2026 February

The February 2026 issue of Supply House Times features our cover story on the 2026 State of the Showroom: NKBA's 2025 Kitchen & Bath Market Outlook predictions for the U.S. market. Also inside: The hidden costs squeezing plumbing & PVF distribution margins, distribution strategies for commercial water conservation, the latest columns, and much more!

WhiteStar Supply showroom showing two Kohler displays, the left showing faucets, the right showing shower fixtures.

2026 State of the Showroom: More disciplined market, more disciplined showrooms

With pricing transparency and project complexity rising, distributors are redefining the role of the showroom.

Natalie Forster

February 10, 2026

The NKBA's 2025 Kitchen & Bath Market Outlook predicts the U.S. market will reach $235 billion, with growth in repair and remodeling despite slower new construction. Homeowners see kitchens and baths as valuable investments, especially with professional help.

Heat pumps: Volatility now, opportunity ahead

What changing specifications, incentives, and system integration mean for distributor inventory and training decisions.

Natalie Forster

Kristen R Bayles

February 20, 2026

Incentive programs such as the federal Inflation Reduction Act tax credits and expanding state-level rebate structures have increased interest among building owners, engineers, and facility managers, nudging contractors to evaluate heat pump solutions more seriously.

Header pipes valve zone and fire alarm control system at industrial plants.

Distribution strategies for commercial water conservation

How advanced plumbing systems are reshaping inventory, training, and risk for commercial wholesalers.

Natalie Forster

February 16, 2026

Water conservation in commercial and multifamily buildings has traditionally been seen as an engineering or ownership issue, focused on codes and sustainability. However, with rising water costs, aging infrastructure, and complex systems, conservation now also emphasizes system performance, risk reduction, and operational intelligence, engaging plumbing distributors in the discussion.

Screen grab of an animation of an ascending blue histogram following an arrow against a background of dollar bills. 3D rendering.

The hidden costs squeezing plumbing & PVF distribution margins

Why inventory imbalance, operational inefficiencies, and data blind spots are quietly eroding profitability in 2026.

Natalie Forster

February 12, 2026

Wholesale distribution has always operated on relatively thin margins. Public benchmarks typically place gross margins anywhere from the high single digits to the low-30% range depending on product mix, with net margins often falling between 3% and 10%. In plumbing and PVF, those margins vary even more dramatically by category — with commodity products leaving far less room for error than engineered or value-added offerings.

Marketing Matters | Alicia Branham

Seven signs you’ve outgrown DIY marketing

How to recognize when scrappy, do-it-yourself marketing quietly starts holding a growing business back.

Alicia Branham

February 18, 2026

There are clear warning signs that your business has outgrown DIY marketing. Here are seven ways to know when DIY marketing is no longer serving your business — and may hold it back.

A female manager, along with two warehouse workers, is inspecting the merchandise.

Emerging Leaders

Building credibility: The foundation of emerging leadership

How emerging leaders can earn credibility in a relationship-driven plumbing distribution industry.

Bryce Moore

February 13, 2026

Emerging leaders are motivated but often struggle to understand what senior leaders want before assuming more responsibility. In plumbing distribution, credibility is crucial; senior leaders prioritize those who execute well, communicate clearly, and make sound decisions under pressure.

Retail warehouse worker in a safety vest and hard hat, scans inventory using a barcode scanner. A virtual infographics is displayed on the boxes.

ASA News

ASA University’s Year in Review: Most used courses, MDM milestones

February 26, 2026

ASA members stayed busy in 2025, taking full advantage of ASA University’s tools and training to boost employee performance and drive profitability across their businesses. This year also marked a return to some familiar training trends, with members gravitating back toward foundational product knowledge.

Customer Relationship Management System Graphic

ASA News

A practical way to scale CRM readiness in distribution

February 27, 2026

Customer Relationship Management systems are often sold as a technology decision. In reality, CRM success or failure has far more to do with people, processes, and organizational readiness than with software features.

ASA News

ASA’s Project Talent: Building momentum in workforce development

February 26, 2026

ASA members have consistently identified attracting talent as one of their most pressing concerns. National labor studies conducted by ASA confirm what members experience, including retirements outpacing new hires, and traditional recruiting methods alone are no longer enough. These concerns were reinforced during ASA’s 2025 LEAD Strategic Leadership Summit in early 2025, where volunteers emphasized the need for stronger outward-facing efforts to elevate the industry’s profile and attract new talent.

Computer chip labeled 'AI' on a circuit board, illuminated by a cool blue glow, highlighting circuit pathways and components.

ASA News

Women leading the way in AI adoption across the ASA community

February 13, 2026

AI is helping women streamline complex or time-consuming tasks, such as preparing commercial quotations, entering sales orders, managing email and calendars, and organizing large volumes of product information. It is also becoming part of daily life, supporting everything from cooking and budgeting to travel planning and quick problem solving.