TUG Connects: More Than an Infor Conference
Infor is one of the most prominent ERP systems serving the HVACR market. Last month their users group, TUG, which is independently run, held their annual event. If your company operates on the Infor platform, this is where your IT and sales operations group (as well as others depending upon the agenda) go to keep your company on the…
Spotlight
Is CRM for Rep Agencies Still Optional?
CRM for rep agencies is a topic that has frustrated leadership teams for years, and the conversation rarely lands cleanly. Chris Atwell brings sharp, practical…
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…
Lennox Q1 2026 Earnings Signal Shifts Across the HVAC Channel
The investor takeaways from the Lennox Q1 2026 earnings report are one story. The channel takeaways are another, and they are the ones that matter…
HVAC Market Stabilization: Watsco’s Q1 Signals
Watsco’s first-quarter 2026 results point to early HVAC market stabilization after two years of post-spike turbulence, even as unit volumes remain soft and macro pressures…
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Lennox Q1 2026 Earnings Signal Shifts Across the HVAC Channel
The investor takeaways from the Lennox Q1 2026 earnings report are one story. The channel takeaways are another, and they are the ones that matter for distributors, reps, and contractors trying to read where the market is heading next. The Lennox Q1 2026 earnings report landed this week, beating what has shaped up to be a messy quarter, with EPS…
HVAC Market Stabilization: Watsco’s Q1 Signals
Watsco’s first-quarter 2026 results point to early HVAC market stabilization after two years of post-spike turbulence, even as unit volumes remain soft and macro pressures keep the recovery uneven. The largest HVAC distributor in North America reported flat revenue at $1.53 billion, with a 2% gain in the US offset by an 11% decline internationally. Gross margin held at 27.9%, operating…
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 it right are higher than ever. Justin Johnson, founder and CEO of Motivate, offers a practical reality check for distributors weighing where AI actually moves the needle and where it just creates motion without results.…
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 worth sharing, this is worth a look. The deadline is April 20. Here is the full announcement from WHVACR. Women in HVACR Conference: 2026 Call for Speakers ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — March 30, 2026 — Women…
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…
