PHCP-PVF Top Stories

Showcasing HVAC Excellence on a National Stage

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R Bayles) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:00:44 -0400

The annual competition highlights the industry's top technicians while inspiring future generations to pursue careers in HVAC.

Your Best Sales Rep Just Retired. Now What?

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:32:44 -0400

The PHCP-PVF supply chain is facing a generational shift in its sales workforce. Retirements are outpacing new hires, and the institutional knowledge that veteran sellers carry is not the kind that fits neatly into an onboarding document.

Legend Valve Mourns the Passing of David Hickman, Chairman, CEO, and Former President

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:00:37 -0400

David’s legacy lives on through the company he helped build, the values he championed, and the many lives he influenced along the way

ASA University MDM Program Drives Critical Leadership Development Principles

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:56:42 -0400

As ASA vice president of education and training Taylor Albano puts it, it’s not theoretical — it’s practical, proven and only available through this MDM program, which has seen more than 60 employees from ASA-member companies graduate from it in the last two-plus years (the program boasts a 100 percent graduation rate).

The State of Talent Attraction in the PHCP/PVF Industry According to ASA Members

Fri, 29 May 2026 13:30:05 -0400

ASA recently conducted a survey of its members to gauge the current condition of recruitment in the PHCP/PVF industry.

Commercial Market Outlook: Retrofit Projects Lead the Way

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R Bayles) — Mon, 25 May 2026 09:55:49 -0400

As commercial building owners continue to navigate economic uncertainty, labor shortages and changing customer demands, retrofit and renovation work is becoming a key opportunity across the plumbing market. In this article, learn where the commercial market is headed and how manufacturers, wholesalers, and contractors can adapt.

Your Sales Team Isn’t Posting and It’s Costing You Millions

Fri, 22 May 2026 12:19:06 -0400

This isn't something to brush off or circle back to when things “slow down.” It’s not a marketing problem sitting neatly in someone else’s department.

Moving Forward Together: Voices from ELEVATE 2026

Tue, 19 May 2026 16:05:34 -0400

Several attendees highlighted specific takeaways that stayed with them long after the event ended. Elainea Wiley of The Distribution Point reflected on one speaker’s reminder that it is not your manager’s job to manage your career.

PHCP-PVF Price Increases May 2026

bellolih@bnpmedia.com (Hannah Belloli-Oster) — Fri, 15 May 2026 14:43:35 -0400

Plumbing and PVF manufacturers announced another round of price adjustments in May, with most increases falling in the low- to mid-single-digit range, while select product categories, including press fittings, grooved products, valves, PVC fittings, and specialty piping systems, saw larger increases.

Heat Pump Water Heater Brings Efficiency and Cost Savings to California Apartment Complex

Wed, 13 May 2026 14:30:29 -0400

Unlike traditional high efficiency models, the Voltex 120V HPWH is designed to plug into a standard electrical outlet–eliminating the need for adaptors or restructuring.

Built to Scale, Designed to Stay Local: Lessons From Winsupply at 70

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Mon, 11 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Seventy years in, Winsupply occupies a unique position in the PHCP-PVF distribution landscape. It is, by every measurable standard, a national player. Yet, it operates in a way that looks fundamentally different from the centralized models that have come to define much of the industry’s consolidation era.

Premier 150: The Top PHCP-PVF Distributors of 2026

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Combined revenue across this year’s Premier 150 once again underscores the immense scale of the channel, with distributors collectively generating hundreds of billions in annual sales.

Why Good Businesses Sell for Less Than They Should

Wed, 06 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Understanding how buyers view a business can help explain why valuations sometimes fall short of expectations.

Winsupply Acquires Rural Pipe & Supply in Texas

Tue, 05 May 2026 12:32:38 -0400

Rural Pipe & Supply is a first-generation, family-owned and operated business founded in 1999 by Tommy and Amanda Shaver. Headquartered in Jasper, Texas, the company operates two locations: Rural Pipe & Supply in Jasper and Rural Pipe & Plumbing Supply in Livingston, Texas.

Why Day-To-Day Firefighting Douses Distributors’ Profit

Mon, 04 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Ask a distributor to describe their day-to-day, and there’s an excellent chance that they’ll use the term “fighting fires.” It makes sense that this term has become so popular – the work sounds urgent and important, even heroic.

