The Paint Shed
The Paint Shed is a UK-based independent specialist paint retailer operating 24 stores across Scotland and the North of England alongside a national e-commerce platform, serving trade professionals and DIY consumers with trade and designer paints, woodcare, and decorating tools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Paint Shed does
The Paint Shed is a UK-based independent specialist paint retailer headquartered in Edinburgh, operating a hybrid omnichannel model that combines a national e-commerce platform with 24 physical stores across Scotland and the North of England. The company sells trade paints, designer paints, woodcare products, specialist coatings, and decorating tools, stocking major brands including Dulux Trade, Johnstone's Trade, Crown Trade, Farrow & Ball, Benjamin Moore, and Little Greene, alongside exclusive ranges such as Albany Paint and Arroworthy brushes. Its technology stack centres on an e-commerce site integrated with smart colour-matching technology and high-spec tinting machines that allow custom paint mixing across brands, supplemented by interactive product-finder and paint-calculator tools, and a TradeKart 2-hour local delivery service in select geographies.
The business serves two primary customer segments: trade professionals (painters, decorators, contractors) requiring trade-grade paints and reliable volume supply, and DIY consumers undertaking home decorating projects. Revenue is generated primarily through transactional unit-priced sales via the online storefront and physical stores, with a bulk-buying programme (100L+ orders, email-based quotes) extending into commercial-volume accounts, and a £50 free-delivery threshold driving order value. The company was founded in 1996, began online operations in 2010, and received growth investment from Business Growth Fund in 2020. Leadership comprises Ogilvie Rolland as Executive Chairman and Co-founder/CEO, with no disclosed institutional ownership beyond BGF.
The company's go-to-market combines sales-led distribution through 24 retail touchpoints with product-led growth online via SEO, content marketing (Tips & Advice, Inspiration), email/newsletter incentives, and social channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest), supported by a 4.8/5 Trustpilot score that functions as social proof. Free Click & Collect from any store, often within one hour, ties the digital and physical channels together and reinforces the regional moat.
The Paint Shed firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Paint Shed
- Legal name
- The Paint Shed
- Website
- https://thepaintshed.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Paint Shed is a UK-based independent specialist paint retailer operating 24 stores across Scotland and the North of England alongside a national e-commerce platform, serving trade professionals and DIY consumers with trade and designer paints, woodcare, and decorating tools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Paint Shed industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Paint Retail
- NAICS
- Paint and Wallpaper Retailers (444120), Paint and Wallpaper Retailers (44412)
- SIC
- Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Paint, Stain & Finishes Retail (Coatings, Sundries) (CRAIADAF)
Keywords
Where The Paint Shed is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
The Paint Shed business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail Paint Sales: Direct sales of trade paint, designer paint, woodcare products, and decorating tools through e-commerce and physical stores. Revenue generated from one-time product purchases with varying price points based on brand and product type.
- Bulk Paint Orders: Volume-based sales for large paint orders (100L+) with discounted pricing. Customers contact via email with requirements and receive custom quotes. Can supply mixed pallets with any paint type, colour, and manufacturer.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing with free delivery threshold |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Bulk order discounts for large volume purchases |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Paint Shed product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Paint Shed is an independent UK paint retailer that sells trade paint, designer paint, woodcare products, specialist paint, and decorating tools through its e-commerce platform and 24 physical stores. It provides in-store colour-matching services, a Paint Calculator, Product Finder, Click & Collect, and a bulk-buying programme (100L+) for trade customers. The company positions itself as the UK's most recommended independent paint retailer, stocking brands such as Dulux Trade, Farrow & Ball, Johnstone's Trade, Crown Trade, Benjamin Moore, Little Greene, Sadolin, and Osmo.
Product overview
The Paint Shed is a UK-based independent paint retailer operating both e-commerce and physical stores. The company offers a unified platform combining trade paints, designer paints, woodcare products, and professional tools. Core products include Trade Paint (emulsions, gloss, satin, eggshell, exterior, masonry paints), Designer Paint (Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, Benjamin Moore), Woodcare (stains, varnishes, oils), Specialist Paint (bathroom, kitchen, floor paints), and Tools & Accessories (brushes, rollers, decorators' supplies). Services include Colour Matching, Product Finder, Bulk Buying, and Click & Collect from 24 stores. The company stocks major brands including Dulux Trade, Johnstone's Trade, Crown Trade, and operates as a paint specialist with over 60 years of experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Trade Paint Trade-grade paint range including emulsions, gloss, satin, eggshell, exterior paints, masonry paints, primers and undercoats designed for professional painter/decorator use.
- Designer Paint Premium designer paints from luxury brands including Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, and Benjamin Moore aimed at high-end residential and commercial projects.
- Woodcare Woodcare range including stains, varnishes, wood oils, waxes, treatments, and fillers for interior and exterior wood protection and enhancement, including the exclusive Albany woodcare range.
- Tools & Accessories Professional painting tools and accessories including brushes, rollers, fillers, caulk, masking tape, and decorating sundries, including the Arrowworthy premium brush and roller range.
- Specialist Paint Specialist paint products for specific applications including bathroom, kitchen, floor, radiator, furniture, garage floor, cladding, uPVC, and exterior metal paints.
