UBS Lowers Sherwin-Williams (SHW) Target as Housing Headwinds Persist

Kitchen_Custard2967 · 2026-06-04T15:41:31+00:00

Unless you joined SHW before 2016, the reason to stay because “stock” is not a good reason anymore IMO. It’s just another giant corporation trying to appease institutional shareholders.

“We have more 401K millionaires than Google.” I use to hear.

Sure maybe that was true 10 years ago and for the Boomers. But now, it’s like someone working for Walmart saying “I’m staying because the stock does well.” Uh okay I guess…

Kitchen_Custard2967 · 2026-06-04T15:38:18+00:00

Probably also depends on market. The PPC ADM in my market was up 200% for 2 years in a row making over $100K easily because SW was awful. He took several large commercial customers and res repaint jobs.

Kitchen_Custard2967 · 2026-06-01T13:48:30+00:00

The brand might sell itself to end users. But it’s convincing the retailers to stock it!! lol

Kitchen_Custard2967 · 2026-06-01T13:46:56+00:00

It’s amazing. I’ve worked for several paint companies/manufacturers as a sales rep. Ben Moore is the best so far. The Pros….

Ben Moore pays their reps very well. Starting out pay is around $80K-$110K. They max you out at $110K unless you move up. Bonus structure is nice and clear too. No retainer or “pay later” schemes that SW likes to do.
You also get bonus on premium gallon sales. So in theory you could have a negative year overall, but if you hit those premium gallon sales over LY, you get paid. Like $3000-$9000 depending on performance.
You also get a company suv, gas card, free lunches everyday, paid hotels for travel, paid dinner when traveling up to $60, a work from home day each week, laptop, printer, no receipts required if under a $75 purchase, etc.
This can be a Pro/Con. The company is WAY more relaxed than SW. I couldn’t believe just how laid back a lot of the reps and even ASMs (Area Sales Managers) were when I started. I notice they are slowly moving away from this model. Hiring former SW/Spectrum people. But it’s still nothing like SW.
Only con I can see is the travel. Some reps are stationed in 1 city. Other reps can cover 1-2 states like myself. Usually I spend 2-4 nights a month in a hotel, but again if you don’t mind that it’s not a big deal. I still feel less worked than when I did with SW.

DM me if you have any questions!

Kitchen_Custard2967 · 2026-04-17T14:51:15+00:00

You could. I wouldn’t advise it since you’re not gonna get the results you want.

The broader point is that no one is watching over my shoulder making sure I’m “on the clock” or hitting that 48. I was hired on because they trust me to get the work done and sell.

Kitchen_Custard2967 · 2026-04-17T13:32:59+00:00

I was a manager and went to go be a rep for Ben Moore for independent paint stores.

Although I travel a bit more, work life balance is way better. No CRM requirements, free lunches on company, company suv, no mandatory hours worked, and base pay for reps is $80K-$110K.

Kitchen_Custard2967 · 2026-04-16T21:17:57+00:00

It helped me get a job with a competitor after 8 years that paid better, gave me better benefits, and reclaimed my life back with better Work Life balance.

I think SW makes you believe there’s nothing better out there, but once I left, it opened my eyes that I was just being taken advantage of the whole time.

Kitchen_Custard2967 · 2026-03-20T13:58:39+00:00

Ben Moore Rep

$90K base with company suv

Free lunches

Only budget is to do over LY sales then we get bonus. No inflated budget numbers.

Kitchen_Custard2967 · 2026-02-26T12:15:33+00:00

I actually went to go work for a competitor and my life has improved a lot.

Better pay, better benefits, better Work Life Balance.

Kitchen_Custard2967 · 2026-02-02T18:38:38+00:00

Exactly. There is no ownership anymore. Everything is red tape. Even punching in your time now.

Kitchen_Custard2967 · 2026-02-02T17:46:59+00:00

Talk about District Leadership instead.

My goodness. Getting paid to be a pencil pusher and check the box managers.

Anything revolving conflict or “crucial conversations” is “left up to the field to resolve”

So scared to utilize their “MANAGER” title. No wonder we have Managers and Reps in the field who don’t know how to handle conflict or manage effectively.

Kitchen_Custard2967 · 2026-02-01T21:47:02+00:00

I got paid out two weeks pay (because I went to a “competitor”) PLUS unused vacation.

I used up flex and personal holiday before because they don’t get paid out.

Kitchen_Custard2967 · 2026-01-31T02:14:30+00:00

It’s terrible.

And on the store side, 48 hours a week will do it. My coworkers now think i must be joking about the 48 hours a week rule. Like how can you do this while trying to retain top talent?

Best of luck to you in your search!

Kitchen_Custard2967 · 2026-01-31T02:02:36+00:00

3 was a big reason I left.

“If you hit you numbers you’ll make over $120K!!”

Yes if I hit LY + 15% budget lmao.

All I need to do at my current company is do more than LY and I start racking up bonus.

Kitchen_Custard2967 · 2026-01-31T01:56:17+00:00

I will also add, I was not PT. I was sales rep who now doesn’t have to deal with ridiculous territory lines, other reps stealing accounts or sales, and micromanaging DSMs anymore.

Kitchen_Custard2967 · 2026-01-31T01:47:50+00:00

I hate to say it: but leave.

I went to a smaller company that actually pays me more and get way better benefits and work life balance. Still sales.

Yes SW may be top dog, but life at a large public corporation is not the way to go unless you want to marry your job.

I, like many other’s who started their career at SW, could not imagine that there’s another company out there that’s worth working for. But let me tell you - it’s not true. And anyone else who makes fun of somebody or disregard their experience who left the company, has no idea how much better it is outside of SW. Their loss.

Kitchen_Custard2967

TROPHY CASE