Long, irregular hours; seasonal employment with intermittent layoffs; frequent travel with time away from family; overnight and holiday shutdowns; and unrealistic deadline demands

According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 95% of generative artificial intelligence (AI) pilots at companies fail to deliver revenue impact (https://yhoo.it/4nHjebz). 

Wholesale distributors and manufacturers in the HVAC, plumbing, and PVF sectors face a unique challenge in their warehouses: extreme variation in product size, shape, weight, and material-handling requirements.

The skilled trades have built nations — from homes, schools and roads to commercial buildings and infrastructure that power daily life.

When young professionals ask me for advice about building a successful career in our industry, I often start by sharing a simple truth: our business isn’t only about moving products through warehouses — it’s about moving people toward their potential.

In today’s plumbing and PVF marketplace, reliability, safety and product availability remain constant priorities for wholesalers and contractors.

As of this writing, the prelude to the month of March is continued uncertainty concerning the status of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, predicated on the U.S. Supreme Court determination of the legality, the opposition party’s stance on a government shutdown deadline of February 13, the potential escalation of the Iranian crisis and persistent high interest rates.

Holt Supply founder John Raymond Holt passed away peacefully on Feb. 24, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. 

Lubrizol has announced a major advancement in its CPVC manufacturing with the introduction of LED reactor technology at the company’s Louisville, Kentucky plant.