Press Room

August 15, 2007

Now Delighting Two of the Five Senses, New Scented Ceiling Paint Offers a Fresh, Clean, Relaxing Scent

Cleveland, Ohio — As Dutch Boy enters its 100th year as the provider of innovative and high-quality paint products, it's delivering yet another industry first with the introduction of Scented Ceiling Solution™ II. Specially formulated with a clean, relaxing scent, this interior ceiling paint has easy-to-use benefits, such as spatter resistance and one-coat coverage, plus a delightful scent that's certain to add a little extra life to any room.

With the development of Scented Ceiling Solution II, the painting process and finished project can now be as enjoyable to consumers' noses, as it is to their eyes. By offering a pleasant scent, consumers can avoid that “paint smell” during the painting process. Additionally, consumers can take pleasure in the refreshing scent for up to three months after they complete their painting project as the scent slowly dissipates.

Scents are in, and today's consumers are taking notice. They're savvier than ever before when it comes to making sure their emotional and physical needs are met, and they're much more attuned to the small pleasures that ensure well-being. This can be seen in the popularity of aromatherapy and mood-changing scents that delight the senses, including the fresh, new scent found in Scented Ceiling Solutions II.

With Scented Ceiling Solution II, both DIYers and professional painters also have an easy way to achieve a smooth, even coat of soft white color on their ceilings. The paint is spatter resistant and helps eliminate lap or roller marks.

For additional convenience, Dutch Boy Scented Ceiling Solution II is available in Dutch Boy's Twist & Pour™ paint container that features a re-sealable twist-off lid eliminating the need for screwdrivers, paint keys or other tools often used to open paint cans. This all-plastic container is lightweight and durable, with an inset side handle for easy carrying.

For more information on Dutch Boy products, or to locate a Dutch Boy retailer, log on to www.dutchboy.com, or call 1.800.828.5669.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: For high-resolution digital images of Dutch Boy's products or logos, please contact Julie Brosien at 216-696-0229, or via e-mail atjbrosien@fallscommunications.com.<

May 10, 2007

Top Brand Touts Anniversary with ‘Something New. Something Blue. Something You'

Cleveland, Ohio …In the ‘Color Answer' book by Leatrice Eiseman, the color Blue is the overwhelmingly favorite color of most Americans — at more than 42 percent.

The color Blue is associated with the ocean, the sky. It's seen as trustworthy, dependable committed.

Blue affects us in a calming and sedate manner, it has a cool presence, and it's known for its intuition factor.

It's even the least gender-specific color out there, appealing to both women and men.

Common, positive references to Blue include the Blue Ribbon (first place, highest quality), True Blue (loyal and faithful), Blue Plate (special of the day), or a Blueprint (a detailed design or an idea).

Blue is also the color most associated with Dutch Boy Paint, one of the coating industry leading brands that celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. In recent surveys the company reports that when questioned about their awareness of the brand, and what color most comes to mind, almost 80-percent of consumer respondents immediately noted the color Blue.

No doubt, they associated this hue to the brand's iconic mascot, the blue-eyed, blond character, dressed in wooden shoes, blue overalls and cap (also known as ‘The Kid'), as he too, celebrated 100 years as the symbol of quality paint. But they probably also recalled the dark blue labels sported by its most popular product, Dirtfighter®, which has been a part of successful painting projects since 1976.

Colors have long been associated with brands: Coca Cola and Red; Owens-Corning and Pink; McDonald's and the Golden Arches; Starbucks and Green; and of course, who wouldn't recognize that Robin's Egg Blue box as a special gift from Tiffany's?

“When it comes to corporate and brand colors, the correct color is imperative to not only set your brand apart, but to reassure customers and build loyalty,” said Adam Chafe, Dutch Boy Vice President, Marketing. “A brand can be immediately defined by its signature color, and that can be as important to consumers as the look of its logo, its packaging and even its name-brand equity.”

Since 1907, Dutch Boy® Paint has been one of the most recognizable and trusted paint brands in the United States. The original Dutch Boy painting was created by Lawrence Michael Earl. The model was a nine-year old New Jersey boy named Michael Brady who possessed the perfect features for the Dutch Boy Paint image.

