Australia's largest plumbing wholesaler has a savvy attitude about showroom selling.
Reece Plumbing Centres, a division of Reece Australia Ltd., is a publicly owned but family-controlled wholesale distributor of plumbing supplies, mechanical, and gas and irrigation products. Harold Joseph Reece, who took to the road selling hardware to families building a new life after World War I, started the company in 1919. The Wilson family assumed control of the business in 1969. In 1978 they took steps towards growing a national chain. In 1990 they were operating 49 branches and today have more than 180 stores.