One of Orillia's longest-tenured businesses is celebrating its 40th birthday today.
While attending Park Street Collegiate Institute, James Housser hoped to become an electrical engineer.
"That wasn't God's plan for my life," he said this week, noting that he worked in a paint store in downtown Orillia (Bonthron's) while going to high school.
"I was offered opportunities to stay in the industry," he explained. "I liked helping people."
On May 1, 1984, James and his wife, Lorna, opened Housser's Paint & Wallpaper at 66 Mississaga St. E.
"There is nothing dearer to people than their home," he said. "You better their life and their environment which is what charges us up the most."
When James first opened the doors to his store, he didn't know if it would succeed.
"It was a calculated risk," he said. "I knew the industry, I knew the market, and a lot of the contractors. But, you never know."
Knowing the products and customers was the key to success for Housser's Paint & Wallpaper. Eventually, the store grew out of its main street storefront and moved to its current location at 87 Colborne St. W.
Over the years, paint and wallpaper products have evolved "a lot," James says.
"When we first started, a third of our store was wallpaper," James explained. "Now, we have almost no in-stock wallpaper."
Because of environmental issues, 95 per cent of paint is now water-based instead of solvent-based, he added.
"It's been relatively easy to adapt," he said. "The products we have now are far better than what we had years ago."
Now 62, James and Lorna have decided to retire from the store. But James will keep working; he is taking on the role of executive assistant at Cornerstone Baptist Church.
Taking over the reins at Housser's Paint & Wallpaper is a familiar face: the Houssers' son, Nathan, and his wife Jennifer.
"He deserves it," James said of Nathan. "He's been working here since high school and succession is a great thing."
Despite obtaining his education in automotive business and marketing, Nathan, 37, says the paint store has always been his passion.
"I grew up here," he said. "For me, it's just in my blood."
Nathan, an Orillia District Collegiate and Vocational Institute graduate, has helped in the paint store since he was 14.
"I think I've learned from the best," he said. "I've gotten to know the community, the customers, and the products from being around it for so many years now."
Nathan, a past president of the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce, says he's in tune with Orillia's growing community.
"I want to capitalize on that," he said. "We want to grow the business with our town."
Nathan has his sights on someday opening a second and larger location in west Orillia.
"We've been looking at a second location for some time," James said. "Getting the right spot has been a challenge."
On May 16 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Houssers are welcoming everybody into the store for celebratory cake.
"My mom and dad will be here so people can come and say goodbye from the business part of things," Nathan said, noting there will be special in-store promotions during the celebration.
"We've been saying it for years that we have the best customers," Nathan said. "We have loyal customers who value our products and service, so we want to give back to them."
