Ross Custom Wall Finishes

Upon meeting Laura Ross, some people would be impressed by her intelligence, good humor and her ability to laugh.

When it comes to her career, Laura is a seriously talented artisan. She works primarily in the Buffalo, New York area, and has over 16 years in the painting industry and many satisfied clients.

Laura's perspective gives her the ability to laugh about some of the more "interesting" projects she has encountered.

Laura describes a near disasterous start to a kitchen remodeling project. "I was in the kitchen with the client, and when we moved the stove, we smelled gas, which was bad enough, but that wasn't all. When we went to take down the light fixture, it fell out of the ceiling," Laura says. "The homeowner was laughing too and about the time we said 'What else can happen', we moved the refrigerator and the door fell off."

With residential and commercial clients from ice cream parlors to fine homes to country clubs, Laura is happy with her career. Laura's work is impressive, especially since she didn't start off with the goal of becoming a painter.

Laura's career as a paralegal came to a halt as she realized that "I really didn't like most attorneys ."Another less-than-honest boss caused her to quit her next job.

"I made up fliers for my new painting business and started with no real plan," Laura recalls. "I took my nieces and nephews out and we put fliers in doors." As new clients called her, Laura said she would do "whatever people would pay me for," including straight painting, glazing and wallpaper hanging.

From her experience in starting a new business with no clients, Laura has some great advice for painting industry beginners. "Don't sell yourself short in terms of pricing," Laura says. "When I started, I would price jobs on what I thought I COULD get, not what I should get."

A builder said to Laura, "you do great work, I want you to come and do my  personal residence, you can do it for free and I'll send you lots of business"  Laura answered with "Build me a house for free and I'll send you lots of business", he didn't go for the deal.  

Laura adds. "You can work for cost, if there is promotional benefit to you, but never ever for free."

But what -- after 16 years in the industry --does Laura Ross WANT to do?

"I would love to do fine painting, to freehand paint," Laura says.

She echoes many other painting industry professionals when Laura says. "All I need is the time and the energy to do it."

Contact Laura Ross at customwalls1@aol.com or visit her website at www.rosswalls.com.