The Dutch Boy logo underwent at least nine face lifts over the years, keeping his overalls, cap and traditional Dutch hairstyle. The original Dutch Boy image was revived in 1987 and is currently used today. But even with the changes, there was always one constant in ‘The Kid's look: the color Blue.

To celebrate its special anniversary, Dutch Boy is expanding on ‘The Blues' by bringing three other products in new, all blue labels on its packages: its Dimensions® line (upscale collection of unique finishing techniques); Classic One® and updated Dirtfighter packaging. It's even featuring a new blue label on its latest paint innovation, Scented Ceiling Solution II™, a new, pleasantly scented ceiling coating.

But while consumers associate Dutch Boy with the color blue, they have long associated it with a series of paint product quality, most recently, with simple innovations. The latter include: the unique ‘Twist & Pour®' paint container, an all-plastic gallon that features an easy twist-off, twist-on lid; the Ready-to-Roll™ 2-1/2 gallon, project-sized paint tray; the Color Simplicity™ paint selection system, the easiest and most complete system that takes the pain out of paint selection; and a breakthrough partnership with Crayola®, featuring a special 96-color palette of exclusive Crayola Kid's Room colors.

One-hundred years of product quality, innovative solutions and a better than 92 percent consumer awareness level sets the stage for Dutch Boy's next 100 years — and have those at the brand — including The Kid — not only excited for what's coming up next, but pretty confident they won't be “singing the blues.”

For more information on Dutch Boy products, or to locate a Dutch Boy retailer, log on to www.dutchboy.com, or call 1.800.828.5669.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: For high-resolution digital images of Dutch Boy's products or logos, please contact Julie Brosien at 216-696-0229, or via e-mail atjbrosien@fallscommunications.com.<

April 29, 2007

Top Industry Brand Celebrates 100th Anniversary; Still Providing Consumers With Innovative Products and Decorating Solutions

Cleveland, Ohio - Since 1907 Dutch Boy® Paint has been one of the most recognizable and trusted paint brands in the United States. The Dutch Boy icon was originally created to symbolize a superior method for creating paint products known as the "Dutch Process." The Dutch Process originated in 16th Century Holland and originally referred to the way the Dutch impeccably maintained the exteriors of their home. This, in turn, served to set the standard for paint quality and beauty for centuries.

In the competitive world of product image-making, Dutch Boy is one trademark that has kept step with the marketplace. This year, the blue-eyed, blond character, dressed in wooden shoes, blue overalls and cap (also known as 'The Kid'), celebrates 100 years as the symbol of quality paint.

The original Dutch Boy painting was created by Lawrence Michael Earl. The model was a nine-year old New Jersey boy named Michael Brady who possessed the perfect features for the Dutch Boy Paint image. The Dutch Boy logo underwent at least nine face lifts over the years, keeping his overalls, cap and traditional Dutch hairstyle. The original Dutch Boy image was revived in 1987 and is currently used today.

Legend has it that the youth was instructed to wear the Dutch Boy costume for several days prior to the initial sitting so that the clothes might acquire a "lived in" look.

The personality that was captured on the artist's canvas was an immediate success. "Through several generations, 'The Kid' has continued to portray the quality that makes Dutch Boy paints distinctive and unique,” said Adam Chafe, Dutch Boy Vice President of Marketing. "Even today, the Dutch Boy logo is an art form that doubles as a marketing tool. It creates immediate brand awareness and draws in loyal consumers which naturally, is the most important function of a product symbol.”

“A recently concluded consumer research study revealed that 96-percent of consumers interviewed recognize Dutch Boy as a paint brand,” Chafe continued. "Consumers want assurance of product quality and well-established, identifiable brands build confidence because they impart a consistent, familiar degree of product reliability.”

Over the years, the brand has had a number of industry-firsts: In 1960, Dutch Boy Paint began marketing exterior latex paint. Dutch Boy introduced an exterior latex which, when mixed with the appropriate additive (a primer-like product), created one of the first one coat exterior applications.

