Do it Best Group and The Sherwin-Williams Company have entered into a long-term strategic partnership intended to strengthen the paint category for Do it Best members and True Value retailers.

Under the agreement, Do it Best Group will retain ownership and management of the EasyCare and Best Look paint brands, including quality standards, marketing, promotions and commercial stewardship. EasyCare will remain exclusive to True Value retailers, and Best Look will remain exclusive to Do it Best members.

Sherwin-Williams will assume manufacturing responsibilities for EasyCare products and continue manufacturing Best Look products. The companies said the arrangement is intended to provide long-term production continuity and operational resiliency.

The agreement also includes Sherwin-Williams’ acquisition of the Majic and Shur-Line brands, with exclusivity preserved for Do it Best and True Value retailers within the independent and owned hardware channel.

“This partnership allows us to keep control of the brands and the retailer experience while adding the scale and innovation of a global leader in the paint and coatings industry,” said Dan Starr, CEO of Do it Best Group. “It is a smart, future-focused move that strengthens what we can deliver in the category.”

Todd Rea, president of the Consumer Brands Group at Sherwin-Williams, said the company is proud to expand its relationship with Do it Best Group and support the continued growth of the brands and retailers served by the agreement.

As part of the agreement, Sherwin-Williams will assume the lease structure for the Cary, Illinois, paint manufacturing facility and retain the facility’s team to support continuity.

Do it Best Group, headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a hardware, lumber and building materials buying cooperative in the home improvement industry. The company reports nearly $6 billion in annual sales and supports independently owned locations in the United States and more than 60 countries.