Supply House Times articles from September 2003

Supply House Times archives from September 2003

ISH NA editorial speaks volumes.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... That is a great editorial addressing the ISH NA issues in the July issue of SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES. I think I speak for all of the ASA board in thanking Jim Olsztynski for putting into words what we have been trying to communicate for the last...

The Hydronics Institute Division of GAMA selects our company to manage I=B=R Schools.(News: companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)
September 1, 2003... The venerable I=B=R Schools offered by the Hydronics Institute Division of GAMA (Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association) for more than 50 years will be managed by Business News Publishing (BNP) starting this fall. BNP is the parent company of...

Hughes Supply.(People On The Move ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Hughes Supply (Orlando, Fla.) named Michael Robinson branch manager at its Fort Myers Electric branch in Fort Myers, Fla., and Suky Puga branch manager at the Phoenix Westside Plumbing branch in Phoenix, Ariz. Robinson, who has been with Hughes...

Noland Co.(People On The Move ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Noland Co. (Newport News, Va.) named Ronald T. Fisher manager of its Charlottesville and Verona, Va., branches. He joined the company in 1995. Since 1998 he has headed the company's internal audit department at corporate headquarters.

Robinson Supply.(People On The Move ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Robinson Supply (Fall River, Mass.) appointed Jerry Rudinsky, a 16-year HVAC industry veteran, as marketing manager for its HVAC product lines. He will promote branded products including Goodman, Amana, First Company, Samsung, Unico,...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
September 1, 2003... Ellen Butterfield is one of the three inside salespeople at Godwin and Schultz Sales, 2003 Manufacturers Rep of the Year (see August Supply House Times, page 33). The other two are Tiara Mossburg and Zac Bevan.

Ferguson.(People On The Move ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Ferguson (Newport News, Va.) promoted Scott Peggs to president/general manager, Rochester, N.Y. He joined Ferguson as part of the Great Lakes Plumbing Supply acquisition in 1996. Since 1999 he has been manager of the Buffalo, N.Y. satellite....

Sales personnel from Des Moines, Iowa-based Plumb Supply Co., earned their choice of a Canadian fishing trip or a summer weekend in Chicago as part of the "Fish & Fun Club" promotion sponsored by Ruud Water Heaters.(News: companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Sales personnel from Des Moines, Iowa-based Plumb Supply Co., earned their choice of a Canadian fishing trip or a summer weekend in Chicago as part of the "Fish & Fun Club" promotion sponsored by Ruud Water...

Hughes celebrates 75 years.(News: companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)(Hughes Supply )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Tom Morgan, president/CEO of Hughes Supply (Orlando, Fla.), rang The Closing Bell[TM] at the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, July 18, in recognition of the company's 75th anniversary. The wholesaler has been celebrating the event in various...

Contractors' satisfaction with wholesalers higher.(News: companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A study for the Home Improvement Research Institute conducted by the Caney Group revealed that larger percentages of both general remodeling contractors and remodeling specialists are "very satisfied" with wholesaler/distributors and specialty...

Hughes Supply acquires Marden Susco, LLC.(News: companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)(Hughes Supply Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Hughes Supply (Orlando, Fla.) said it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Marden Susco, LLC, a southern California supplier of underground piping products for use in municipal water, sewer and storm drain systems. The...

Honoring the fathers.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Ferguson (Newport News Va. named facilities after three of its founding fathers, David Peebles, Charlie Banks and Jake Thomas. In recognition of all they have given to the company, President Chip Hornsby announced the tributes during the recent...

Frost & Sullivan awards A.O. Smith for quality.(News: companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A.O. Smith Water Products Co. was presented with the 2003 Product Quality Leadership Award by Frost & Sullivan for its high product quality and excellent after-sales support to its residential and commercial water heater customers. The...

