The present invention relates to a process for preparing a coatings composition with an open time additive comprising the steps of a) contacting an aqueous dispersion of alkali swellable polymer particles with a rheology modifier and a binder to form a coatings composition with a VOC of less than 50 g/L; and b) neutralizing the alkali swellable particles with a non-volatile base after or upon contact with the rheology modifier and the binder to form swelled multi-staged polymer particles; wherein the alkali swellable polymer particles comprise a shell having a Tg of not greater than 25 DEG C and an acid functionalized core; and wherein the core-to-shell ratio is in the range of from 1:3.2 to 1:10. The composition arising from the process of the present invention is useful for improving open time, especially for low VOC coatings applications. In another aspect the present invention relates to the preparation of the coatings composition with an open time additive comprising the steps ofa) contacting the open time additive with a rheology modifier and a binder to form a coatings composition with a VOC of less than 50 g/L, then b) neutralizing the open time additive to form swelled multi-staged polymer particles, wherein the coatings composition with the open time additive exhibits less than a 50% increase in viscosity than the coating composition without the open time additive.