In the manufacturers’ representative community, one of the largest events each year is our Association of Independent Manufacturers Representatives Annual Conference. 

Earlier this year, Chat Howard Jr., president and owner of Savannah, Ga.-based Sandpiper Supply, stood at a podium during Southern Wholesalers Association’s annual convention.

A cut of 2 million oil barrels per day resulted from Russian-led allies, a move that caused already high prices to rise further. This results from Russian pressure on fellow members of the 23-member group known as OPEC.

December is the end of a turbulent year for the PVF sector of our economy: supply-chain constraints, rising costs of material, labor shortages, escalating energy costs, international conflicts and a political environment hostile to fossil-fuel energy sources.

Growing up in Cleveland, Louis Schlessinger was a young man with administrative skills and financial acumen. He befriended Frank Lifshitz, an owner of a local hardware store involved in building and repairing boilers.  

Ignite Your Career, a campaign started by the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association two years ago,  promotes career opportunities in the skilled trades to attract the next generation of talent.

Many small home service businesses don’t believe they need to worry about public relations. However, PR professionals do more than put out reputation fires — they help cement your good reputation as an expert within your community before a perceived misstep harms your company.

When homeowners have a plumbing issue, they don’t want plumbers to waste time looking for things in their trucks. Make sure they have 80 percent of what they need for 80 percent of their customers. Al Levi has some tips for doing that.

Business owners need to keep track of many things to keep their entrepreneurial dreams alive. Knowing how tangible and intangible costs affect your pricing and your profit margin is critical for any home services contractor.

Distribution Strategy Group is excited to present this panel on e-commerce technology Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 9 a.m. PT/12 ET.