Supply House Times

09/23/2025

The American Supply Association has announced its 2025 award recipients - ASA will honor and present Steve Cook, CEO of Baltimore-based Northeastern Supply and Tim Milford, longtime CEO and now senior advisor at St. Louis, Missouri-based Milford Supply Company, with the 2025 Fred V. Keenan Lifetime Achievement Award at ASA NETWORK in Ft. Lauderdale this November. Congratulations to two outstanding industry leaders!

It is with great pleasure that ASA will honor and present Mr. Steve Cook, CEO of Baltimore-based Northeastern Supply and Mr. Tim Milford, longtime CEO and now senior advisor at St. Louis, Missouri-based Milford Supply, with the 2025 Fred V. Keenan Lifetime Achievement Award.

09/22/2025

Whether you’re a regional wholesaler or a national distributor, cyber threats are real, and they’re hitting our industry more often than many want to admit. Cybercriminals don’t care what you sell, they care about what you have: data, system access, and the ability to grind fulfillment to a halt. They know that even a few hours of downtime can cost thousands in lost orders, strained customer relationships, and reputational damage. Even well-meaning employees can open the wrong email, click the wrong link, or misconfigure a cloud connection, and that’s all it takes. Will Quinn dives into five critical steps that can safeguard your operations against the growing wave of cyberattacks targeting small-to-midsize businesses here: https://www.supplyht.com/articles/106817-a-cybersecurity-roadmap-for-distributors-protecting-data-and-devices-in-plumbing-and-hvac-distribution

Five critical steps that can safeguard your operations against the growing wave of cyberattacks targeting small-to-midsize businesses.Teaser: Cybersecurity isn’t about paranoia, it’s about preparation. As warehouse leaders, we train on safety, efficiency, and customer service. Cybersecurity dese...

09/20/2025

There is still time to register for PHCC CONNECT in Grand Rapids this October! Happening Oct. 27-30, the theme of this year’s conference is “Growth Through Collaboration,” emphasizing the power of working together to drive innovation, overcome challenges and achieve success in the industry. Find more info and register here: https://www.phccweb.org/news/phccs-connect-2025-conference-growth-through-collaboration/ Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors -National Association

PHCC--National Association, encourages plumbing and HVAC contractors to make plans now to be part of PHCC CONNECT 2025.

09/19/2025

Trade industry participants in the 16th Annual Sonnhalter Tool Drive included Babcox Media, Beta Tools, Buyers Products, Endeavor Business Media, Ferret Tools, General Pipe Cleaners, Independence Excavating, Jergens, Inc., Kapro, Lakeside Supply, Ledlenser, NIBCO, Sutton Industrial Hardware, Wright....

09/18/2025

Congratulations to Bob Engel Jr on your retirement! Under his leadership, API of New Hampshire expanded to eight locations with the acquisitions of Tobey Sheet Metal in Eliot, Maine and Delta T in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. "It has been the honor of a lifetime to be part of this business,” Engel said. “This is the company my father started, and one that has grown and prospered because of the incredible people who have poured their talent, time and heart into it. As I move into this next chapter of my life, I do so with immense gratitude and pride.”

Under his leadership, API of New Hampshire expanded to eight locations with the acquisitions of Tobey Sheet Metal in Eliot, Maine and Delta T in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

09/18/2025

Tradition meets transformation! We join Bob Downie, President & CEO of Duravit Americas, as he shares how Duravit is evolving to meet changing market demands — from luxury design trends and digital innovation to sustainability initiatives.

Listen to the Podcast: https://www.supplyht.com/media/podcasts/6359-the-supply-house-times-podcast

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09/17/2025

Congratulations to our 4th class of Next Gen All Stars! The future of the PHCP-PVF industry is being shaped by a new generation of leaders whose talent, commitment, and vision are already making a significant impact. Each year, Supply House Times' "Next Gen All Stars: Top 20 Under 40" list recognizes those rising professionals across the PHCP-PVF supply chain who are driving progress, strengthening relationships, and advancing the companies that shape our industry. Read all about them here: https://www.supplyht.com/articles/106794-2025-next-gen-all-stars-top-20-under-40-phcp-pvf-professionals AIM/R - Association of Independent Manufacturer's/Representatives American Supply Association AD

The future of the PHCP-PVF industry is being shaped by a new generation of leaders making a significant impact. Each year, Supply House Times’ “Next Gen All Stars: Top 20 Under 40” list honors rising professionals in the PHCP-PVF supply chain who are driving progress and advancing their compan...