TempRite[R] Plumbing Products.(Alan Watson appointed business director)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... TempRite[R] Plumbing Products, a business group of Noveon Inc., appointed Alan Watson business director, responsible for FlowGuard Gold[R] CPVC pipe and fittings and TempRite[TM] PEX pipe product lines. He joined Noveon in 2000, most recently...

Powers Fasteners.(People On The Move ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Powers Fasteners promoted Robert Aurisy to regional manager and Jim Dalesandro as Philadelphia branch manager. Also, Chris Gauche has joined the outside sales staff of Trainer Associates, the Indiana manufacturers rep firm for Powers. Aurisy...

Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association.(People On The Move ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association said that Lake Coulson, its vice president of government relations, has been named president of the National Alliance for Fair Competition. NAFC is a coalition of trade associations that...

REHAU was a sponsor of the 2003 Pacific National Exhibition prize home which was to be awarded in a lottery Sept. 2 at the PNE in Vancouver, British Columbia.(News: companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: REHAU was a sponsor of the 2003 Pacific National Exhibition prize home which was to be awarded in a lottery Sept. 2 at the PNE in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Colonial-style home incorporated several of...

New NAW/DREF book helps with forecasting.(News: companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends Guess Right: Boost the Accuracy of Your Demand Forecast)(Book Review)
September 1, 2003... NAW Author Jon Schreibfeder, president of Effective Inventory Management, urges wholesalers to seize the opportunity that "best practice" forecasting presents, as detailed in his book for NAW's Distribution Research and Education Foundation,...

Haws Corp. will help restore vintage drinking fountains.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Haws Corp. has launched the Heritage Service to assist engineers, contractors and owners with refurbishing the company's many vintage drinking fountains currently in service. Many Haws' fountains are still in use after 40 or more years and...

Robinson elected chairman of CIPH board.(News: companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)(Ross Robinson)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Ross Robinson, president of B.A Robinson in Winnipeg, Canada, was elected as the 2003/2004 chairman at the 2003 annual general meeting of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating. "My goal will be to continue the dynamic momentum of CIPH...

Noland Co.(Financial ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Noland Co. (Newport News, Va.) said a weather-related 6% decline in sales led to a flat earnings performance for the second quarter ended June 30. Record rainfall in May and June in many parts of Noland's 13-state territory caused delays in...

Hughes Supply.(opens new branch with Dennis Logan manager)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Hughes Supply (Orlando, Fla.) opened a new location at 8145 W. Harrison St. in Tolleson, Ariz., that will supply water, sewer, storm drain and irrigation products to contractors and municipalities in the local area for use in infrastructure,...

Trade groups' fax petition delays effective date.
September 1, 2003... The Federal Communications Commission issued an Order on Reconsideration regarding its Report and Order that revised many of its telemarketing and facsimile advertising rules pursuant to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991. The...

Copper Development Association promotes copper fire sprinklers at conference.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Speakers from the Copper Development Association cited numerous reasons to install all-copper fire sprinkler systems at a seminar held at the Restoration & Renovation Conference in Baltimore last spring. Copper is flexible, lightweight and...

Precision Boilers Inc.(Expansion, Acquisition ...)(Universal Boiler Works Inc.)
September 1, 2003... Precision Boilers Inc. acquired certain assets of Universal Boiler Works Inc. Precision Boilers will immediately begin producing "flex-tube" boilers under the name UBW Boilers, Inc, a subsidiary of Precision Boilers Inc. Manufacturing will...

UV Pure Technologies Inc.(Partnership ...)(Hughes Supply Inc.)
September 1, 2003... UV Pure Technologies Inc. signed a distribution agreement with Orlando, Fla.-based Hughes Supply. Hughes Supply is now a registered UV Pure wholesale distribution partner equipped to sell UV Pure's Hallett[TM] UV drinking water purification...

Roy Wagner Jr. joins Supply House Times.(News: companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Roy Wagner, Jr., a 20-year veteran of PHC trade magazine advertising sales, most recently with Wholesaler magazine, has joined the sales staff of SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES. He will also represent our sister publication, PM Engineer. Roy is the son of...

