About

A Family-Owned American Business Since 1999

Built on Self-Reliance, Craft, and Family

PaintScratch began with a simple belief: you shouldn’t need an expensive body shop to fix small paint damage.

Before founding PaintScratch in 1999, Collin Harris and his wife, Kathi, would buy used cars, fix them up in their driveway, and resell them to make ends meet. Autobody shops charged too much for minor repairs, so Collin taught himself the craft of automotive paint — learning one project at a time. His DIY repairs looked so good that friends, neighbors, and even strangers kept asking for help. That encouragement inspired him to create a business that empowered regular people to do their own repairs with factory-quality paint products.

Founder Collin Harris and his refurbished 1967 Porsche in 1976
Kathi starting a big paint job in 1979

Continuing the legacy

Today, PaintScratch remains a family-run American business, with paint mixed locally in California by our automotive paint experts — professionals with over 50 years of combined experience.

Since 2012, Collin’s son Nick Harris has led PaintScratch’s online operations, bringing the business into the future with the help of his wife, designer Mari Collins Harris. Both father and son live with their families in the beautiful Lake Tahoe area, where they enjoy time outdoors and continue building a company rooted in self-reliance, craftsmanship, and helping people fix things the right way.

At its heart, PaintScratch is still a family business that helps everyday people restore their vehicles with pride.

Founder Collin Harris with son Nick, the current manager of PaintScratch.com
Son Nick Harris and his wife Mari Collins Harris now run the PaintScratch website

Our Values

Family First
PaintScratch is built on generations of family dedication. We treat every customer with the same care and honesty we’d give our own.
Craftsmanship You Can Trust
Our local paint experts bring over 50 years of experience to every batch. Precision, consistency, and pride go into everything we ship.
Empowering DIYers
We believe anyone can fix their own vehicle with the right tools and guidance. Our job is to make professional results possible at home.
Original Quality
No gimmicks, no shortcuts — just reliable, pro-grade products designed to help your repair last.
Made Local, Kept Local
Everything in our business – from mixing to fulfillment, our touch-up paint is crafted and shipped right here in the U.S.A.
Self-Reliance
PaintScratch was born from necessity — learning by doing, solving real problems, and helping others do the same. That spirit still guides us every day.