By 1976, Dutch Boy concentrated its efforts on the national paint market. With the introduction of the Dirt Fighter® product family, and the campaign slogan "The paint that fights dirt and wins,” Dutch Boy aggressively attracted the do-it-yourself painter. The ad campaign emphasized high-quality ingredients and the superior results one would achieve with Dirt Fighter.

In 1977, ELT Inc. bought the Dutch Boy brand and immediately changed its name to Dutch Boy, Inc. The Sherwin-Williams Company purchased the assets of Dutch Boy Paint from Dutch Boy Inc. in 1980.

In 1993 Dutch Boy introduced Kid's Room® paint – a special coating product designed specifically to provide extra durability and washability in those rooms where parents truly needed a performance-based product.

As the brand approached 100 - and reaching such 'an advanced age' - you may not think of Dutch Boy as a recent innovator in the marketplace…

Being one to hardly rest on its laurels, the brand has been busier than ever, bringing a host of new products and packaging breakthroughs with its commitment to quality and simple innovations. In 2002, Dutch Boy introduced the 'Twist & Pour®' paint container, an all-plastic gallon that features an easy twist-off, twist-on lid; then it introduced the Ready-to-Roll™ 2-1/2 gallons, project-sized paint tray, and last year, the Color Simplicity™ paint selection system, the easiest and most complete system that takes the pain out of paint selection. The latter introduction also included a breakthrough partnership with Crayola®, with a special 96-color palette of exclusive Crayola Kid's Room colors.

And for 2007, Dutch Boy just keeps on rolling, as it unveils two more innovative home decor market breakthroughs: Scented Ceiling Solutions II (a new, pleasantly scented ceiling coating); and its poster-sized, actual paint Dimensions Color Samples that are large, 17.5-inch x 24-inch sized, so consumers can actually see and live with their choice of colors before they actually buy and paint.

With all this innovation, and showing no signs of slowing down after 100 years, Dutch Boy continues to be an industry leader in delivering quality paint products and innovative solutions while continuing to be one of the most recognizable brands in the market today – you might just say The Kid's still alright.

For more information on Dutch Boy products, or to locate a Dutch Boy retailer, log on to www.dutchboy.com, or call 1.800.828.5669.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: For high-resolution digital images of Dutch Boy's products or logos, please contact Julie Brosien at 216-696-0229, or via e-mail atjbrosien@fallscommunications.com.<

January 1, 2007

Information about Dutch Boy Group: Who We Are and What We've Done

Who

Founded in 1907 and celebrating its 100th anniversary, Dutch Boy continues to be an industry leader in delivering innovative and high-quality paint products and packaging solutions, and is one of the most recognizable brands in the market. Dutch Boy is a part of The Sherwin-Williams Company® Diversified Brands Division.

What

Dutch Boy Simple Innovations
Crayola® colors tinted in Dutch Boy Kid's Room Paint
Color Simplicity color selection system
Ready to Roll™ project-sized paint container
Twist & Pour® gallon and quart paint containers
Ceiling Solution Color Transforming Ceiling Paint
DIMENSIONS® Techniques & Unique Finishes
Dirt Fighter® Interior and Exterior Paints

Dutch Boy has been used on some very prestigious jobs, including:

• The Hollywood Sign
• The White House
• The Golden Gate Bridge
• Disney World
• U.S. Naval battleships and aircraft carriers

Where

Headquarters:

Dutch Boy
101 Prospect Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
216.566.2000
800.542.8468
www.dutchboy.com

Media Spokespersons

Adam Chafe, Vice President, Marketing
Donna Schroeder, Color Marketing & Design Specialist

For more information on Dutch Boy products, or to locate a Dutch Boy retailer, log on to www.dutchboy.com, or call 1.800.828.5669.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: For high-resolution digital images of Dutch Boy's products or logos, please contact Julie Brosien at 216-696-0229, or via e-mail atjbrosien@fallscommunications.com.<

January 1, 2007

Cleveland, Ohio — When do you change the décor of your child's bedroom — particularly from the ‘kid' room to that of a ‘teen'? It can be as early as when they turn eight or nine these days, according to Donna Schroeder, Dutch Boy Paints Color Marketing & Design Specialist.

