Ferguson HVAC Strategy and the Q1 2026 Channel Read
Ferguson Enterprises released Q1 2026 results this week, and the read for the HVACR channel is more interesting than the headline beat suggests. The Ferguson HVAC strategy is performing in a mixed environment. Residential demand is weak. Nonresidential is strong. Data centers continue to drive specialty growth. Pricing is firming up faster than the company’s own guidance suggested. For…
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AI in Distribution: A Reality Check Before You Commit the Budget
The conversation around AI in distribution has moved past the pilot stage. Budgets are being committed, vendors are promising transformation, and the stakes on getting…
Women in HVACR Conference Opens 2026 Speaker Call
The Women in HVACR conference is accepting speaker proposals for its 2026 annual event, and if you have field experience, practical knowledge, or a perspective…
Project Jupiter and the New Playbook for the Trades: From Big Bets to Real Outcomes
The Project Jupiter trades story is moving fast at the national level. The real question is whether skilled trades contractors, electricians, and HVAC technicians are…
HVAC Distributor Sales Pick Up in February
HVAC distributor sales moved in the right direction in February, with HARDI reporting weighted average same-day sales up approximately 5% year-over-year. That is a meaningful…
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Project Jupiter and the New Playbook for the Trades: From Big Bets to Real Outcomes
The Project Jupiter trades story is moving fast at the national level. The real question is whether skilled trades contractors, electricians, and HVAC technicians are positioned to capture meaningful value from a $165 billion development. Bob Allomong frames the Project Jupiter trades question the channel needs to be asking. In today’s trades environment, risk doesn’t live in headlines. It shows…
HVAC Distributor Sales Pick Up in February
HVAC distributor sales moved in the right direction in February, with HARDI reporting weighted average same-day sales up approximately 5% year-over-year. That is a meaningful swing from January, when the same measure was down 1%. Before anyone calls it a recovery, though, it is worth looking at what is actually driving the number. Price Is Doing Most of the Work…
Mingledorff’s Sale: HVAC Distribution Consolidation Risks
Announced earlier this week, the acquisition of Mingledorff’s by The Home Depot via its SRS Distribution platform is another step in HVAC distribution consolidation, and a significant one. This is not just another deal. It signals a structural shift in how the channel may function going forward. The strategic rationale is straightforward: greater scale, expanded “Pro” reach, and entry into…
Rethinking SPA Optimization
SPAs are simultaneously one of the most valuable margin levers in distribution and one of the least governed. In this context, SPA refers to Special Price Agreements which are ship-and-debit programs between manufacturers and distributors that support stock sales growth and align channel pricing. Distributors invest significant time negotiating favorable terms with suppliers, then leave the realization of those terms to…
AI Provides the Speed to Quote Quicker, Win More Orders
Last month I participated on Prokeep’s webinar on order quotation and order automation. For a pre-launch event, the attendance was great. The timing, incidentally, coincided with meetings I had recently with some contractors who shared what is important to them. The answer … speed. They wanted speedy responses to quotes and questions. The reason – they are running fast. Not…
When HVAC Distributor Loyalty Hurts Growth
HVAC distributor loyalty runs deep. Many wholesalers proudly carry the same manufacturer lines they brought on decades ago—often through multiple ownership changes, economic cycles, and market shifts. These long-term relationships are built on trust, shared growth, and mutual dependence. In an industry where reliability matters and failures are costly, loyalty feels not just admirable, but necessary. However, when loyalty is based…
AI for Distributor HR: Tools Worth Knowing About
Getting Started with AI for Distributor HR For distributors, people are the business. You can operate with a lean inventory model, but without capable people, nothing works. That reality is why AI for distributor HR is worth paying attention to now. The tools have matured enough to handle real workflows, the costs are accessible, and the administrative burden they can…
The HVAC Technician Shortage: What 2031 Could Look
Why the HVAC Technician Shortage Is Getting Worse The HVAC technician shortage is not a future problem. It is already here, and its trajectory points somewhere the industry does not want to go. By 2031, if the pipeline does not change, the sector will be operating under serious strain: longer wait times, higher labor costs, slower technology adoption, and service…
