about us
RETAIL | WHOLESALE | EXPORT
Steeped in an established tradition of the finest finishes and colour coatings since 1989, Midas Earthcote has now produced a retail destination brand with the same unchanging proven principles
As part of its strategic re-alignment, Kansai have released Midas Earthcote as an exclusive channel to market allowing them to now pursue their own retail path, independently. Hence the newly named Paintsmiths personifies the core values of Midas’ innovative, solution-based products and service distinction and Earthcote’s range of luxury finishes, extending this into a must-have, affordable and accessible product range, available in an uniquely engaging retail space.
As long-standing paint merchants with a lifetime of collective knowledge from the leading paint experts Midas, Earthcote and Kansai Plascon, and with roots deep in the trade and customer experience, Paintsmiths are delighted to now offer an innovative, consumer-friendly, retail destination which addresses all your quality, price, service and convenience coating needs in a series of bespoke, solution-based stores.
Paintsmiths now builds on this deep experience and history of proven product innovation and customer service to both the trade and retail customer, and are excited about delivering the highest quality, most versatile offering in an accessible, user-friendly retail environment underpinned by two leading paint brands, Midas and Earthcote: bringing you a century-old tradition of trust, service excellence and continued product innovation at affordable prices.
Treating our new retail spaces as a place for the local community to find practical, trusted and affordable home solutions. Paintsmiths stores challenge the norm of your typical paint and hardware outlet on every level. Here the point of departure is a trusted communal space that stocks less of everything but more of a higher quality.
We are here to make painting easier
Our stores sell products to help you paint things better, with more eco-wise coatings. All our paints at Paintsmiths are rated by our Green Filter, clearly indicating VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and other chemical content. We believe in being transparent – we want to give you healthier, more ethical choices.
Aspirational affordability offered with a sincere service initiative wrapped in a fresh and light physical environment complementing our new product offering
Together Midas and Earthcote have been able to fine-tune customer service excellence and focus on new product development, which are the same exacting values and standards you will find now entrenched in the Paintsmiths brand
Our Heritage
| 1948 | Barney Mark opened a general hardware store in Brixton called Barney’s, which supplied post-World War II Limewash and chalk paints. |
| 1972 | Hendrik Marais bought the shop. Barney’s became a specialised paint supplier and started to expand on a franchise base. Higher quality paints replaced earlier versions and paint tins were stocked in store for the first time. |
| 1980’s | Barney’s launched their own paint brands as colour started to play a more prominent role with consumers. A trend-shift took place and people started to paint for appearance and as an expression of individuality, rather than simply out of necessity. |
| 1989 | Midas Paints Pty Ltd was launched as a new paint manufacturer: being made up of a selection of ex-directors and staff from Vadek. |
| 1997 | An association was formed between various independent retail outlets, creating a big footprint in the Western Cape. |
| 1998 | Midas took on board the Earthcote brand. |
| 1999 | A franchise model was formed with the sale of the majority shares to minority shareholders. |
| 2000 | The independent businesses were aligned into the broader franchise model. |
| 2001 | The Midas Earthcote brand expanded throughout South Africa. |
| 2006 | Midas Paints Pty Ltd was sold to the Barloworld Group. |
| 2008 | Barloworld Coatings was unbundled, and Freeworld Coatings was established. |
| 2010 | Barney’s Blackheath incorporated the Paintsmiths Brand. |
| 2012 | Freeworld Coatings was taken over by the Kansai Paint Co from Japan. |
| 2014 | Kansai Paint Co released Midas Earthcote as an exclusive channel to the decorative paint market in South Africa and accordingly the Paintsmiths Buying Group was launched. |
| 2019 | Paintsmiths launched its first one of a kind concept store in Kramerville. This exhibition space of colours and textured finishes introduced a ground-breaking approach to both paint products, and consumer interaction. |
our Services
ON-SITE CONSULTATION
We’ll come to you to do a professional audit of your paint-job requirements – including a colour consultation.
PROFESSIONAL SPECIFICATION SERVICES
Our stores are experienced in providing detailed specifications for any painting procedure – and it’s included in the price of the product that you purchased from the store.
3RD PARTY QUALITY ASSURERS
For a small premium, Midas products like Steracon and Triplon come with a lifespan and performance guarantee. These products are independently audited by external quality assurers during application and during the lifespan of the coating. We will ensure that the 3rd party involvement is in place when you buy into any of these technical coatings.
SKILLED APPLICATOR RECOMMENDATIONS
We will recommend skilled applicator teams for our plaster-type products. Please ask us to refer you – the look and performance of your wall depends on skilled application.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? CONTACT US ON +27 (0) 11 478 2686 | blackheath@paintsmiths.net | kramerville@paintsmiths.net | FREE CONSULTATIONS IN STORE ON ALL OUR PRODUCTS