“Kids are very sophisticated today, but every child is different,” said Schroeder. “The trend seems to be creating rooms that are a little more grown up, and often times, complement the overall decor of the home.”

One important point to note is that parents should always get the input of the child when designing a space for them. After all, it's going to be the child's special place, and they should have the right — within reason — to have a say in the colors selected, as well as input in the overall design motif.

In fact, notes Schroeder, this is an excellent opportunity to build a bonding experience with children. By listening to their ideas, you will learn more about them and create a stronger connection.

“The impact of decorating one's own space, particularly on children, becomes evident in so many facets of a child's life,” says Dr. Susan H. Turben, a nationally-recognized child development expert. “It teaches them creativity, responsibility and respect for a job well done. It also provides for a wonderful opportunity to work together with parents or siblings.”

One of the ways to first get a child involved with the decorating process is to choose colors together or perhaps have the child draw what he or she would like his or her room to look like. One of the great tools for this method is the result of a new partnership between Crayola® and Dutch Boy Paints®. The new Dutch Boy Color Simplicity paint selection system features a new palette that includes Crayola colors tinted in Dutch Boy Kids' Room Paint. This palette offers 96 vibrant colors and includes an actual coloring book and suggested room illustrations that kids themselves can color in to get just the right design they envision.

“We are very excited about this new collaboration with Crayola, as now both parents and their children can get involved in the painting process,” said Adam Chafe, Dutch Boy Vice President, Marketing. “Crayola is a strong brand that will connect with consumers. This partnership will offer creative ways for consumers to find the right paint solution for their needs, as well as get their children involved so that they can be enthused about the project and ultimately happy with the end result.”

Dutch Boy's Color Simplicity paint selection system makes selecting color easier than ever before. In particular, 16 Crayola color combination and inspiration cards help adults and their children select the right hue and visualize decor options, from soft pastels and nursery-type colors to primary colors, as well as color combinations that will grow with your child's tastes. This unique approach is sure to generate the child's enthusiasm for the family project.

“Just as parents look forward their baby's or children's rooms, this is an excellent opportunity to let the child begin to develop his or her own identity, as they help design their own living space,” adds Dr. Turben. “By making choices and creating the space together, the entire family can enjoy the journey and the end result.”

For more information on Dutch Boy products, or to locate a Dutch Boy retailer, log on to www.dutchboy.com, or call 1.800.828.5669.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: For high-resolution digital images of Dutch Boy's products or logos, please contact Julie Brosien at 216-696-0229, or via e-mail atjbrosien@fallscommunications.com.<

January 1, 2007

Crayola® Overview

For more than 100 years, Crayola products have provided fun and imaginative ways for children to colorfully express themselves. With products like Crayola Color Explosion™, mess-free Color Wonder™, Erasable Markers™, Twistables™ and Washable crayons, markers and paints, Crayola brings children innovative arts and crafts materials that let them create the art of childhood.

Crayola, with more than 1,100 employees, has major sales offices in the United States, Canada, Australia and Mexico. The company operates distributorships in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and other parts of the world.

Did you know…

Crayola produces nearly three billion crayons each year, an average of 12 million daily. That's enough to circle the globe six times!

Most Crayola crayon color names are taken from the U.S. Commerce Department's National Bureau of Standards book called “Color: Universal Language and Dictionary of Names.” Many crayon names are also borrowed from traditional artists' paints.

Noticing a need for safe, quality, affordable wax crayons, the company produced the first box of eight Crayola crayons, selling for a nickel in 1903. The Crayola name, coined by Edwin Binney's wife Alice, comes from “craie,” the French word for chalk, and “ola,” from “oleaginous.”

After counting more than 25,000 votes cast by Crayola crayon fans of all ages in the Crayola Color Census 2000, the final tally revealed that Americans' favorite Crayola crayon color is blue. In fact, six other shades of blue finished in the Top 10 including cerulean, midnight blue, aquamarine, periwinkle, denim and blizzard blue. Other colors rounding out the Top 10 list included purple heart, caribbean green and cerise.

