A lucky shopper at Home Detail, 9 W. Madison Ave., will win $500 of in-store credit Dec. 23. Two others will win paint supplies.
Sign-up for the drawing is ongoing until prizes are awarded and will be a feature of a Christmas open house at the store Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cookies and hot apple cider will sustain shoppers.
Charlie and Roberta Johnson have owned the store since 1997, when they took over from Jerry and Betty Skidmore, who operated it as Skidmore Davis Paint the previous 33 years.
The Johnsons are eager for local folks to come by to see all that they have to offer and take advantage of the hometown shopping experience that the Johnsons make every effort to nurture.
“We have some good sales on paint supplies,” Charlie noted, pointing to complete painting outfits for homeowners priced at $19.99, down from the regular price of $33.91 and which would be a welcome Christmas gift for a do-it-yourselfer. For professional painters, the Johnsons have put together a more comprehensive painting outfit, priced at $99, a bargain compared to the original price of $120.66.
Ceiling paint is on sale for $12.99, $3.50 off the regular price, and primer/sealer is $14.99, a savings per gallon of $3.
“We have a good selection of painting equipment and all that is needed for a contractor to meet regulations for working in homes built before 1978,” Charlie said. Federal regulations meant to curb lead contamination in the older homes have been in effect since April.
Special drop cloths and plastic sheeting are required to cope with lead-based paints if a contractor does a job involving more than six square feet of wall or ceiling space.
“A homeowner doesn’t have to meet the requirements, but someone who has rentals does, even if he or she is doing the work,” Johnson said.
Along with plastic sheeting to seal off a project is a sticky mat for workers to walk across to remove lead-contaminated dust from shoes when they’re leaving a project. Home detail also has Tyvek coveralls, gloves and other necessities.
HOME DETAIL has a full line of Shiloh and Sequoia kitchen cabinets and Wood Pro bathroom vanities, along with Onyx showers and counter tops.
“We also have all types of floor coverings, including the new Mannington Adura Lock Solid brand that is floating — meaning no adhesive is needed — and just clicks together,” Charlie said. “You can cut it with a knife, it’s simple to put down, and it is waterproof.”
The Johnsons also carry Mannington Sobella heavy duty fiberglass vinyl floor covering, which also comes in a floating line, as well as ShawMark carpet.
As for paints, Home Detail has a full line of Old Masters paints and stains, one of the few stores in southeast Kansas that does, and also carries Davis Paint, made since 1924 in Kansas City.
Continuity within the store, from the Skidmores and Johnsons, is important to local paint customers.
They have paint mixing records going back to when the Skidmores started operating the store in 1964, which means the Johnsons can come up with exactly the right blend for a customer in a matter of seconds. That has been a blessing for many who come to the store with their paint needs. Customers tell the Johnsons that paint records are so true that even a small touchup may be done without any variation in old and new.
But, that is just the tip of the merchandising iceberg.
Home Detail has just about everything needed for interior improvements and upgrades for a home or business and a crew that can do the work in part or total for those aren’t handy or don’t have time to do the work themselves.
The Johnsons, having been in the business for years, also have knowledge to share with customers, to guide them when they come in to buy tools, drywall tape, paint or anything else.
Fact is Home Detail, with the shelves bulging with home improvement necessities, may be one of the best kept secrets in downtown Iola, a secret the Johnsons are eager to share.
The store will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays until Christmas. Saturday Home Detail will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will give a 20 percent discount on anything purchased in the store.
And for those who missed out on a terrific sale on Infrared Heating System portable heaters last Friday, another shipment is due in by Thursday’s open house. The Johnsons noted the heaters have potential to cut heating bills by 50 percent.