PMI hosts codes and standards workshop.(News: companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)
September 1, 2003... The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute held a workshop July 15 and 16 to "promote a better understanding of codes, standards, conformity assessment, certifications and more." Fifty-three PMI members and nonmembers from 26 plumbing manufacturers...

Rheem Water Heaters.(Training ...)(provided an in-depth briefing on the new ANSI Standard for Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistant water heaters )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Rheem Water Heaters provided an in-depth briefing on the new ANSI Standard for Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistant water heaters to about 3,000 plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractors in a series of dealer meetings held across the...

ASA Education Foundation.(Mark Your Calendars ...)
September 1, 2003... ASA Education Foundation will offer the 2004 University of Industrial Distribution in Indianapolis March 7-10. Twenty workshops will address sales and marketing, profitability and financial improvement, branch and operations management, human...

The Canadian Water Quality Association.(sponsor of FOCUS-CIPHEX Ontario 2004 trade show)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Canadian Water Quality Association will be a major sponsor of FOCUS--CIPHEX Ontario 2004, a trade show and conference produced and owned by the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating. It is scheduled for March 4-6 in Toronto. A section of...

North Central Wholesalers Association.(merger of two associations)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... North Central Wholesalers Association: The Central Wholesalers Association and Michigan Association of Distributors officially merged Sept. 1, after a formal vote was taken at a joint annual meeting in June.

Underwriters Laboratories.(Performance Testing ...)
September 1, 2003... Underwriters Laboratories in Santa Clara, Calif., oversees a test system that meets industry performance standards for testing backflow protection devices to ANSI/ASME A112.18.3. For more information, contact Maggie Carroll at 408-876-2131 or...

Jana Laboratories Inc.(Performance Testing ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Jana Laboratories Inc. has received accreditation to ISO 17025 by International Accreditation Service. The IAS Accreditation is recognized by NACLA, APLAC and ILAC, providing acceptance across North America, Europe, Asia and around the world....

Hico Group.(Kenneth F. Fey appointed)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Hico Group appointed Kenneth F. Fey vice president/solos and marketing. A 21-year veteran of the plumbing industry, Fey has held positions including national sales manager and vice president/wholesale at divisions of Black & Decker and Masco...

Coastal Industries.(Mark Rowlett promoted and Steve Turner hired)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Coastal Industries promoted Mark Rowlett to national sales manager and hired Steve Turner as western regional manager. Rowlett joined the company as western regional manager in 1998. Turner has 15 years of sales experience.

Elkay.(promotions of Ted Hamilton, Mark Bidinger and Rigoberto Gomez)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Elkay promoted Ted Hamilton to plant manager at its Broadview, III, manufacturing facility and Mark Bidinger to manager/operations at its St. Charles, III., facility. Hamilton has been with Elkay 11 years, and has held positions including...

Leming Supply opens first showroom.(Bath & Kitchen)
September 1, 2003... Leming Supply, based in Lafayette, Ind., told SupPLY House TIMES it hopes to open its first showroom this month. The 1400-sq.-ft. "Creative Bath and Kitchen" showroom is located at the wholesaler's headquarters. The company relocated its...

Brass Craft realigns sales management staff.(Bath & Kitchen)
September 1, 2003... Brass Craft has announced changes in its sales management staff that should enhance its customer-service capabilities while also reflecting the company's new focus on the development and marketing of innovative and proprietary products,...

Jacuzzi Brands reports nine months results.(Bath & Kitchen)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Jacuzzi Brands said net sales for the nine months ended June 30 were up 10.6% to $865.2 million from $782.1 million. Operating income for the 2003 year to-date period remained stable at $69.3 million vs. $69.7 million for the same period last...

Hico Group.(adds CUCINA line of luxury faucets and showerheads )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Hico Group, which has been an OEM supplier to many established plumbing specialty brands in the United States for 41 years, as well as selling direct to the plumbing wholesale community under the Hico Flex Brass brand, recently added the CUCINA...

