In the second of a two-part series, distributors discuss health care, succession planning, outlooks on the economy and the evolution of ASA.

In the first of a two-part series, distributors offer their candid thoughts on e-commerce, hiring practices, customer credit and supply-chain relationships.

American Supply Association’s Monthly Pulse report reveals member wholesaler-distributors recorded median sales growth of 1.1% for the month ending Oct. 31.

Eastern Industrial Supplies recently announced it has signed a definitive letter of intent to acquire privately held PVF distributor M & R Pipe and Supply based out of Birmingham, Ala.

American Piping Products recently announced it has purchased the assets Ozark Tubular Products. Based in St. Louis, Mo., American Piping Products also has locations in Houston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Baton Rouge.

Check out the new features at www.midlandmetal.com.

The magazine’s July 2012 cover was one of 15 publications to earn accolades in the “Covers” category.

 On a late Tuesday afternoon last October, the front hallway of the Houston Engineering and Scientific Society Club was packed with people standing nearly shoulder-to-shoulder. 

Along time ago the saying was “Go West, young man.” Nowadays, it’s “Get to the Dakotas.” The modern-day oil boom in the Bakken region — covering a majority of North Dakota, northwestern South Dakota, eastern Montana and in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan — has been an impressive launching pad for PVF distributors willing to commit resources to the area.