PHCP-PVF Top Stories

Relationships Still Matter in a Digital World

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R Bayles) — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 09:57:02 -0400

Technology can help us work faster and smarter. It can improve efficiency, provide insights and streamline countless processes. But, it can’t replace the confidence that comes from knowing the person on the other end of the conversation genuinely cares about your success.

Top 40 Under 40 Next Gen All-Star Competition Officially Open

bellolih@bnpmedia.com (Hannah Belloli-Oster) — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 11:54:14 -0400

Nominations are officially open for the 2026 Plumbing & Mechanical and Supply House Times Top 40 Under 40 Next Gen All-Star competition.

Your Inventory System Has Been Making Decisions Without You

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

When your inventory system recommends a purchase order tomorrow morning, how confident are you that the assumptions behind that recommendation still reflect today's business — and not last year's?

AHRI Data Shows Water Heater Shipments Remain Soft in 2026

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R Bayles) — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 08:00:01 -0400

The latest numbers show that water heater shipments continued to soften in April, reflecting many of the same economic pressures affecting residential construction and remodeling activity.

The Marketing Materials Your Sales Team Actually Needs

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:16:11 -0400

As companies begin evaluating budgets and planning for the future, many leaders focus on lead generation and brand awareness. While those initiatives are important, it is equally important to examine what happens after a prospect enters the sales funnel.

How Have Expectations for Building Systems Changed in a Year?

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R Bayles) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400

On a recent episode of And So It Flows, we welcomed back Chrissie Walsh, regional environmental sustainability lead for GF North America, for a follow-up conversation on sustainability, systems thinking and the changing expectations around modern buildings.

The View From the New Desk

bellolih@bnpmedia.com (Hannah Belloli-Oster) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:32:25 -0400

In her first editor's note, Hannah Belloli-Oster shares how a carpenter father, a journalism degree, and a few career leaps led her to Supply House Times, and why she's excited to learn alongside the industry she now serves.

Heat Pump Water Heaters in Real Life

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R Bayles) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

On a recent episode of And So It Flows, Kristen Bayles sat down with Gregg Holladay, business development manager for specialty markets at Bradford White, to discuss the growing role heat pump water heaters are expected to play in the residential plumbing market and why the plumbing industry needs to start preparing now.

The Spreadsheet Your Branch Manager Is Hiding From You

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

The American Supply Association reports nearly 75% of PHCP-PVF companies are experimenting with AI or operational platforms, with 34% in active pilots. Most are measuring success the same way this distributor did: logins, views, completed process steps. None of it tells you whether the recommendations are changing what actually gets ordered.

The Benefits Package Your Best Employees Are Quietly Comparing You Against

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In a hyper-competitive market, talent poaching happens instantly. Salary matches provide short-term retention, but fail to build long-term loyalty. The true competitive advantage comes from the daily workplace experience.

Does Buying a Company Make Sense?

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:06:59 -0400

Thinking about acquiring another company? Growth can be appealing, but an acquisition may create more challenges than opportunities, especially if you plan to sell your business in the near future. Learn why debt, integration hurdles, operational risks and buyer perceptions can impact your company’s value, and what business owners should consider before making a move.

Solving Comfort Challenges in Warehouses and High-Bay Spaces

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R Bayles) — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

As warehouse and industrial construction continues, contractors are looking for solutions that improve airflow, reduce stratification and enhance energy efficiency.

2026 Manufacturers Rep of the Year: Keystone Sales & Associates

bellolih@bnpmedia.com (Hannah Belloli-Oster) — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

For more than 50 years, Keystone Sales & Associates has built its reputation on a simple philosophy, one many learn in kindergarten: treat others the way you want to be treated.

PHCP-PVF Price Increases: June 2026

bellolih@bnpmedia.com (Hannah Belloli-Oster) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Manufacturers announced another round of PHCP-PVF price increases in June, with adjustments affecting insulation, valves, fittings, pumps, water heating products, and specialty plumbing components. See which suppliers raised prices and when the changes take effect.

Showcasing HVAC Excellence on a National Stage

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

In this article, we cover how the annual competition highlighting the industry's top techs has grown over the years and the role events like this play in strengthening the workforce pipeline.

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

Whether you’re focused on building your own leadership capability or thinking about succession planning within your organization, this ASA program is designed to prepare you for what’s next.

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.