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Before approaching industry training, wholesalers and contractors alike must focus on industry education; education and industry training are both key components of success for today’s contractor. While both are critical, education and training cover different skills and applications.

My first ASA ELEVATE was in 2019 in San Diego. I had just joined the industry in mid-2017 and had only been to a handful of events. I’ll never forget the welcoming environment that surrounded me and the relationships I was able to begin at that very first event.

The Luxury Products Group (LPG) annual EXPO in Scottsdale, Arizona, attracted 400 attendees, focusing on creativity and growth. LPG celebrated its expansion and presented awards for Showroom of the Year, Vendor of the Year, and the Spirit Award. Executive Director Jeff MacDowell announced a 30% year-over-year growth, underscoring the plumbing industry's vitality.

Same-store sales increased by 2% in the U.S., 2% in Canada, and 3% in Mexico, in their respective currencies. Within AD’s nine industries, same store growth in Plumbing, PVF and HVAC were the most robust. Member purchases from AD suppliers grew 19%. 

In a recent discussion with Epicor, Supply House Times highlighted trends such as cybersecurity, onshoring, and automation in supply chain technology. By 2025, automation will be crucial for addressing the talent shortage and closing the knowledge gap as experienced workers retire. AI can help by organizing data, supporting new employees in maintaining productivity, and alleviating concerns about job displacement.

In the PHCP/PVF industry, the traditional sales approach is built on relationships, technical expertise and in-person networking. While these fundamentals remain crucial, today’s digital-first buyers expect more. They research products, compare solutions online, and often form opinions long before speaking with a sales rep.

For distributors, inventory is the largest balance sheet item and can be a liability if not managed strictly. Achieving over 99% bin-level accuracy is attainable with departmental alignment, solid processes, and strong leadership. Here’s why it matters, the consequences of failure, and how to succeed.

This year’s EMERGE (May 13-15) in Las Vegas will be a doozy and will put the division in a position to where it has nearly doubled in size since the 2023 event in Savannah, Georgia. Last year’s EMERGE conference in Boston set a new all-time attendance mark and the Vegas version in May will threaten it.

Cyber criminals often target distributors because they manage large B2B transactions, house valuable financial information, and sometimes use ERPs that are not up to date with modern security protection. Additionally, as infuriating as this is – cyber criminals know that distributors are essential to the supply chain, and are more likely to pay ransom in order to resume business operations quickly.

People in the surrounding area reported multiple explosions during the blaze. The cause of the fire is still unknown. Chemicals were present inside Rovanco’s facility, but fire officials said there were no air quality concerns associated with the flames.