- Colour Matching Service Service using smart colour-matching technology and high-spec tinting machines in-store to mix paints to any desired colour from the company's range of stocked brands.
- Bulk Buying Programme Bulk purchasing option providing discounted prices for paint orders of 100 litres or more, supplying mixed pallets with any paint type, any colour, and any manufacturer, with custom quotes provided via email.
- Click & Collect Free collection service from 24 physical store locations across Scotland and North of England, with collection possible in as little as one hour for in-stock items.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% Happiness Guarantee - refunding, replacing, or rectifying any quality issues
Companies that use The Paint Shed
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Paint Shed technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Paint Shed partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Albany PaintcoreAlbany Paint products (Albany Woodcare range and Albany AF1 ceiling paint) exclusively available in all 24 The Paint Shed stores. The Albany Woodcare range includes All Purpose, Durable, and Premium Opaque woodstains for exterior timber protection.
- ArroworthycoreArroworthy premium-grade paint brushes and rollers stocked in all 21 stores and online nationwide. The range includes Classic Contractor brushes with NYLYN technology, microfiber roller sleeves, and Barracuda roller frames designed for professional decorators.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Paint Shed competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Brewers Decorator Centres: UK's largest independent decorator merchant with ~170+ trade-focused branches. Closest direct competitor — overlapping trade customer base, comparable product range (Dulux Trade, Johnstone's, Crown), and similar in-store colour-matching and bulk-pricing services aimed at professional decorators.
- Crown Decorating Centres: Crown Paints' trade retail network with 140+ branches across the UK. Direct competitor selling overlapping trade paint and woodcare lines to professional decorators and DIY consumers, with comparable colour-matching and bulk-order services.
- Dulux Decorator Centre: AkzoNobel's flagship trade retail brand with 230+ UK branches. Directly comparable omnichannel trade paint specialist targeting professional decorators and serious DIYers, with colour matching and trade pricing programmes.
- Johnstone's Decorating Centre: PPG-owned trade paint retail network across the UK and Ireland. Comparable as a trade-focused paint and woodcare retailer with expert staff, colour-matching, and bulk-order programmes serving professional decorators.
Emerging players
- Farrow & Ball: Luxury designer paint manufacturer with growing UK DTC and showroom presence. Comparable via overlapping premium product lines and selective retail partnerships (The Paint Shed stocks F&B), and competes for the same design-led consumer.
- Decorating Centre Online: Pure-play online trade paint retailer with national UK delivery. Comparable via overlapping trade brand catalogue and e-commerce-first model, though lacks The Paint Shed's physical store network and Click & Collect infrastructure.
Broad incumbents
- B&Q: UK's largest home improvement retailer with 300+ stores and a significant paint category. Overlaps broadly with The Paint Shed on trade and DIY paint sales but does not specialise — paint is one of many categories in a much wider home improvement assortment.
- Wickes: UK home improvement retailer with national store footprint and dedicated trade programme. Overlaps with The Paint Shed on trade paint supply and click-and-collect, but operates as a broad building materials retailer rather than paint specialist.
- Homebase: UK home and garden improvement retailer carrying paint alongside broader DIY and garden categories. Comparable overlap in paint and decorating supplies but without The Paint Shed's specialist trade and colour-matching positioning.
Regional players
- Leyland SDM: London-focused decorators' merchant with ~70 stores across Greater London and South East. Comparable as a trade paint specialist with multi-store footprint and expert staff, but concentrated in a different UK geography than The Paint Shed's northern cluster.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Paint Shed social profiles
Digital presenceThe Paint Shed financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Paint Shed leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Paint Shed funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Paint Shed M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Paint Shed
What does The Paint Shed do?
The Paint Shed is an independent UK paint retailer that sells trade paint, designer paint, woodcare products, specialist paint, and decorating tools through its e-commerce platform and 24 physical stores. It provides in-store colour-matching services, a Paint Calculator, Product Finder, Click & Collect, and a bulk-buying programme (100L+) for trade customers. The company positions itself as the UK's most recommended independent paint retailer, stocking brands such as Dulux Trade, Farrow & Ball, Johnstone's Trade, Crown Trade, Benjamin Moore, Little Greene, Sadolin, and Osmo.
Is The Paint Shed a public or private company?
The Paint Shed is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was The Paint Shed founded?
The Paint Shed was founded in 2010. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The Paint Shed based?
The Paint Shed is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Paint Shed make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Retail Paint Sales are the primary driver. The others are bulk Paint Orders.
Who are The Paint Shed's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Brewers Decorator Centres, Crown Decorating Centres, Dulux Decorator Centre and Johnstone's Decorating Centre. Emerging players are Farrow & Ball and Decorating Centre Online. Broad incumbents are B&Q, Wickes and Homebase. Leyland SDM is listed as a regional player.
Does The Paint Shed have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Paint Shed.
What industry is The Paint Shed in?
The Paint Shed's product category is Paint Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAIADAF, Paint, Stain & Finishes Retail (Coatings, Sundries). Its NAICS code is 444120 and its SIC code is 5200.