CertaPro

CertaPro Painters is a family owned and operated franchise that services the Grand Strand and beyond. Spearheaded by Doug and Robin Bland, their company offers residential and commercial interior and exterior painting.

by Melissa LaScaleia CertaPro Painters is a local, family owned and operated franchise started by husband and wife team, Doug and Robin Bland. Ryan, their son, works as the residential sales associate; and Camden, their youngest son and a student at Coastal Carolina University, also helps out.  CertaPro Painters is one of 330 national franchises. They offer residential and commercial interior and exterior painting as well as kitchen and bathroom cabinetry refinishing, and some carpentry work. Refinishing is one of their most requested services, as the process typically costs a third of the price of new cabinets, and the results look brand new. They also offer hurricane preparation services.  “Right now we’re at the very beginning of hurricane season and we’re already at our sixth storm,” Doug says. “Painting your home is a vital way to protect it, because you’re sealing its surface; it’s not just to beautify it.”  Often, when people think of the damage inflicted by hurricanes, they think of projectiles and wind damage. But the majority of damage is due to flooding or water intrusion.  When painting a home, one of the services CertaPro provides is a thorough preparation of the surface, in which they conduct any needed carpentry repairs like rotting wood, loose pieces, or holes. All of these things are opportunities for greater damage down the road. Painting and tending to this beforehand can go a long way in getting ahead of the damage, and can often prevent it from occurring.  “It’s important too, if you use removable hurricane shutters, that you immediately tend to those holes created in the house after a storm to prevent rot,” Doug says. “And this is another area where we can fill in the blanks.”  CertaPro Painters services customers along the majority of the South Carolina coast, from Little River to North Charleston, including the inland areas of Conway, Longs, and Loris. In speaking about his company, Doug says, “We’re trying to change how the painting industry is done as a whole. One of our family members will manage a customer’s request from beginning to end, so the customer feels comfortable knowing that if they have any questions or problems, they’re working with one person who knows their situation instead of multiple channels and people. It gives them a voice.  “Your home is your biggest personal investment, and we like our customers to feel comfortable having us in it. All of our painters undergo background checks. We make sure they have access to all the latest tools and resources, and validate their skill level and assign them a project that is aligned with it.”  For Doug, having a personal approach in the day-to-day administration of what he does is what sets him apart and helps him build customers for life.   “We wanted a different spin on what the painting industry has traditionally been,” he shares. “We heard too many stories about people paying down payments in the thousands of dollars never to hear from the contractor again, or to not hear from them for many weeks, causing a great deal of anxiety.”  For this reason, CertaPro doesn’t require a deposit upfront for any of their projects. And they don’t require payment until they finish a project.  “We want our customers to know that we’re committed, will follow through, and will work hard to satisfy them,” Doug says.   Before CertaPro, Doug worked in business management for Xerox for 25 years, orchestrating large-scale million-dollar projects.  “Xerox was known as a worldwide leader in corporate training,” he says. “When I look at what made me a success at project management, it was because I cultivated qualities like accountability, creating a customer for life, and a disciplined approach; these are all key factors that translate from one industry to the next. As I looked to make a career change and be more involved in the local community that I loved, I looked for something that fit those core values.  “CertaPro fit in every aspect; they are different from your normal painting company. And in working with my team and customers every day, those values dictate how I run my business.”  John Pettry, CertaPro’s job-site supervisor, has been with the Myrtle Beach team since the beginning.  “He has a background as a Marine,” Doug says. “And his talent and skill level is unparalleled. I have yet to come across a skill or technique he cannot do. I have some customers who when they ask us to come back, will specially request John. He and his wife, Jenny, have been an integral part of our company, and we appreciate them so much.”  Camden works part-time at Sherwin Williams, where he’s learning a lot about the painting industry and has been a saving-grace for the family business.  There’s been a raw materials shortage with increased shipping delays since January, do to a big freeze that affected manufacturing headquarters in Texas, as well as challenges brought about by Covid. That shortage is ongoing, and will likely continue throughout the rest of the year.  “Camden has been instrumental in helping us to find creative solutions in meeting our customers’ needs for paints as well as the colors that they want,” Robin says. “His knowledge of colors and tints enabled him to create a custom color palette that was similar to what we were using before, that we could mix into a white base to get a variety of colors.”  “It’s a real team effort, what we do, but we accomplish it daily together,” Doug adds.  CertaPro Painters Myrtle Beach Facebook Instagram Globe Phone

Written by Melissa LaScaleia. She talks all about CertaPro and how they got started. A family owned and operated franchise, CertaPro Painters is one of 330 national franchises. They offer residential and commercial interior and exterior painting as well as kitchen and bathroom cabinetry refinishing, and some carpentry work.

