Coronavirus Coverage

Mid-year economic review

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 00:00:00 -0400

During a webinar in late May, Dr. Kuehl gave his mid-year economic review, focusing on five key issues distributors should be monitoring: Inflation, consumer behavior, “normal” business, the global economy and market reaction.

Generating growth in the new normal

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 00:00:00 -0400

Without the wealth of information gained from visiting with customers and assessing their business on-site, it’s your responsibility to provide salespeople a sufficient alternative that will support growth generation.

PMI annual report explores five ways the pandemic has transformed the industry

Thu, 13 May 2021 00:00:00 -0400

PMI’s efforts to have plumbing manufacturers designated as essential businesses by the federal government were successful, allowing PMI member companies to keep production lines moving, sustain employment, and contribute to the national effort against a deadly virus.

Bath & kitchen market reaches historic high

Tue, 11 May 2021 00:00:00 -0400

The industry increased full-year sales growth expectations to 13.4% in 2021, up from their rating of 10.7% in Q4 2020.

Institutional insight

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Mon, 10 May 2021 13:00:00 -0400

As of April 2021, commercial projects are resuming in most parts of the country as public spaces open up and resume operations that are more regular.

ASA Washington weekly update

Wed, 05 May 2021 00:00:00 -0400

ASA joined other national organizations in a letter supporting the Save Local Business Act. The letter is in support of the Save Local Business Act, which is being reintroduced to serve as a contrast to some provisions of the PRO Act, as well as an Obama Administration rule on what constitutes as a joint employer for purposes of labor organization.

ASA distributors report steep increase in sales compared to one year ago

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 00:00:00 -0400

The American Supply Association’s monthly Pulse sales report shows respondents enjoyed a sales increase of 26.6% for March 2021 vs. March 2020.

ASA joins coalition partners in support of extension of PPP loan availability

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 00:00:00 -0400

The American Supply Association recently joined its more than 90 coalition partners in supporting an extension of the Paycheck Protection Plan loan availability that was due to expire March 31. The Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill 92-7, and earlier this week President Biden signed the bill into law.

ASA distributor members report mixed sales results in January

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 11:31:00 -0400

A total of 43% of respondents reported decreasing gross margin percentages for January 2021 vs. January 2020.

ASA Washington weekly update

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 13:00:00 -0400

The House and Senate are in session this week.

ASA members only webinar: Economic update with Dr. Chris Kuehl

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0400

ASA Chief Economist Dr. Chris Kuehl returns with his monthly ASA economic update webinar.

ASA Washington weekly update

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 09:25:00 -0500

With the passage of the American Rescue Plan, attention will turn to several Democratic initiatives, including a new infrastructure bill.

ASA Washington weekly update

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 09:35:00 -0500

ASA signed onto a letter urging House and Senate Finance Leadership to support the Main Street Tax Certainty Act that would retain 199A pass-through deductions, among other items.

ASA Washington weekly update

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0500

Government/legislative happenings of prime importance to the PHCP-PVF supply chain.

ASA members only webinar

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0500

ASA Chief Economist Dr. Chris Kuehl is back for his February PHCP-PVF economic update webinar presented by LIXIL.

MRC Global releases full year and Q4 2020 financial results

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 15:59:00 -0500

The company’s sales were $579 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, which was 1% lower than the third quarter of 2020 and 24% lower than the fourth quarter of 2019.

NAHB predicts multifamily housing will rebound in 2022

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 15:00:00 -0500

Multifamily starts are expected to fall 11% this year to 349,000 units from a projected total of 392,000 in 2020. The downturn will be short-lived, as multifamily production is expected to post modest gains in 2022, up 5 percent to 365,000 units.

ASA Washington weekly update

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 13:00:00 -0500

The House is out and the Senate is in session, mainly for committee hearings and the Trump impeachment trial.

HARDI distributors report 21.4% revenue increase in December 2020

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0500

HARDI released its monthly TRENDS report, showing the average sales performance by HARDI distributors was an increase of 21.4% during December 2020.

AD achieves increase in net distributions despite pandemic

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0500

Despite the clear impacts of the pandemic, AD achieved a 1% increase in net distributions to its members and was able to offer innovative services and support to help members navigate the rapidly changing environment.

ASA Emerging Leaders' EMERGE conference moves later in 2021

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -0500

Goodbye 2020, hello fresh start, right? Unfortunately, we aren’t quite out of the woods yet.

ASA Economic webinar

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -0500

ASA Chief Economist Dr. Chris Kuehl kicks off 2021 with his first PHCP-PVF economic update webinar where he asks the simple question: What can we realistically expect in the first half of 2021 as far as the economy is concerned?

HARDI November 2020 TRENDS report

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 12:00:00 -0500

HARDI released its monthly TRENDS report, showing the average sales performance by HARDI distributors was an increase of 3.6% during November 2020.

HARDI virtual summit recap

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -0500

The Heating, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) replaced its annual year-end summit with an all-new virtual format in 2020. The virtual conference took place Oct. 7-9, bringing in 349 wholesale-distributor attendees from 127 different member companies, and a grand total of 695 attendees from 270 member companies.

Jeff Valles: A new showroom opportunity

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Wherever we turn, people are telling us that working from home and shopping on the Internet are becoming the new norms. Is that true? Not yet, but COVID-19 has required many of us to work out of our homes and forced us to navigate the virtual mall — the Internet.

Economics during uncertainty

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0500

It’s no secret that 2020 was a year packed with challenges for the PHCP-PVF supply chain. Some areas of our industry, such as the residential construction and remodeling markets have flourished. No matter the market sector, distributors have entered 2021 with high hopes and are searching for answers when it comes the state of the industry.

Brad Williams: The 2020 election aftermath

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Many plumbing distributors have been in business for more than 50 years — and they have always found opportunities to thrive regardless of Congress and presidential executive orders.

Johnson Controls opens HVAC training facility in Oklahoma City

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Johnson Controls has opened its new, state-of-the-art Ducted Systems Academy in Oklahoma City, OK, offering commercial and residential HVAC training. The 30,000 square-foot training facility features two large classrooms and two extensive training labs, offering remote and hands-on classes, including virtual reality training.

PVF Roundtable Q4 meeting cancelled

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Although they won't be gathering in person, The PVF Roundtable is asking for your support in raising funds for Stock the Pantry.

ASA webinar series: How is the post pandemic new normal shaping up?

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0500

In this webinar, Mike Marks will share a view from the front, talking about the distributors that participate in the PRI, a group that decided to make major changes in their firms during the pandemic to maximize their competitive advantage when things stabilize.