AI at work: Hide or thrive?

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

By learning to use AI wisely in our daily work, prioritizing ethical use, and nurturing essential human skills, we’ll not only get more done and spark innovation, but ultimately build a more effective and rewarding future for ourselves and our organizations.

How fast AI has changed since last year

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

One of the clearest ways to understand what has changed since last year’s Applied AI for Distributors event is this: some of the things that were being discussed as next are now showing up as current.

Are people your greatest strength?

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

With a company’s website and social media accounts being the first places candidates often look to learn about opportunities, it’s surprising how many in our industry offer little or no information about what it’s like to be an employee at the company.

How distributors are winning with business intelligence

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Strong business intelligence (BI) data has become a competitive necessity for distributors operating in increasingly complex and fast-moving markets.

Coburn Supply’s Christy Maloney named 2026 Alice A. Martin Woman of the Year

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:20:13 -0400

The Woman of the Year Award is named in honor of NIBCO’s Alice A. Martin, who served as president and cofounder of the Rex and Alice A. Martin Foundation, a charitable foundation headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, which donates to major projects for children.

ASA Advocacy update: Farm bill progress, workforce legislation, tariffs, and 2026 election developments

srossi@asa.net (Steve Rossi) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

The House Agriculture Committee reported the long-awaited Farm Bill, which incorporates provisions of the Healthy H2O Act — legislation ASA has championed that enables rural residents, particularly those relying on wells, to test their water and apply for grants to fund corrective measures, including third-party-certified end-point filtration devices.

AI Is Moving Faster Than Your Security Policies

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

AI is evolving faster than the policies, security systems, and safeguards designed to manage it. The smartest companies won’t ignore AI, they also won’t hand over the keys to their business until the technology proves it can be trusted with them.

When Rebates Help, and When They Hurt: The Hidden Tradeoffs for Distributors

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

The mechanics of rebates are not simple: Each manufacturer has its own playbook. Rules, tiers, exclusions, and volume triggers differ. On top of that, distributors add their own complexity.

The hidden gaps in your sales cycle

brian.gardner@salesprocess360.com (Brian Gardner) — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:00:00 -0400

Someone must own sales excellence. Someone must act as CEO for CRM. That person should be a respected sales leader with the autonomy to make critical decisions for the company. Their role goes beyond platform selection and configuration. They are responsible for driving adoption, setting standards, training, coaching and continuous improvement.

Design partnerships in kitchen and bath: Kohler, Shea McGee and Martha Stewart

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Homeowners are walking into showrooms with inspiration boards, saved posts, and a clear point of view, and they look to plumbing pros and product experts to help translate that vision into products that perform. That’s where partnerships with trusted design voices can make a difference — they create a relatable style story, simplify decision-making, and give the trade a conﬁdent place to start the conversation.

From Reporting to Serving

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

By the time you’re reading this, I’ll be on my way to ASA’s headquarters to hit the ground running on this new journey. I could not be more excited for the opportunity to work for the association I have been fortunate to partner with and admire throughout my time at BNP Media. I truly believe that ASA helps distributors do their jobs better, and I am thrilled to be joining that mission.

The State of AI in Distribution

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

According to recent research from McKinsey & Company, AI adoption has surged over the past two years, with a growing share of organizations reporting measurable impact on revenue, cost reduction and customer engagement.

Preparing for the Silver Tsunami: A high‑level exit strategy guide for business owners

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Roughly 12 million U.S. businesses are owned by Baby Boomers, and with about 10,000 Americans reaching retirement age every day, the pace of ownership transitions is accelerating quickly.

Famous Supply honors Jay Blaushild’s passion for training with the opening of its 25,000-square-foot J-TEC facility

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Long before the ribbon was cut on a 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art training facility in Maple Heights, Ohio, the foundation for the Jay Blaushild Training & Education Center (J-TEC) was already firmly in place.

PHCP-PVF price increases April 2026

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The latest round of adjustments, effective from mid-March through mid-April, reflects that same trend, with manufacturers implementing measured increases across venting systems, brass and PVF components, thermoplastics, HVAC parts, controls and copper fittings.