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Ensure your dealers account for adequate margins to offer competitive wages and maintain a skilled workforce. In the competitive HVAC repair market, paying well attracts quality employees who generate more business. Ultimately, investing in a pay raise may be more cost-effective than losing a valuable employee to a competitor.

All respondents to the new report reported a median August sales increase of +2.8% y/y, but -6% vs. July 2025. Calendar-year YTD sales +6.4%; TTM sales +6.7%. Inventory: +6% versus August 2024. Cash cycle: Median three-month average days' sales outstanding fell to 41 days.

In manufacturing and the PHCP/PVF trade, decisions made this quarter significantly shape business strategy for the next twelve months. They determine whether marketing remains reactionary and fragmented or becomes proactive and profitable. Waiting until January puts you a step behind.

Emergency preparedness for plumbing systems in healthcare is vital, as they must remain operational and hygienic during regular use and crises. Water availability, pressure, and quality directly affect infection control and patient safety.

When Wilson Teachey first attended the Southern Wholesalers Association (SWA) meeting three decades ago, he was surprised by the family-like atmosphere. As a young professional at Hubbard Pipe and Supply, he discovered a welcoming culture and strong relationships within the wholesale industry that greatly impacted him.

At Merit Brass, we believe that your job should be easier. That's why we've developed a new interactive webpage that serves as your one-stop shop for all your valve inventory needs. It's time to simplify your supply chain and focus on what matters most.

In an industry where scale and speed can overshadow character, Thos. Somerville Co. stands out not just by what it delivers — but how it delivers it. What began in 1861 as a modest brass foundry has grown into a Mid-Atlantic plumbing, heating, and HVAC supply powerhouse. But Somerville’s real strength lies in a culture grounded in craftsmanship, relational trust, and service — principles forged in the foundry and still alive today.

Consolidation is affecting the waterworks ecosystem, with investor-owned utilities acquiring many small systems. In 2024, 79% of water utility deals involved systems with fewer than 3,000 people, and wastewater acquisitions accounted for half of Q4 activity, driven by regulatory burdens on small systems and larger companies' growth ambitions.

Throughout the 1970s-1980s there were four main industry buying groups - AD, Embassy, Omni and WIT & Co. Often referred to as “legacy buying groups,” these groups existed and operated for decades before consolidation began. Here's a quick history lesson on buying group mergers in the sector.

The tour will provide a peek behind the curtain of the stocking efficiencies and abilities of Winsupply, and insight into opportunities to grow with them. After the tour, key people from Winsupply will present on their unique approach and entrepreneurial spirit, which enables local Winsupply companies to be successful in their respective markets.