customer service says it all
Dix has made sure the great service and a quality product line has continued at Knight’s Paint since his dad bought the business in 1977, and Tres purchased the company in 1991. “We pride ourselves on the longevity of the business,” he said. “Knight’s Paint has been sound since 1938, and it is one of few paint stores in existence that long.” Back in the 1930’s, the store sold paint, wallpaper, and even Mercury outboard motors. It was a typical small-town business in the small town of Grass Valley. It is the oldest Benjamin Moore Paint retailer on the West Coast. Knight’s Paint goes far beyond simply selling house paint—they also sell automotive paint, aircraft, and boat paint. Knight’s employees are well-versed in the technical side of 34
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these more difficult paint applications. You'll find an expert at each location who can help you find the right paint, the correct chemical application, and match your colors to a degree most paint stores can’t achieve. If you need the correct match for house paint colors, Knight’s doesn’t just leave it up to a machine. Their employees will help find the best match from over 4,000 Benjamin Moore colors and will ultimately eye match to get it right. Besides Benjamin Moore, Knight’s sells top-quality products for whatever job you may have. They carry automotive brands such as Cromax, SpiesHecker, and Standox. They encourage their body shop customers—a huge part of their automotive sales—to use more environmentally sound products, even where they’re not required. Knight’s also sells iconic paints such as Imron and Centari as well as 21st century coatings such as HiTec and Standoblue. They offer value brands such as Nason and Meralux and are an Axalta Coatings Champion Distributor. Additionally, Knight’s Paint is a Northern California leader in the sales of commercial wood finishes. Whether you are a cabinet shop, a furniture refinisher, or a refinishing contractor, they have the clear or opaque products to get the job done: Lenmar, Chem-Craft, Gemini, Axalta Wood Coatings,
If there’s one aspect of Knight’s Paint that Tres Dix takes pride in, it’s the expertise of his employees. They have dozens of staff members who have worked at Knight’s Paint for 20-to-30 years, and they even have multiple generations at each store. “We have many father-son employees working for us,” said Dix. “We also have zero turnover because we have created a true family atmosphere in our company.” Knight's paint sponsors company basketball and softball teams and has plenty of extracurricular activities and get-togethers. These events help build the family environment and a pride in being a Knight’s employee. This is a big reason why so many customers come back repeatedly. “People come into our stores and see the guy who helped them out for the past ten years,” said Dix. “Customers are loyal to us because we know what we’re talking about and don’t lie about our products.” If you need paint or other supplies locally, come out to the Chico location where manager David Cordova (pictured above) will be happy to help. Contact the company at knightspaint@aim.com or 530-891-9700. Their other locations can be found in Grass Valley, Roseville, and Redding.
WRITTEN BY TIM MIHOLRN
Besides being the second-generation owner of a premiere painting supply store, Tres Dix emphasizes customer service and a knowledgeable staff who meet the needs of the do-it-yourselfer or the many contractors who frequent Knight’s Paint stores. “We get comments all the time about how easy it is to shop at Knight’s Paint,” said Dix. “We make sure we serve the customers no matter who they are,” he added. “Often, it seems like when you go to a big box store, you need to kind of brace yourself for the service you get.”
and Benjamin Moore. No matter your job, they have the expertise to get your process down to perfection.
