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Lifting objects is a necessary part of many jobs, but it’s easy for employees to develop bad habits that can harm their backs and put them out of commission. According to a September OSHA report on back disorders and injuries, as one of the leading causes of disability for workers, back injuries can develop over time from long-term repetitive activity or result from a single mishap.

Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility across every department — from warehouse to accounting to the front counter. A phishing link clicked in one branch can disrupt dozens of locations. The good news is that building resilience doesn’t require massive budgets — just leadership commitment and steady improvement.

As aging infrastructure and rising costs challenge traditional methods, IoT and smart technologies are paving the way for proactive, data-driven maintenance, enhancing water management and safety like never before.

According to the American Supply Association’s Monthly Economic Report, forecasting shows GDP growth moderating, oil and freight costs stabilizing, and key construction indicators posting mixed signals heading into mid-2026. Economists contributing to ASA’s reports note that "economic risk remains elevated, but channel fundamentals are stronger than national headlines suggest," pointing to continued resilience in wholesale sales trends and contractor backlogs.

For nearly nine decades, Merit Brass Co. has been distinguished by a culture of integrity, family values, and long-term stewardship. Its induction into the 2025 PVF Ring of Honor formally recognizes what wholesalers, suppliers, and partners have known for generations: Merit Brass is not just a participant in the PVF landscape, but a key force in shaping it.

In this episode of And So It Flows, host Natalie Forster sits down with Spencer Pope, manager of technical support and training at Bradford White, to explore how education and workforce development are evolving across the plumbing, HVAC and mechanical trades.

Check out the ways in which these companies are getting involved, making changes and learn how you can too.

You don’t have to wait for the phone to ring. Even when your shelves are turning fast and trucks are rolling nonstop, there’s untapped gold in your existing relationships. Distributors can reach out to accounts that haven’t ordered in a while or offer proactive inventory planning for contractors gearing up for year-end projects.

The warehousing industry faces a significant labor issue, accounting for 50% to 70% of total budgets, as noted by a Bostontec study. Manual order picking is a major expense, comprising around half of warehouse operating costs. Factors such as rising hiring costs, a shrinking labor pool, and the demanding nature of the work contribute to this problem. In 2023, the industry reported 4.7 nonfatal injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers (BLS).

As 2025 comes to a close, it’s time for me to review my predictions from last year and predict ten more trends for 2026. Just like last year, I will avoid predicting where the stock market will be at the end of 2026; instead, I will stick to identifying trends that supply houses will find important in the upcoming year. My scorecard shows I got 7.25 out of 12 right. With all of that, let's jump in and review my 2025 predictions.