We Do Paint, You Do Life by Melissa LaScaleia CertaPro Painters is a family owned and operated franchise that is new to the Myrtle Beach area. The company was started by husband and wife team, Doug and Robin Bland in 2019. Their son, Ryan, is working as the residential sales associate; their daughter, Taylor Teters, is the office administrator. “My father’s main goal in beginning this enterprise was to offer people professional service while positively contributing to the community, and leaving a legacy for his children and grandchildren,” Taylor says. “Recently, my brother and I have come on board to work with our parents to help get this off the ground.” CertaPro Painters does residential and commercial interior and exterior painting, as well as re-finishing and painting of kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and some carpentry work. They service people along the majority of the South Carolina coast, from Little River to North Charleston, including the inland areas of Conway, Longs, and Loris. “Our family has been vacationing in Myrtle Beach for the past twelve years, every year at Marina Inn at Grande Dunes,” Taylor says. “We rented the same condo every year. My dad first came to Myrtle Beach after college, and has been vacationing here ever since. My mother has vacationed here since she was a child. They both know and love this area.” As a young adult, Doug met Robin in his native Virginia and began a career in corporate America working for Xerox. The company relocated them to Columbia, South Carolina, but the two had a vision of moving to the beach. The CertPro team from left to right: Robin Bland, Doug Bland, Taylor Teters, Ryan Bland, and Camden Bland. — Photo Rachel Ogg/Latoya Grayson Several years ago, they did just that. Doug decided to leave his career of twenty-five years and began looking for a way to contribute more to his local community, the community that he loves so much. In exploring his options, Doug thought that CertaPro, with their values on professionalism, superior organization, and client-centered focus, would be the best fit for him. And they thought he’d be a great fit for their brand. “CertaPro is very thorough with their training,” Taylor says, “and very particular about whom they allow to partner with them because they want to maintain the high standards of their brand, and don’t want anybody to fail. They are staking you out as much as you’re staking them out.” When Doug first began, he worked as a one-man show until Taylor and Ryan were ready to come aboard. “We all moved here in stages,” Taylor says. “In 2013, I spent a year at Coastal Carolina University. I loved it here but missed my family so much, I moved back after a year. In 2017, my brother moved here to offer dolphin and jet ski tours. My youngest brother, Camden, is taking classes at HGTC currently and is expected to join the family business in the near future.” Part of Doug’s philosophy in giving back and paying kindness and service forward is exemplified by the way he runs his business. CertaPro goes the extra mile in everything that they do. If they see something broken that they can fix while they’re working in your home, they’ll take care of it for you. It’s all part of their pay it forward philosophy. “If someone has a problem and we can fix it, we do,” Taylor says. “We go the extra mile. Anything and everything that we see while we’re there painting, we’ll take care of. Whether it’s dusting a chandelier that nobody noticed, or fixing a leaking sink, it’s the small things that we notice and care about and do something about that really distinguish us from other companies. That’s what sets us apart.”  As part of their process, CertaPro will send out daily updates to keep clients informed about what was completed that day, and what the game plan is for the next day. “This is part of our CertaPro certainty pledge that shapes a customized service with you,” Taylor says. “We create a road map from start to finish so you can track our progress.” During COVID-19 restrictions, CertaPro is still open and functioning, as they are considered an essential business. In addition to providing hand sanitizer at every in-person estimate, the company has introduced virtual online estimates in which customers can send in pictures, measurements, and descriptions and receive a quote for their project. To ease their clients’ minds and ensure complete satisfaction, CertaPro enlists the aid of cleaning crews to come in and clean all areas that were touched during the project. “We’ve had great feedback,” Taylor says. “Our customers are pleased we’re going the extra mile to ensure their safety as well as our own. This is also a perfect time to schedule exterior paint jobs. We’re still following our goal— to improve the beach, one house at a time.” CertaPro Painters Globe Phone Facebook Instagram