FinishMaster

FinishMaster – A Brief History

It all started in 1968, when a man named James White opened the first FinishMaster outlet in Grand Rapids, Michigan. James aspired to build a company similar to existing auto parts stores, delivering leading automotive aftermarket products to collision repair shops.

James understood that to grow his business he needed financing. So, in 1973, he sold to Maxco, Inc., but remained an instrumental part of FinishMaster. His customer-focused vision drove expansion and by 1990 the company had 15 stores in Michigan and Illinois.

Growth continued as the business extended into Wisconsin. Then, in 1993, FinishMaster purchased Master Glass & Color, the largest distributor in Indianapolis and confirmed its position as the distributor of choice in the Midwest. Shortly after, additional branch locations were opened in Ohio.

After establishing a Southwest region with the acquisition of branches in Texas, in 1995 FinishMaster went public. At the time of the IPO there were 46 branches in operation. The funds from the IPO launched FinishMaster to a national scale with more acquisitions in the East and Southwest.

One year later, in July of 1996, Lacy Diversified Industries, Ltd. (LDI) bought FinishMaster from Maxco. Just a few weeks prior, LDI acquired Steego Auto Paint, a distributor based in Florida, vaulting FinishMaster to the leadership position in the automotive aftermarket operating 56 stores in 12 states.

At the time, FinishMaster’s largest competitor was Thompson PBE, a company founded in 1939 with operations based on the west coast. In May 1997 this west coast competitor became the largest acquisition by FinishMaster to date. Merging the two companies resulted in 143 branches in 22 states.

During this time, the FinishMaster headquarters moved to Indianapolis. The move gave the company the leadership and organization required by the new acquisitions. During the next several years and still today, FinishMaster continues to grow and thrive because of our focus on providing the ultimate customer experience, and a devotion to our team members.

Uni-Select acquired FinishMaster effective January 11, 2011. FinishMaster is a wholly owned subsidiary of Uni-Select, but remains a distinct entity within Uni-Select, serving the collision repair market.

FinishMaster has grown tremendously since our founding in 1968. From a single outlet to a team of more than 1,500 associates, with over 165 locations across the country. This rapid expansion has been attained by committing to a singular vision and a set of core values. We understand that any successful business starts with the people who work there, and we have the most experienced and knowledgeable team in the nation. Their passion for the industry is unmatched.