Elkay.(honors its employees)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Elkay honored more than 100 employees as part of its recent 2002 Achieving Competitive Excellence annual division recognition program. Gold, silver and bronze awards were presented in six categories. The awards program was developed to...

Lasco Bathware names McDonald president.(Jack McDonald named president)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Lasco Bathware has a new president, Jack McDonald (left), who also remains president of Lasco Fittings, another construction products company operated by Tomkins Industries. McDonald was appointed president of Lasco Fittings, a PVC pipe...

Frigo Design.(partners with Revere Copper Products)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Frigo Design, which designs and fabricates custom metal countertops, backsplashes, wall tiles, appliance facades and other kitchen decoratives, entered into an agreement with Revere Copper Products to be a retail distributor of Revere's new...

Hansgrohe introduces Raindance handshower.(Bath & Kitchen)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Hansgrohe's new Raindance handshower, created by Phoenix Design of Stuttgart, Germany, has a shortened handle for easier ergonomics and a large, flat spray face, measuring six inches in diameter, for total body coverage. A matching, rotating...

McJunkin Corp.(McJunkin Corp. acquires CIGMA LLC)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... McJunkin Com. (Charleston, W.Va.) has finalized its acquisition of CIGMA LLC of Indianapolis. Founded in 1997 to provide gas products and integrated supply services, CIGMA was a jointly held subsidiary of Vectren Corp. of Evansville, IN and...

Jomar International.(executive changes)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Jomar International chairman Joseph Martin has announced a corporate reorganization, with Paul Craig serving as president, Gene Kerwin as vice president of operations and Dan Blake, vice president of sales and marketing.

Velan.(Velan agrees to supply valves to Valero Energy Corp )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Velan has reached an agreement with Valero Energy Corp. to become a primary valve supplier for all Valero refineries in the U.S. and Canada. The agreement covers cast steel, small forged and HF acid gate, globe and check valves for daily MRO...

Crane Pumps.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Crane Pumps has chosen the e-PUMP-FLO web-based software (www.pump-flo.com) to streamline the pump selection process. Users can select, evaluate and analyze the Barnes, Weinman, Deming and Global centrifigal pumps using the Crane Pumps'...

Uralita.(Spanish construction Uralita, looking for a partner)
September 1, 2003... Uralita, a Spanish construction materials group, is looking for a technology partner for its pipes business to help compete for international business. Contact Uralita SA, at +34-914-481-000, www.uralita.com.

Manufacturing slump nearing an end?(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Manufacturing slum nearing an end? The Institute for Supply Management's Report on Business found the manufacturing sector expanding in July for the first time in five months. ISM's New Order Index, considered a leading indicator credited with...

American Supply Association's operating performance report documents PVF slump.
September 1, 2003... The 2003 Edition of the Operating Performance Report (OPR) of the American Supply Association gives ample evidence of the troubles facing PVF distributors. The latest edition shows PVF wholesalers surveyed reporting a median 5.2 percent decline...

The Mechanical Contractors Association of America.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Mechanical Contractors Association of America and local affiliates have been meeting with sponsors of a federal bill on fire-sprinkler systems, H.R. 1824, which would provide a substantial tax benefit to building owners who equip their...

Online purchasing continues to grow.
September 1, 2003... The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) and Forrester Research released the latest ISM/Forrester Research Report On eBusiness, a first-of-its-kind report that tracks online activity for both manufacturing and non manufacturing organizations....

Carbon monoxide: a clear and present danger.
September 1, 2003... When wholesaler-distributors use internal combustion forklifts inside buildings and confined spaces, dangerous levels of carbon monoxide (CO) can build up quickly and remain in the air long after engines are turned off. CO is a poisonous gas...

EMCOR Group.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... EMCOR Group, the nation's largest mechanical contractor, reported a revenue increase of 16 percent for the second quarter of 2003; $1.1 billion compared to 2002's second-quarter figures of $986.4 million. However, earnings fell to $8.3 million...

