Readers flocked to Supply House Times this year for the latest information on new products and technologies, industry news and market trends. Here’s a countdown of the top 10 articles you read the most in 2023 based on the number of unique pageviews on www.supplyht.com.
10. Case study: Build it and they will come
Leave it to good ol’ fashioned ingenuity. F.W. Webb recognized an opportunity during the pandemic that resulted in a new revenue stream and an influx of satisfied customers. Headquartered in Bedford, MA-based, the hydronic, plumbing, HVAC and mechanical wholesaler giant, F. W. Webb, has grown substantially throughout the Northeast region through savvy management, strategic acquisitions, a strong supply chain, and clever outreach among buyers and specifiers.
9. Dan Holohan: Do promotions work?
The promotional offers show up every year and I always wonder whether they work? I suppose some do because the manufacturers repeat them. Buy a bunch of boilers, get a winter coat. Or work boots, or whatever. But does that really motivate the contractors to buy that particular brand?
8. Champion of the wholesale channel: InSinkErator’s Rebecca Falish
The plumbing industry is full of rock star individuals. People that go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure their peers and the people coming in behind them have a better industry than what it was before. InSinkErator’s Rebecca Falish is the epitome of an industry rock star. In fact, to hear retired InSinkErator Vice President Joe Maiale say it, Falish “is a rock star turned superstar,” in the industry.
7. Why contractors order the way that they do
With all the technology we have these days I was curious as to if and how contractors were using it to place orders with their suppliers, so I asked on The Wall at HeatingHelp.com. The Wallies wasted no time in telling me how they do it nowadays, and more importantly, why.
6. State of the industrial PVF industry: Robust but uncertain
Forecasting industry sectors continues to be a challenge with uncertain global and U.S. economic factors constantly changing. Because of its diverse project base and reliance on commodity prices and actions from overseas, the industrial PVF sector is particularly difficult to forecast. Nonetheless, each year Supply House Times talks with a handful of key industrial PVF players to hear first-hand what they’re experiencing to gain a pulse for the market.
5. Meet 10 influential PHCP-PVF Women
Although it has a reputation of being a male-dominated industry, the PHCP-PVF supply chain is full of impactful women. Celebrating Women’s History Month, Supply House Times is highlighting 10 influential women who are leading the industry to great success. In recent conversations surrounding attracting and retaining more people, more women and achieving more diversity industry-wide, it’s become evident that offering support, mentorship, compassion and resources is key. As it’s more important than ever to shout from the rooftops the benefits of a career in our industry, each women below shares the most rewarding part of their PHCP-PVF career thus far.
4. Supply House Times Profile: Winsupply’s Jeff Dice
Earlier this year, the Winsupply Board of Directors announced that it elected Jeffrey M. Dice as the new President of Winsupply Inc. Dice replaced former President John McKenzie who retired on Feb.28. Dice joined Winsupply in 2004 as a regional financial officer for Winsupply Group Services — Dayton. Soon, he moved into internal audit and then into leadership roles: first for electronic data integration, and then for acquisitions as a due diligence specialist. In 2011, he was named chief financial officer for Noland Company, Winsupply's largest acquisition to date. In 2016, he began leading more than 150 employees as senior vice president for Winsupply's Shared and Advisory Services. Dice became Winsupply Equity Group president in 2020, accountable for shareholder relations, finance, risk, real estate and acquisition assessments.
3. Supply House of the Year: Plumbing & Heating Wholesale
Sioux Center, Iowa-based Plumbing & Heating Wholesale is the perfect example of a business born out of true customer need. In the late 1970s three plumbing contractors — Leroy Plasier, Jerry Plasier and Dennis Walstra — identified a pain point in their Northwest marketplace: There was a significant amount of travel required in order to get their hands on supplies and products. Setting out to solve this issue, the three joined forces with a salesperson for a nearby distributor, Dean Pfeil, and a new distribution company was born. Plumbing & Heating Wholesale was founded on the basis of serving customer needs, and it still lives by that mantra today, which is what has earned it Supply House Times’ 2023 Supply House of the Year Award.
Last year, Supply House Times was blown away by the response to its first-annual Next Gen All Stars: Top 20 Under 40 list. Members of the PHCP-PVF supply chain weren’t shy to shout from the rooftops that there are innovative, hard-working and committed young people in our industry. This year nominations nearly doubled. Here’s a brief introduction to the individuals 40 years old or younger that bring optimism, new skills and a hunger for success to the plumbing industry at just the right time.
For the second year in a row, 100% of Premier 150 Survey respondents reported an increase in sales in 2022 when compared to 2021. When it comes to projections for fiscal year 2023, 81% of these distributor respondents say sales will increase while 14% expect sales to remain the same, and 4% anticipate a decrease in sales.
