Everything is under one canopy – the TORRCO canopy. After some aggressive business moves in the Connecticut, western Massachusetts and eastern New York markets, it was time for 95-year-old Waterbury, Conn.-based Torrington Supply to streamline its message so there was no confusion among customers.

I’ve visited a number of showrooms the past several months and found they look pretty much the way they did 10 and even 20 years ago.

The supply house business is more complicated than ever. Social media, the next generation of employees, and new technology that either helps or hinders communication present challenges to owners and managers.

Trade Service and Omni buying group recently announced they have formed a strategic partnership to offer quality product and pricing content to Omni member wholesalers.

When I was in high school a good friend turned me on to a quirky radio program called “Swap Shop.” The premise of the show was people calling in to buy, sell and trade hard-to-find items. A quick Internet search reveals the call-in show still exists on a radio station in Florida.

During a trip to Cranston, R.I.-based Taco headquarters, national HVAC/R wholesaler Sid Harvey presented its vendor of the year honor to Taco CEO and President Johnny White.

It’s no surprise online retail giant Amazon.com entered the industrial market in 2012 with the launch of Amazonsupply.com. After all, the market for U.S. industrial supplies is more than $150 billion.

As the beleaguered residents of New York City and New Jersey continue to put their lives back together, asset protection lawyer Hillel L. Presser reminds Americans - it could happen to you!