With so many new innovations hitting the market daily — along with virtual education options — training fatigue is always a risk. Supply House Times asked a few questions to contractors, reps and manufacturers to gain a quick pulse for what’s most effective today in terms of product training.

Starting with the “seemingly innate,” research has shown that many of the characteristics that make women strong leaders are empathy, encouragement and shared vision. 

The Winsupply Family of Companies is made up of more than 600 locations nationwide, each owned and operated by a local president. The company’s slogan is “Spirit of Opportunity,” and if you’d listened in on this roundtable, you’d understand it’s much more than just a slogan.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) enforces hazardous materials transportation operations with oversight by the Department of Transportation (DOT).

The annual list is based on a survey conducted by Supply House Times and BNP Media Market Research. The Premier 150 list ranks the top PHCP-PVF distributors by their reported sales for the previous year.

The May issue is an exciting one. The first order of business is Supply House Times’ annual Premier 150 distributors list. As you can predict, sales skyrocketed for many PHCP-PVF distributors throughout fiscal year 2021.

I asked some friends in the industry, who work in cities, how they manage to do what they do, what with the traffic, lack of parking and high-stressed inhabitants. What they had to say made me shiver. 

“We all wake up in the middle of the night thinking about one more thing you could have done the day before. You make note of it and wake up ready to get after it the next day.” That’s how Mobile Alabama-based rep firm Tim Morales & Associates’ (TMI) Founder and President, Tim Morales, describes the competitive spirit that keeps himself and his team going every day.

I am excited to begin a column for Supply House Times writing as a voice for manufacturer’s reps. I see this column as an opportunity to serve and build up our industry. I believe it is important for manufacturers' reps to strive to be better business people with healthy, robust companies, acting as first-class stewards of the products we represent.

The division of VPC Global closed on the purchase of buildings and land with rail access on May 4 and will begin installing extrusion lines as soon as possible. The plan is to replicate the company's Kingman, Arizonia, facility and start production in 60 days.