WOODSTOCK – Jack may miss the daily routine most of all.

“He’s been an integral part of the business,” said Dan Gould, owner of Lloyd’s Paint ’N Paper in Woodstock. Gould is retiring this week along with his wife, Cheri.

Jack, an 11-year-old Brittany Spaniel, has been joining Dan and Cheri Gould for work since he was a little pup. “He looks forward to it. He’s running around every morning,” Dan said.

“People come in just to say hi to Jack,” Dan said. “He’ll definitely miss it, too.”

Dan’s parents, Lloyd and Dorothy Gould, opened Lloyd’s Paint ’N Paper in 1960.

The family added another home decorating store in Crystal Lake in the md-1970s. Both stores were remodeled five years ago, Cheri said.

With Dan and Cheri retiring, Dan’s brother, Al, and his wife, Bernadette, will run both stores, with managers helping out in Woodstock.

Cheri said she started working in the store shortly after they were married 45 years ago.

She said the hallmark of the business has been repeat customers. “Make a customer for life has been our slogan.”

She said the business has customers who have been coming into the shop for years, noting that the store offers everything you need to redecorate your home – from fabrics, and paint to custom window treatments.

“When someone comes in and says they want a gallon of paint for outside, that’s when we start asking questions,” Cheri said. “We try to provide the best possible service, and the best possible advice.”

She noted that wallpaper has not been a big design concept recently, but it may be coming back in popularity. “There are cycles of treatments and color cycles,” she said.

“White is not he most popular paint color,” Cheri said. “Color is very important.”

Cheri noted that the store employs interior designers who can help customers with decorating suggestions.

Cheri and Dan both said they’ll miss the people most of all. “It’s the greatest part of the job,” Cheri said.

“’I’ve always liked the business,” Dan said. “I’ve been blessed to be able to do something I’ve loved so much.”

Farewell party:
The public is invited to a party to bid farewell to Dan and Cheri Gould, longtime owners of Lloyd's Paint 'N Paper.
The event will be held Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the shop, 114 N. Benton St., Woodstock.
For more  information, call 815-338-1180.