For more information on Dutch Boy products, or to locate a Dutch Boy retailer, log on to www.dutchboy.com, or call 1.800.828.5669.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: For high-resolution digital images of Dutch Boy's products or logos, please contact Julie Brosien at 216-696-0229, or via e-mail atjbrosien@fallscommunications.com.<

January 1, 2007

Brands Combine for New Color Solutions Perfect for Babies, Toddlers, Tweens and Their Parents, Too!

Cleveland, Ohio — It seems like just when the paint dries on the nursery, your child's room is ready for a new wall color or theme. It's true — because on average a child's room is repainted or redecorated four times before he or she is 14. A new partnership between Dutch Boy® and Crayola® is designed to make all these decorating stages fun and easy.

The new Dutch Boy Color Simplicity paint selection system now features special Crayola colors that help alleviate the growing pains associated with decorating your child's room, from infant to toddler to tween. A total of 96 colors complete the palette. Colors are presented on unique 2.5” x 4” crayon-shaped chips, creating an eye-catching point-of-purchase display of vibrant color.

Now, both you and your child can get involved in the painting project. Sixteen color combination and inspiration cards help adults and their children select the right hue and visualize decor options, from soft pastels and nursery-type colors to primary colors, as well as color combinations that will grow with your child's tastes. These oversized cards include a project-completed room photo on one side and an illustrated design on the other that allows your child to take an active role in the selection process. This unique approach is sure to generate the child's enthusiasm for the family project.

“We are very excited about this new collaboration with Crayola and refer to it as ‘two brands that play well together,'” said Adam Chafe, Dutch Boy Vice President, Marketing. “It is a strong collaboration that will connect with consumers. This partnership will offer creative ways for consumers to find the right paint solution for their needs, as well as get their children involved so that they're happy with the end result.”

The program is a perfect fit to showcase Dutch Boy Kids' Room Paint: the first-ever, low-odor coating launched and targeted toward this specific market. It was developed to withstand washing, rubbing and staining, so drawings, smears, spills and fingerprints simply wipe off with a sponge while the color stays intact.

Dutch Boy Kids' Room Paint is so durable, washable and resilient that it stands up to practically any mess kids can create. The paint's low-odor formula has passed more than 70 performance tests to ensure maximum stain resistance and worry-free maintenance.

Kids' Room Paint is available in Dutch Boy's Twist & Pour™ paint container that features a re-sealable twist-off lid eliminating the need for screwdrivers, paint keys or other tools often used to open paint cans. This all-plastic container is lightweight and durable, with an inset side handle for easy carrying. One gallon of Kids' Room Paint covers 400 square feet.

Following on the heels of innovations such as the Twist & Pour container and the Ready to Roll™ project-sized paint tray, the Crayola partnership is showcased in Dutch Boy's Color Simplicity system and is the latest solution to join the Simple Innovations product lineup of home decorating offerings.

For more information on Dutch Boy products, or to locate a Dutch Boy retailer, log on to www.dutchboy.com, or call 1.800.828.5669.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: For high-resolution digital images of Dutch Boy's products or logos, please contact Julie Brosien at 216-696-0229, or via e-mail atjbrosien@fallscommunications.com.<

January 1, 2007

Features a Low-Odor Formula and Provides Easy Cleanup

Cleveland, Ohio — Dutch Boy® Kids' Room Paint is so durable, washable and resilient that it stands up to practically any mess your kids can create. The paint features a unique, low-odor formula and has passed more than 70 performance tests to ensure maximum stain resistance and worry-free maintenance. The Dutch Boy palette offers 1,000 colors from soft, warm tones to bold hues for walls, ceilings, doors, trim and furniture.

Kids' Room Paint was developed to withstand washing, rubbing and staining so drawings, smears, spills and fingerprints simply wipe off with a sponge while the color stays intact.

“Because Dutch Boy Kids' Room Paint is less porous, it keeps grime and grease on the surface for easy cleanup,” said Adam Chafe, Dutch Boy Vice President, Marketing. “And since a kid's room tends to be redecorated up to four times before a child turns 14, this is the perfect room paint for infants, teens and any age in between.”

Kids' Room Paint is also recommended for use in the new partnership between Dutch Boy and Crayola® to create the exclusive palette of 96 special Crayola colors. It's all part of the new Color Simplicity paint selection system from Dutch Boy, which includes fun, unique color selection tools and color chips sure to generate the child's enthusiasm for a room makeover.

