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The annual ASA-Supply House Times distributor roundtable, which takes place at NETWORK each year, has always been published in two parts as distributor members tackle topics from supply chain status and inventory management to government affairs and hiring.

The Great Ideas Roundtable session at NETWORK2022 in Chicago was a popular place to be. I usually try to sit in with a table to hear first-hand what hot-button topics come up among distributor, rep and manufacturer members, but this year’s session drew such a large crowd that I didn’t want to take a seat from a participating member.

As B2B offerings become increasingly commoditized, it has become more important than in any previous time in history to have a clear picture of the value proposition of your distributorship. The last 20 years - and in particular, the last two - have seen the slow but steady growth of industry behemoths that are driving commoditization of the PHCP industry.

When it comes to keeping your finger on the pulse of the economy, ASA chief economist Dr. Chris Kuehl does just that through his live monthly ASA economic update webinars (a free member benefit) and through his three-times-a-month podcasts (also a free member benefit) where Dr. Kuehl zeroes in on a specific topic of great interest to ASA members.

While much uncertainty in the economy is ahead, we know we’ve been in this position before and we know we can weather any changes ahead. It will be increasingly important to harness the power of not only our industry trade association, but also the power of the organizations across our industry working together collectively, cooperatively and complementary as buying groups, adjacent industry organizations, and regions to support our overall industry strength.

Founded in 1923, by Henry Charles Oswald, Oswald Supply is family owned and operated through four generations and has a rich history centered on supporting heating systems throughout New York City. Over the past several decades, Oswald has expanded their presence nationally to support municipalities, housing authorities, heating & cooling Contractors, and industrial supply distributors. 

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, freight transportation activity has increased in recent years along with the total number of freight transportation related fatalities, reaching 5,653 in 2019, a 31.8% increase compared to just 10 years prior.

During the roundtable, participants covered everything from supply chain and labor concerns to working with the next generation customer and warehouse technology. One thing is for certain, the distribution game has changed.

In a new ASA Town Hall Interview, Mike Miazga catches up with ASA Chairman Bill Condron (The Granite Group).

Heading into 2023, experts remain optimistic about the health of the PHCP-PVF market despite a few impending factors: a possible recession, inflation, ongoing labor concerns, price increases and supply chain disruption.