The Proprietor

Jacob Hanzel, the proprietor of Prosecco Finishing & Preservation, has humble beginnings in the paint and coatings industry. Starting in 2017 as a delivery driver for a large corporate paint company, he quickly gained an appreciation for architectural paints and coatings (as one does when carrying 60 lb buckets of the stuff up flights of apartment stairs). He became enthralled with the coatings industry, and was sure to engage himself with the knowledge available to him at every turn.

At every delivery, Jacob would ask questions about the materials he was supplying to the painters onsite. When he wasn’t on the road, he would learn from the store manager at his home store, who had decades of wisdom to pass along. Jacob quickly learned about the variety of products used in the paint and coatings industry, and developed a respect for those actually applying them. With his quick grasp for the technical details of the paint industry, and the help of experienced individuals who shared their seemingly infinite wisdom, he was able to move into management at his own paint store.

While managing his first store, Jacob honed his skills, adapting to a variety of customer needs across the commercial, industrial, and residential markets. He learned the art of color matching and delved into the concept of color theory, while also learning about products in every category imaginable to meet the needs of his customers. He quickly became a resource for his company team, and garnered attention of another local family run paint dealer. When offered the opportunity to assist in opening a locally owned paint store in an integral Cleveland neighborhood, Jacob seized the chance to create a store where not only was your paint provided, but also any tool you might need for your project, and the advice on how to use it. He did not want anyone to walk into his store and leave without what they needed.

For Jacob, reading every product label wasn’t enough to understand what they actually are. It became a habit to check, whenever the chance was offered, what was actually in the can, as he needed to verify color consistency and other technical details for his job duties anyway. While checking the products in the cans, often while using technical applicators and standard sample sheets, Jacob took the opportunity to sample with a brush and roller as well. Doing maintenance painting and repairs in his personal time became a hobby of Jacob’s. This is where he learned his initial skills that inspired his entrepreneurial side to venture into professional painting.

While still currently managing a paint store, Jacob has taken to painting professionally in his time off in order to expand his understanding and skills in the real world applications of paint and related products. This has also expanded the depth of knowledge Jacob has to offer his customers and others at the store, while finishing projects and preserving the beauty of the spaces around us.