Ken White, owner of Macon Color Wheel, enjoys helping first-time homeowners

Ken White, owner, Macon Color Wheel, 3780 Northside Drive, Suite 110, 474-7557. Hours 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.

How long have you been in business?: White worked for Morris Appliance in Macon for 25 years and was managing that store when it closed in January 2014.

"I had dealt with the owners of Macon Color Wheel, and I had dealt with them through Morris. ... When they found out we were closing, they called and asked me if had plans, and I said 'no.'"

White began managing Macon Color Wheel in February 2014.

"About nine months later, (the owners) decided they wanted to get out of the business and they offered to sell it to me, which I think was their plan from the beginning. They just wanted to be sure that I was a good fit. It took me month or two to get everything worked out, and I signed the papers Dec. 29, 2014."

John Gilbert, the founder of the business when it was called John's Color Wheel, and his interior designer, Dawn Farley, also work at the store.

What do you like best about your job?: "I've always enjoyed meeting and talking with people, and now instead of filling their house with appliances, I'm helping them actually improve their home inside and out. We really enjoy working with people on their first house and making it their own with their own touch."

What is your specialty?: "We are a paint and design store, so we have interior and exterior paints for houses. We also have an interior designer on staff so she can help design, pick colors ... and help you actually design a house from the ground up. We also carry flooring and tile, and then we coordinate with other people locally for other items, like shutters. ... We carry just about everything in a house except for the counter tops."

In addition, the store sells paint brushes, rollers and other tools.

What are your future plans?: "I will stay with one location for now. Eventually I would like to add an outside sales person to call on builders and contractors."

-- Linda S. Morris