Email
Print
Feed
Lloyd's under new management
Lloyd’s Paint ‘N Paper continues on after the retirement of Dan and Cheri Gould, longtime owners and managers of the Woodstock store, 114 N. Benton St.
For more than 50 years, the store has offered personalized service and a customer service first approach. Dan’s younger brother, Al Gould, who had primarily managed the Crystal Lake location, has taken over both stores. That doesn’t mean customers won’t see familiar faces at the Woodstock location, however.
Beth Laing and Bruce Christian, the design consultant and sales associate, respectively, are co-managing the store, Al said. Vickie Peter continues as the interior designer for both locations.
“They’ve been working up there for quite some time,” Al said. “We’re really happy. They’ve stepped up and taken ownership of the responsibilities.”
Each of the employees has worked at Lloyd’s for more than a decade and share the Goulds’ passion for making more than just a single sale.
“It’s not just a customer,” Christian said. “We want to build a long-lasting relationship.”
Al said he tries to instill a strong customer focus into his employees. He said the stores use a computer system to record past customer purchases as a way to help maintain those relationships.
“That way you don’t have to store an empty paint can in your basement forever,” Al said.
Christian said the Goulds have long given him and the staff the opportunity to learn the nuts and bolts of running the business.
“I’ve had past experience learning how to deal with our vendors,” Christian said. “I always listened and had an ear open.”
When asked what they like most about working at Lloyd’s, Laing said knowing that she’s helped a customer improve their home. She said it is a special feeling when they return to the store with photos of the completed project.
Lloyd’s Paint ‘N Paper is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The store can be reached at 815-338-1180 or online at www.lloydspaint.com. The company's Facebook page can be found here.
