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1866
Henry A. Sherwin and Edward P. Williams first establish The Sherwin-Williams Company.
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1870
Henry A. Sherwin becomes Sherwin-Williams first Chief Executive Officer.
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1873
A high-quality oil-based paint called “Guaranteed Strictly Pure Raw Umber in Oil,” also known as the first ready-mixed paint, was first introduced to the market.
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1877
Sherwin-Williams patents the first resealable paint can.
History
A legacy built on a single can of paint and a vision for the future.
Our History
The defining moments of our legacy.
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1884
Sherwin-Williams makes history by hiring Percy Neyman, the first chemist ever employed by an American paint manufacturer.
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1885
The Company’s stockholders receive first dividend.
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1888
Sherwin-Williams purchases the Calumet Paint Company of Chicago, the Company’s first plant outside of Cleveland.
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1890
Sherwin-Williams introduces a line of marine finishes.
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1892
Sherwin-Williams merges with Walter H. Cottingham Co., marking Sherwin-Williams first international presence in Montreal, Canada.
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1903
Sherwin-Williams establishes an office in London which gave the Company increased access to Canada, and its first presence in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India and China.
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1905
Sherwin-Williams debuts its iconic “Cover the Earth” logo, replacing the previously-used Chameleon logo.
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1907
The Company’s revenues top $10 million.
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1909
Walter H. Cottingham becomes Sherwin-Williams second Chief Executive Officer after Henry Sherwin’s retirement.
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1916
Sherwin-Williams celebrates 50 years.
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1922
George A. Martin becomes the Company’s third Chief Executive Officer.
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1923
The Company introduces its Household Painting Guide, a decoration guide promising to help readers “stop making mistakes in painting.”
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1925
Sherwin-Williams is first traded on the American Stock Exchange.
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1928
The Company introduces the first synthetic aviation coatings, used on some of the most historic flights of the 20th century, including Charles Lindbergh’s first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
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1929
First Latin American region store opens in Mexico City, Mexico.
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1937
Sherwin-Williams revenues reach $100 million.
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1940
Arthur W. Steudel becomes Sherwin-Williams fourth Chief Executive Officer.
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1941
Sherwin-Williams chemists create Kem-Tone, a fast-drying and washable water-based paint for household use. The Company also introduces the Roller-Koater applicator that same year.
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1943
Sherwin-Williams hires first female employees as fillers and cappers to keep the production line going during World War II.
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1959
Sherwin-Williams introduces the Kem Colormeter Mixing Machine, giving customers the opportunity to customize paint colors.
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1960
Earnest C. Baldwin becomes the Company’s fifth Chief Executive Officer.
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1961
The Company develops the paint can shaker, which was used to help mix five-gallon containers, giving customers the ability to buy paint in larger quantities.
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1962
Sales of Kem-Tone pass the 100-million-gallon mark, a record unrivaled by any paint product on the market.
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1963
Sherwin-Williams introduces Acrylyd®, an automotive finish resistant to chips and scratches.
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1964
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
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1966
Sherwin-Williams celebrates 100 years.
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1969
Walter O. Spencer becomes Sherwin-Williams sixth Chief Executive Officer.
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1977
Sales top $1 billion.
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1979
John G. “Jack” Breen becomes the Company’s seventh Chief Executive Officer.
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1982
Sherwin-Williams develops the Management Training Program (MTP), a leadership development program designed to bolster the Company’s talent pipeline.
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1992
Sherwin-Williams opens its 2,000th store.
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1994
Sherwin-Williams becomes an official sponsor of Major League Baseball and is the designated coatings supplier for several new ballparks including Jacobs Field in Cleveland and The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas.
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1995
Sherwin-Williams sponsors its own nationally broadcast television show, Room by Room, on the new Home and Garden Network.
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1999
Christopher M. Connor becomes Sherwin-Williams eighth Chief Executive Officer.
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2001
Sherwin-Williams donates 10,000 gallons to help repaint the Pentagon after 9/11.
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2006
Sherwin-Williams opens its 3,000th store.
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2009
Sherwin-Williams produces its billionth gallon of architectural paint in Garland, Texas.
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2011
Sherwin-Williams introduces Harmony® Interior Latex paint, an environmentally sustainable, zero-VOC formula that helps promote better indoor air quality.
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2013
Sales top $10 billion.
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2014
Partnership with HGTV is announced, and paint line HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is launched for exclusive sale in Lowe’s stores.
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2014
Sherwin-Williams opens 4,000th store.
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2015
Sherwin-Williams launches Paint Shield™, the first EPA-registered paint with the power to kill bacteria.
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2016
John G. Morikis becomes the Company’s ninth Chief Executive Officer.
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2016
Sherwin-Williams celebrates 150 years.
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2017
Sherwin-Williams acquires Valspar, the largest acquisition in the Company’s history.
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2018
Sherwin-Williams introduces ColorSnap® Visualizer App, instantly lets you “try on” paint colors on your own walls, match colors to a photo and identify coordinating colors for your space.
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2020
Sherwin-Williams develops Emerald® Rain Refresh™, a self-cleaning exterior coating.
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2020
Sherwin-Williams announces intent to build its new global headquarters in downtown Cleveland, Ohio and new Research and Development Center in a nearby suburb of Brecksville, Ohio.
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2021
Sherwin-Williams announces Living Well™ Collection with expanded SuperPaint® line that possesses air purifying and sanitizing technologies.
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2024
Heidi G. Petz becomes the Company’s tenth Chief Executive Officer.