__________________________________________________________________ Color
Communications Innovations
techniques , fostering a collaborative approach by working closely with its customers to ensure their satisfaction . Tom describes the range of services and products offered by the company . “ The color tools we provide are meticulously matched to the colors chosen by our customers either online or in any of our 3500 nationwide retail stores . Instead of being given small color chips with limited options , customers can obtain an eight-inch by eightinch color-matched sheet when they visit our stores . These sheets are peel-and-stick , enabling customers to stick them to their wall to visualize the color and determine if it meets their preferences before committing to purchasing a pot of paint . We recognize that colors may appear differently on a monitor compared to in real life . By offering this unique combination of product and service , our goal is to bridge the gap between the online and physical worlds .
“ We obtained the patent for our peeland-stick swatches process 20 years ago , although we only began producing larger versions approximately five years ago . Prior to that , we manufactured smaller one-inch color chips that were on cards . This idea originated
from observing many companies getting into online paint distribution . Witnessing this trend inspired us to provide assistance tailored to their online endeavors . For instance , we would obtain a sample from a company and manufacture their paint according to their specific standards . That way , we can match the color sample perfectly ,” he explains .
The re-marketing of the patent led to a new business venture focused on direct-toconsumer operations . This transition involved significant changes to CCI ’ s business model , primarily driven by software developments . “ To meet the demands of our online orders , we developed specialized software that enables our customers to select their desired colors and have the peel-and-stick sheets shipped directly to their doorstep . Additionally , the software plays a crucial role in fulfilling our orders when a specific color runs out at one of our stores . In such cases , we promptly replenish the store ’ s stock . This inventory management functionality of the software ensures that all colors remain consistently available and in stock . Another significant component of our software development efforts is our visualizer , which we launched this
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