09/17/2025

Here's what Alicia Branham wants to tell you: Your CRM isn't broken — your team just never uses it. The real issue is this: You don't have a technology problem. You have a leadership problem. A culture problem. A "we-don't-follow-through" problem. It hurts less to criticize the platform than to look into the mirror and ask: Why haven't we made it a non-negotiable?

The most powerful CRM in the world is completely useless if your team doesn't find it obligatory. Read her full take here: https://www.supplyht.com/articles/106801-your-crm-isnt-broken-your-people-just-never-use-it

Blaming the system is convenient. “It’s not intuitive.” “It doesn’t fit our workflow.” “It’s outdated.” Sound familiar? These are the exact excuses teams use to justify why nobody logs in, updates data, or follows through. But the truth is that even the simplest CRM, used daily, wi...

09/16/2025

When the White House announced a new 50% tariff on semi-finished copper products, effective August 1, the stated goal was clear: strengthen national security and bring more copper processing back onshore. The policy targets copper pipes, tubing, and wiring, while leaving raw ores, cathodes, and scrap exempt. For wholesalers in the plumbing and mechanical supply chain, however, the move raises more questions than it answers—and threatens to compress distribution margins in ways our industry can’t afford to ignore.

Copper futures on the U.S. Comex plunged nearly 19% in the immediate aftermath of the announcement, according to Reuters. The exemption of raw materials was a surprise to many who expected the tariff to cover cathodes and concentrates, and the result was a price whipsaw. While some relief may be temporary, wholesalers are already seeing ripple effects in material pricing. Imports spiked ahead of the August deadline, with refined copper flows tripling from roughly 14,000 tons to 40,000 tons a week as buyers rushed to get ahead of higher costs. This stockpiling may soften the blow in the very short term, but once the inventory buffer is gone, distributors will be looking at steeper replacement costs. Read more impacts here: https://www.supplyht.com/articles/106793-new-tariffs-on-copper-what-this-means-for-distribution-margins

In plumbing, wholesalers are reporting price hikes of 15–35% across copper, steel, and PVC since the tariff chatter began. Distributors caught between rising supplier invoices and contractors reluctant to absorb increases face an unenviable choice: raise prices and risk losing volume, or protect c...

09/15/2025

Fifth-generation family-run PVF manufacturer, NIBCO INC, invited plumbers and media members to tour its over 400,000-square-foot Stuarts Draft, Virginia, facility this fall – the company’s only WROT copper fitting manufacturing plant. The Stuarts Draft plant is currently producing 3,085 different SKUs and has a 40-million-pound capacity when fully staffed. Getting to see 99.9% pure copper transformed into various products – fittings, tees, elbows, pipe, adapters and beyond – along with the passionate team of heavily tenured associates, was a true celebration of American manufacturing. Read more about the facility here: https://www.supplyht.com/articles/106792-a-celebration-of-american-manufacturing-inside-nibcos-stuarts-draft-foundry
Webstone, a brand of NIBCO

The Stuarts Draft plant is capable of producing 3,085 different SKUs and has a 40-million-pound capacity when fully staffed.

09/12/2025

09/12/2025

The latest succession planning tips - straight from Bradley Williams at The Beringer Group - Many owners are understandably drawn to the first serious offer that comes their way, especially if it seems fair or arrives at the right time. But if you don’t understand the current market conditions or what similar companies are selling for, it’s hard to know whether that proposal reflects your business’s true value. The best outcomes come from preparation: understanding what drives value in your industry, knowing what buyers are looking for, and having multiple paths forward. A well-planned exit will give you choices, and choices give you peace of mind. The sections that follow outline a few key ideas to help you enter the process with clarity and control. https://www.supplyht.com/articles/106790-six-key-questions-to-ask-yourself-when-succession-planning

Passing your business to a successor may seem easy, but researching potential candidates is essential. Evaluate their fit with your company’s values and strengths. Consider training a promising member of your management team early.