics

NO OTHER CARIBBEAN paint company has done more than Harris Paints to push the adoption of modern acrylic technology. The chemistry has developed leaps and bounds and today’s acrylics perform as well as oils and have several other benefits to boot, including drying much more quickly so jobs can be completed faster and they are much easier to use with simple clean up in water. No thinners required. Above all, acrylics have less harmful constituents which are better for health and the environment.

Taking the lead, Harris Paints was the first in the region to offer zero VOC colourants, free of any harmful additives, so when customers purchase ‘safe’ emulsions, they are guaranteed they stay that way and that other undesirable chemicals don’t get added during tinting. The company even added a certified Zero VOC Interior paint in 2019, which is ideal to protect air quality and occupants – recommended for babies, the elderly or persons with sensitive conditions such as asthma or allergies.

Very early on in the development of the brand, Harris Paints recognised these advantages and set its technical department and laboratory to work to develop new products that were safer, easier to use and kinder to the environment.

The result was a generation of ground-breaking water-based products that utilised powerful leading edge ‘friendly’ biocides engineered by European firm Thor, that retard biodeterioration of surface coatings caused by algae and fungi - a common problem in tropical Caribbean climates.

Ralph Johnson, who was then the company’s managing

director, remembered that Porch & Patio Floor Enamel, the first innovation of this kind to hit the market, as being ahead of its time and led demand rather than being market-driven. “Within the first five years we introduced water-based floor paint. All the floor paint prior to that point was oil-based. When we first started nobody in their right mind would recommend a water-based paint on a floor never mind a galvanised roof! But unlike oil-based floor paint you, could walk on it in half an hour. People couldn’t believe it at first! And that product is still sold and recommended today.”

In the mid-1980s the company continued to produce trailblazing products never before seen in the region. These included a revolutionary water-base coating for concrete roofs known as Roofing Compound (now Ulttima Roof Coating), designed to eliminate the need for the traditional method of hot applied cold tar.

The innovation allowed customers to avoid hours of unpleasant hot work with an easy-to-apply, affordable alternative.

This was followed by other radical concepts such as water-based varnish and a water-based gloss enamel. These products were non-yellowing, quick drying and virtually odourless introducing customers to unsurpassed convenience. By eliminating the harsh chemicals traditionally required to make oil bases, employees benefited from improved work conditions and paint products were more easily disposed of

• Continued on next page.

Charles Kirton (centre) demonstrating Harris’ new water-based gloss paint at a launch seminar (Barbados, 1995); Ralph Johnson (left) and David Tindale look on. (GPs)

Annual environmental scholarship

LAST MONTH, Harris Paints announced a BDS$10 000 annual commitment to assist in the study and development of resource and environmental solutions that are very much needed to protect the Caribbean against the effects of climate change.

The regional paint company provided the grant in honour of the chairman, who is an ardent environmentalist. The Robert L. Jones, Harris Paints Environmental Grant will be made available to graduate students through the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) in the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of the West Indies.

In presenting the award, CEO Ian Kenyon said the idea was driven by Jones’ passion for the environment and for the company to adopt a more proactive ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) approach, which takes a broader, more holistic view of sustainability issues, as well as his belief in education, innovation and the role the bright talent of tomorrow can play to secure our future, if, given a chance, to prove themselves.

CERMES has a strong focus on tropical island environmental management and its mission is to make a significant contribution to sustainable development in the Caribbean region. The department deals with major issues such as land management and environmental resilience; climate change; water resource management and coastal and marine resource management.

On hand to accept and acknowledge the award were Programme Coordinator, Senior Lecturer Dr Janice Cumberbatch passionately about the need for play an active role and lauded stewardship.

The grant is in process of finalisation becomes available to students that he could think of fewer tributes chairman and that it was an excellent history of innovation and promotion technologies that better protect “There is already great excitement innovation that could result from could have lasting positive impacts

• From Page 30E.

with less overall environmental

When asked what the future who is vice-president of Technical Innovation at Harris Paints, years the emphasis was on low next few years will be no VOCs. think oil paints will fall out of seven years. Even if you look little need to use solvent-based he adds with a wry grin, “you market is ready to fully accept concerns moving to the top of trend directionally is still very

HARRIS PAINTS CHAIRMAN Robert Jones (left), and CEO Ian Kenyon (second left), presenting sponsorship cheque to Neetha Selliah (right), and Dr Janice Cumberbatch (second right) (GP)