This year, the American Supply Association (ASA) is celebrating its 50th anniversary.  Its president, Steve Cook, CEO of Northeastern Supply, has led the association through its banner year — at a grueling pace.

Chicago, 1920. The city, having spent many years rebuilding itself from the devastating Chicago Fire in the late 1800s, was on a path to branding itself a major metropolis. There was a surge in residential and commercial construction, and many companies took part in this massive growth opportunity. 

The company, which began in 1963 and started by carrying one product line, now stocks more than 275 HVACR product lines such as Honeywell, Johnson Controls and Danfoss.

A manufacturer’s salesforce can take many forms — internal sales, external sales or partner with a manufacturer’s rep firm to represent the company and its brand.  A manufacturer’s representative is an integral part of the industry channel and  an extension of the brands it represents. 

We asked Rick Root, principal at Bailey Sales & Associates and the current AIM/R president, to discuss the industry, and how AIM/R continues to be the go-to resource for rep excellence. 

Texas Pipe and Supply remains a family-owned and -operated business and is a  distributor of carbon and stainless steel line pipe and stainless steel fittings and flanges. 

Ed Ihrie was a visionary. In 1972, as the general manager and a stockholder of W.L. Smith Supply Co., a wholesale distributor located in North Carolina, Ihrie saw a need in the marketplace that was not being met.

Wholesale distributors know that having all the products to complete your customer’s project is essential for complete customer satisfaction.

This year marks Ernie Coutermarsh’s 50th year with F.W. Webb Co., a family-owned and -operated wholesale distributor of plumbing, heating, cooling, PVF, and industrial products in the northeast.

The Wholesaler is championing companies within our industry that represent the best in class of showrooms. This year, we created a Showroom of the Year award, dedicated to a company and storefront going beyond product offerings — and showcases what happens when customer service, employee engagement and technology combine to form magic.