Respondents reported a median sales increase of 20.5% for November 2021 vs. 2020. In comparison to the previous month (December 2021 vs. November 2021), respondents reported a modest decline in sales of -2.2% (the previous monthly sales report had a 3.5% increase in the same category; November 2021 vs. October 2021).  

On Thursday, January 13, Williams Distributing hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to announce the grand opening of their new distribution center. Owners, members from the executive team, and the Mayor of Kentwood attended along with Representatives of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce.

F.W. Webb Company announced the acquisition of Stritt & Priebe, a specialist in industrial valve supply, service and repair in Buffalo, New York, and VJ Stanley, a wholesale-distributor and manufacturers' representative of steam and hydronic products in Rochester, New York.

AD announced its member-owners elected two directors to its 2022 board of directors. AD’s newly elected director is Karla Neupert Hockley, president of Consolidated Supply Co. Tim Horsman, president & CEO of E.B. Horsman & Son was reelected by AD’s member-owners.

Edward J. Nierman, a founding partner of Canton, Massachusetts-based Independent Pipe & Supply, Canton, Massachusetts passed away on January 15, 2022, at 98 years of age. Nierman was a pioneering giant in the world of pipe, valves and fittings. A man of modest upbringing, he joined his parents in their small, used plumbing supply business. He and his brother Al expanded the business in 1950 into Independent Pipe & Supply. 

APR Supply Co. announced it has partnered with Podium to offer its contractors a solution to improve their customer experience with award-winning interaction management. Podium is a communication and payments platform that uses the simple power of texting to empower businesses to get more reviews, convert website traffic, collect payments and send promotions.

I can’t believe that is has been nearly 10 years since Joe Poehling of First Supply flew out to visit me at our offices in New Hampshire to pitch me on the value of getting active in ASA. Joe was ASA president at the time, and I always looked up to him as an industry leader and great business person. Little did I know that meeting would eventually lead me to taking over as the 53rd president of ASA.  Guess I should have known that Joe is way too good of a salesman! 

After 56 years of significant expansion and growth, the Abeling family has transitioned 100% of the company’s total ownership to all the employees of the company through a qualified retirement plan known as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (or ESOP). All eligible employees will be granted shares of Company stock each year, at no cost, allowing them to earn ownership over time through their service to the company and accumulate tax-deferred retirement wealth. Consumers Pipe & Supply Co. joins a group of elite 100% employee-owned companies across the U.S.  

In October, Coburn’s honored General Manager Bill Geyser who retired after 46 years of service with the company. With Bill's retirement and with the continued growth of Coburn's, the company has made changes to its personnel and leadership in the Southwest Louisiana and Texas markets, taking effect immediately.

ASA’s monthly sales report shows November 2021 results that reflect another month of robust performance compared to the same month a year ago. The year-to-date and trailing 12-month figures remained strong when compared against 2020, a year that had multiple weeks, if not months of closures or partial closures, ASA business intelligence partner Industry Insights, which produces the monthly sales report for ASA members, noted.