Color Compass Corporation
GROWTH THROUGH INNOVATION
ALIGNING STRENGTHS
The Color Compass Corporation is the largest independent automotive refinishes and related auto body supplies distributor in Canada. The growth of the company is a celebration of innovation, opportunity, and acquisition.
In 1984 Color Compass was founded with the acquisition of both White & Peters and Mutual Warehouse in British Columbia. With an eye on expansion and growth in Western Canada, Color Compass moved into Alberta with the acquisition of Carlson Body Shop Supply and PBE Distributors in 1987. Over the next ten years the group would consolidate Mutual Warehouse within PBE Distributors and further strengthen the already strong Carlson’s brand in Edmonton and Calgary. In 1997 the growth continued with the group’s largest acquisition to date with the purchase of Chase Auto Body Supplies in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As in the past, Color Compass further expanded its distribution network by opening a PBE Distributors warehouse location in Winnipeg at that time as well. With an eye on further strengthening its position in British Columbia and Alberta, 2006 and 2007 saw the acquisitions of Valley Car Colour in Langley BC, and Rocky Mountain Sales in Edmonton.
In 2011 the Color Compass Corporation finalized what would become a pivotal moment in the group’s strong history in Western Canada, with the acquisition of the corporate Akzo Nobel jobber stores in Alberta and British Columbia. With the acquisition, Chase Auto Body Supplies moved west, growing both in terms of size and talent, keeping a sharp focus on expanding their new markets within Alberta and British Columbia.
October of 2018 saw another key moment in the organization’s progression, with The Color Compass Corporation joining the Wesco Group Family of companies. Wesco, with its 70+ locations throughout the western United States, is headquartered in Lynnwood Washington, and has many parallels to Color Compass and its division’s, not the least of which, they are the preeminent distributor of paint and body shop supplies to the collision repair and industrial markets that they serve.
In early March of 2019, the Color Compass Corporation expanded yet again, with the acquisition of WD Co- Auto’s Paint, Body, and Equipment sales division. WD Co-Auto’s PB&E Division—based in Edmonton, Alberta—served independent and member-dealer collision centres throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Shortly after, in May of 2019, PBE Distributors acquired LJ Peters Warehousing. The group always has a keen eye on innovation and exceptional service, now heavily investing in industry leading customer training, the latest repair equipment, and the evolution of supply-chain management with the Color Compass developed KUBE Inventory Management solution. Through the years the Color Compass Corporation has grown to a team of over 270 dedicated staff operating throughout Canada.