Comfort Systems USA.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Comfort Systems USA announced that its second-quarter revenues from continuing operations were $202.4 million, compared to $211.5 million in the second quarter of 2002. Net income from continuing operations was $2.6 million, or 7 cents per...

The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute.(statistics on air conditioners and air-source heat pumps)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute reports combined U.S. factory shipments of 2.35 million central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for the second quarter of 2003, a decrease of 2.4% over the same time period last year....

Lennox International Inc.(Economics ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Lennox International Inc. announced second quarter 2003 diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.51 versus $0.43 for the same quarter in 2002. Sales decreased 1% to $819 million from $828 million in last year's second quarter. In constant...

Gibraltar.(Strategic Moves ...)(Gibraltar acquires Air Vent, Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Gibraltar acquired Air Vent, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of ventilation products. Previously a subsidiary of CertainTeed Corp., Air Vent will now operate as a subsidiary of Gibraltar. Currently, Air Vent operates three manufacturing...

Metropac Industries.(expands inventory by 25%)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Metropac Industries increased their inventory selection by over 25%. Their expanded inventory includes more zoning controls, more refrigeration controls and more commercial components. Metropac now stocks the entire line of Honeywell zoning...

Why wholesalers like to recycle thermostats.
September 1, 2003... Brighton, Mass.-based Interstate Electric Equipment is one of nearly 900 heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) wholesalers nationwide that collects used, wall-mounted, mercury switch thermostats from its customers, and sends them free of...

Consensus reached on heater tank temperatures.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating hosted a stakeholders meeting in Toronto to reach consensus on the proposed changes to the National Building Code and the National Plumbing Code and make recommendations to the Standing Committee...

Selkirk L.L.C.(People On The Move ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Selkirk L.L.C. has promoted Debbie Sudduth to chief information officer. Sudduth will continue to be responsible for Information Technology Systems throughout North America and have oversight responsibilities for the sales and operations...

Lennox International Inc.(People On The Move ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Lennox International Inc. promoted Scott J. Boxer as president and chief operating officer of Service Experts Inc., the company's $1 billion retail sales and service division. Most recently president of Lennox Industries Inc., Boxer had also...

Raven Hydronic Supply.(Welcome To The Industry ...)(Distributor of hydronic heating and domestic water equipment)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Raven Hydronic Supply (Surrey, British Columbia) is a specialized company recently formed by Brian De Jaegher, P. Eng., and is focused solely on the distribution of commercial hydronic heating and domestic water equipment. Raven carries...

Weil-McLain.(Promotions ...)
September 1, 2003... Weil-McLain announced its "4-in-1" system jacket promotion where contractors and dealers can receive a free "4-in-1" system jacket for any two boilers or every one Ultra Boiler they purchase. The promotion runs through Oct. 3.

The Rees Scholarship Foundation.(Awards ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Rees Scholarship Foundation, which encourages students to seek careers in the HVACR industry, awarded its first two scholarships to Paula Poddge of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Daniel Kent Parker of Snyder, Texas. The scholarship is named for...

Remembering John.(HVAC Forum)(John Gorrie's contribution to HVAC industry)(Biography)
September 1, 2003... You probably don't know anything about John. That's too bad, because John has made your life better. John was a pioneer, a visionary, a man who was ahead of his time, a servant of mankind whose work benefited the world. You and I are benefiting...

Aperum.(Appointment ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Aperum appointed Carol Butler as vice president of development. Prior to joining Aperum, Butler was a principal consultant with Metanology Corp., providing applications, tools and services to simplify application development. She also served as...

MRO Software Inc.(Agreement ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... MRO Software. Inc. reached an agreement with Centennial Software to enhance the auto-discovery and tracking capabilities available in the MAXIMO MainControl[R] product suite. As part of the agreement, MRO Software will offer Centennial's...

