These five areas of channel conflict stem from changes that, largely, began in the 1990s and just as partnership efforts were reaching their peak.

While the PHCP segment saw 3.4% growth, the industrial PVF segment declined 6.6%. 

Ashley Martin and Katie Poehling first crossed paths at a University of Notre Dame college football game in 2004. Martin was there with her father, Rex Martin, the owner of Elkhart, Ind.-based valves, fittings, PEX and industrial plastics manufacturer NIBCO.

The Meridian, Miss.-based company was founded by A.B. “Ben” Weddington as the area’s distributor of saw mills on wheels. He employed 35 machinists at the height of the business.

Mid-City Supply’s annual Holiday Hog Roast at each of its branches collected toys for the Toys for Tots organization and personal-care items (shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc.) for the Salvation Army. Customers and vendors also were treated to lunch.

In my report on the recent winter PVF Roundtable meeting in Houston, Supply House Times columnist and ASA Industry Analyst Morrie Beschloss used the signature sign-on line from World War II-era radio commentator Gabriel Heatter to describe the outlook for the industrial PVF industry.

WinWholesale recently opened Tulsa (Okla.) Winair to provide heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment and supplies to contractors in a 50-mile radius of the Tulsa metropolitan area.

Value is a much revered concept that is touted by executives but seldom measured. 

Supply House Times’ 2013 Supply House of the Year recently announced it has joined the Affiliated Distributors buying group.

In this high-tech, hustle-and-bustle day and age, a phone call to businesses in many walks of life likely will include dealing with some form of nonhuman interaction.