Items Tagged with 'business advice'

In wholesale distribution, progress in 2025 rarely came from one sweeping change. It came from smarter forecasting and more accurate data analysis. From incremental improvements in product data that made online searches less frustrating to onboarding processes that got new hires productive faster than before. None of it flashy, but all of it impactful.

HARDI encourages all members to visit the Grassroots Advocacy Center and participate in active campaigns that affect their territories and business operations.

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.

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.

Proton surveyed 93 distributors in the industrial, HVAC, electrical, janitorial and building materials sectors.

History shows us that companies that maintain visibility, build trust, and communicate effectively during downturns are the ones that come out ahead when the market stabilizes. Tariff-driven price hikes and supply chain issues are not just obstacles—they’re opportunities to double down on creativity and strategic thinking.

Outsourcing allows businesses to delegate non-core functions to specialized professionals. The benefits of outsourcing creative talent and leveraging their expertise can enhance marketing efforts, improve efficiency, and achieve sustainable growth.

The end of a year is always a good time to reflect and plan for the year ahead, and this is especially true when that year (or two) has been particularly challenging. When reflecting on my last year, one stand-out moment was getting to hear Shark Tank’s Daymond John speak at ASA’s NETWORK conference in Las Vegas this November.

As the world starts to emerge and settles into a “new normal,” I don’t think we will ever forget the year and a half we’ve just lived through. The keys to business survival include taking a long-term view, the willingness to change when necessary and the insight to know when not to, and the agility to be able to act with speed.