Dutch Boy Kids' Room Paint is available in the new Twist & Pour™ paint container which features a re-sealable twist-off lid eliminating the need for screwdrivers, paint keys or other tools often used to open paint cans. This all-plastic container is lightweight and durable, with an inset side handle for easy carrying. A gallon of Dutch Boy Kids' Room Paint covers 400 square feet and is made with the highest quality pigments for one-coat coverage to ensure a faster paint job.

For more information on Dutch Boy products, or to locate a Dutch Boy retailer, log on to www.dutchboy.com, or call 1.800.828.5669.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: For high-resolution digital images of Dutch Boy's products or logos, please contact Julie Brosien at 216-696-0229, or via e-mail atjbrosien@fallscommunications.com.<

January 1, 2007

Traditional Pinks and Blues Still Popular, but Many Other Colors Are on the Rise

Cleveland, Ohio &hmdash; According to American Baby magazine, a child is less likely to tire of a room scheme that contains several colors, often a mix of pink, blue, yellow, red and even green. So, if you were going to re-do your child's room in the near future, just what is the perfect color for kids these days? Are there particular colors that will actually help a baby's development? And when is the right time to change the decor from a nursery to a toddler setting; or when to switch from tween to teen décor?

Are (or should) a room's color patterns be influenced by the child's love of cartoons, movies, action figures and other pop culture? Or is that being too commercial for his or her own good?

Donna Schroeder, Dutch Boy Paints Color Marketing & Design Specialist, notes that “Of course kids love their cartoons and action heroes, but parents are savvy enough to know they can satisfy their child's interest in Sponge Bob, Spiderman or Barbie with a really cool pillow, play table or poster rather than doing an entire room in a fleeting theme. Kids' tastes change very quickly, so while you're probably going to redo his or her room periodically, stick with a good mix of pastels and then accessorize.”

And re-doing a kid's room periodically is just the half of it. New research shows that — on average — a child's room is redecorated or repainted at least four times by the time he or she is 14 years old. And that's a lot of effort if you're making over extremely intricate, themed rooms. It's much easier, timesaving and affordable to repaint or theme with paint.

Painting kids' rooms is a fun, easy and inexpensive way to update their living space. It's also important to involve your child in the decision process so he or she can help create a memorable space to call his or her own.

To assist, Crayola® and Dutch Boy® have created a partnership designed to make all these decorating stages fun and easy with a complete, 96-color palette of Crayola colors tinted in Dutch Boy Kids' Room Paint. It is part of the new Color Simplicity paint selection system from Dutch Boy, and it includes a number of fun, unique color selection tools and color chips sure to generate the child's enthusiasm for a room makeover.

The new Crayola colors for kids' rooms allow parents and children to work together in creating a special room for the child. The Crayola palette features a vast selection of colors, along with 16 recommended room themes and designs. This allows the parent and the child to be creative and unique in the color scheme they want to use.

But is there a right color or colors to choose? According to Schroeder, deciding what colors to paint a kid's room need not be overwhelming. She notes that a little forethought and some fundamental knowledge on color selection are all that's required. In particular, she notes the following colors are attributed with different, positive emotions, and can either be combined in families of complementing hues or as accent colors:

• Red: Excitement, energy, love, warmth, power
• Orange: Energy, sunshine, youth, warmth, tropics
• Yellow: Joy, happiness, cheerfulness, idealism
• Green: Nature, environment, healing, restful, peace
• Blue: Peace, pure, calm, harmony, clean
• Purple: Wealth, noble, luxurious, wisdom
• Brown: Earthy, homey, organic, comfort, stability
• White: Light, clean, pure, new beginnings
• Gray: Security, reliable, conservative, dependable
• Black: Strength, elegance, power, mystery, wealth

For more information on Dutch Boy products, or to locate a Dutch Boy retailer, log on to www.dutchboy.com, or call 1.800.828.5669.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: For high-resolution digital images of Dutch Boy's products or logos, please contact Julie Brosien at 216-696-0229, or via e-mail atjbrosien@fallscommunications.com.<