Mincron Corp.(Releases ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Mincron Corp. released its JENASYS[TM] Translation Suite at the COMMON 2003 Conference and Expo. The Translation Suite will enable users to convert the computer language that most "green-screen computers" in warehouses use (known as RPG) to a...

Prier.(Web Sites To Watch ...)
September 1, 2003... Prier launched its Prier Partsfinder on its Web site, www.prier.com. The Pertsfinder allows wholesalers, contractors and end-users to easily locate parts by locating the product and selecting the problem with the product. The Partsfinder will...

PMI's IT forum discusses need for global database.(Technology)(Plumbing Manufacturers Institute's Information Technology forum )
September 1, 2003... The first day of the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute's Information Technology forum in July focused on the initiative by retailers to synchronize data via a global database and have a common format for presenting their products. Presentations...

ASA's CAT exhibiting in ISH NA Technology Pavilion.(Technology)(American Supply Association's Center for Advancing Technology)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... ISH North America is featuring an expanded Technology Pavilion with software and technology products geared toward wholesalers and contractors--bidding and estimating software, back office integration systems. pricing and inventory management...

Prophet 21 announces trade show schedule.(Technology)
September 1, 2003... In effort to help distributors learn the benefits of Prophet 21's technology solutions company representatives will attend more than 10 trade shows and conventions this fall. "Prophet 21 welcomes the opportunity to talk with distributors...

PAHRA Web site provides info about accreditation.(Technology)(Partnership for Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A new Web site, developed by members of the Partnership for Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA) program, gives heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) instructors and schools the tools they...

ASA's new president: education and participation key to association survival: Mark Theis thinks it's time for ISH NA to go every other year.(American Supply Association )(Interview)
September 1, 2003... Mark Theis is a fourth generation plumbing wholesaler. He has been on the Mid-American Supply Association board since 1995 and currently serves as the president of the Midwest Distributors Association. Now, he can add president of the American...

The toilet marketplace: SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES hit the streets to find out what toilet manufacturers are bragging about, where their focus is today and where their attention will be for the near future.(Special Report)
September 1, 2003... Since 1994 manufacturers have been trying to rise above the 1.6 gallon-per-flush ruckus caused by disgruntled homeowners and since 1998, the equally vocal double-flushing business community. While this technical and managerial challenge was...

Showroom survey: this month instead of writing his usual insightful column on showroom merchandising, Hank Darlington reviews and analyzes the results of SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES' 2003 Showroom Survey.
September 1, 2003... If you're a wholesaler and operate a showroom(s), this is one article you should read. And even if you aren't in the showroom business today but are starting to think about it you too should read it! The majority of wholesalers responding...

Kelly Supply celebrates 100 years: don't be fooled by their rural setting. The Kelly family presides over a thoroughly modern company.(Kelly Supply)(Company Profile)
September 1, 2003... There's a time and place for everything. So when a company marks 100 years in business under the same family ownership, it's a time to indulge in large doses of nostalgia. No surprise, then, to find quite a bit of that when I visited Kelly...

Cooling customers for a cause: a manufacturer and distributor partnered to provide air-conditioned comfort and product information while raising money for a charity.(companies send display trailer to FedEx/St. Jude Golf Tournament)
September 1, 2003... It's very rare for people to be thankful for heat and humidity during the summer months, but representatives from Memphis-based Equipment Supply & Distribution, Inc., and Coleman Heating and Air Conditioning were glad it was a hot weekend in...

The perfect rep: the manufacturers representative typically is his own multi-functional, multi-tasking, multi-lined, multi-pressured, multi-alarm fireman.
September 1, 2003... If reps were perfect, they could join their mythically perfect supply chain partners--manufacturers and distributors--to form a team of mythical superheroes. Unfortunately, all three entities are far from perfect. But reps, like manufacturers...

How to deal with problem employees.
September 1, 2003... A bad day is when a vehicle or key piece of equipment breaks down. A horrendous day is when something goes haywire with the most complex machinery you work with--the human mind. Technical problems can be hard to diagnose, but you can be sure...