Sherwin-Williams, a specialty retailer of painting supplies, has introduced ColorSnap, a new color system designed to help consumers and professionals select appropriate paint colors. The ColorSnap experience includes an in-store display, enhanced online and offline tools, and a collection of new paint colors.
ColorSnap starts rolling out this month and will be available in all 4,000 Sherwin-Williams stores across the U.S. and Canada by the end of January 2016. To develop the in-store display and simplify the color-selection process, Sherwin-Williams collaborated with IDEO, a design and innovation consultancy.
“With the ColorSnap system, we’ve created a completely new way to navigate color,” said Jackie Jordan, Director of Color Marketing of Sherwin-Williams. “Whether in their neighborhood Sherwin-Williams store, at home or on the go, ColorSnap provides a solution to easily explore and find color any way the consumer chooses.”
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The interactive ColorSnap Studio display groups color by family, (red, yellow, blue, etc.) and then by saturation level (bright to neutral). Each color family is set on one of 24 rotating panels, each including a curated selection of approximately 50 paint chips. The displays will serve as the centerpiece of every store, and will feature color chips that are approximately three inches in size. Consumers can take these chips home to see how specific colors will look in their space.
During the initial in-store testing phase, customers were empowered to find the paint color of their choosing in approximately 60% less time than with the previous display. Stores will include a central work area for customers to arrange and review their color choices, explore Sherwin-Williams color tools and interact with store experts. Customers also will be able to browse and take home nine new color guides and 12 postcards that are designed to inspire, educate and simplify color selection.
While in-store or on the go, consumers can consult the ColorSnap Visualizer app for iPhone, iPad and Android. With the app, consumers can use their phones to scan color chips and immediately access room scenes featuring that color, options for coordinating colors and more. ColorSnap Visualizer also can match a color in a photo to a specific Sherwin-Williams color, allowing users to virtually paint a room or simply browse details on the full range of Sherwin-Williams colors.
