Pat Lenius is a veteran business-to-business writer/editor. Her editorial experience includes 10 years as managing editor of Supply House Times. She is now a freelance writer/editor based in the Chicagoland area. She can be reached at patlenius@yahoo.com
The New Milford, CT, bath and kitchen showroom operated by Modern Plumbing Supply started the year out right with a grand opening Jan. 2. This location combines a 5,000-sq.-ft. luxury showroom, a 5,000-sq.-ft. self-service parts counter and a 15,000-sq.-ft. warehouse in one expanded and renovated building that had previously housed only its 10,000-sq.-ft. warehouse, adjacent to its former showroom. The showroom faces competition from a Home Depot store across the street and another upscale wholesaler showroom about 15 miles away.
Linda M. Koenig, MIS director, and Robert D. Hoff, president, of Omni Corporate Services Ltd., were among the attendees at the 2006 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in Chicago this spring.Robert Lando,
It has been a very good year, and PHCP wholesalers surveyed by SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES are projecting more of the same for fiscal 2006. Last year we reported that a record percentage of responding wholesalers enjoyed higher sales in 2004 and about 95% projected sales would rise again in 2005. The number of responding PHCP wholesalers who achieved those sales increases in fiscal 2005 was even higher: 95.8%.
Branch managers at Preferred Pump receive a monthly profit and loss statement that provides all of the information they need to run the branch like their own business.
Preferred Pump values its partnership with its vendors and manages its inventory to assist them, according to Tom Bowers, director of marketing/group manager.
Most of Preferred Pump's branch managers do a little of everything, according to Tom Bowers, director of marketing/group manager. “Their obligation is to their customer first,” he says.
Preferred Pump & Equipment, LP, based in Fort Worth, TX, has enjoyed phenomenal growth over the past 14 years. It was founded in 1982 as a small distribution company in Texas and has evolved into a leading wholesale distributor of domestic water system products in the United States, with 30 branches.
Preferred Pump offers a Dealer Awards program that provides customers with merchandise or trips based on their purchases. The 2005 program was effective for purchases shipped and invoiced between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2005. Preferred customers were invited to enroll by completing a form and having an officer, owner or manager sign it. Customers earned one award point per $1,000 in program period purchases.