I recently wrote this article for a sister publication of HVACRTrends, ElectricalTrends (and did you also know we publish Industrial Supply Trends and US Lighting Trends?) I’m sharing it because it is about contractors. And the reality is that contractor behavior across construction trades is very similar. The big difference for the HVAC industry, and it is similar in … [Read more...] about What Matters to HVAC Contractors and What Makes Them Loyal
Distribution Strategy
Today’s HVAC/R Contractor Scorecard
Twenty years ago, a contractor's scorecard looked something like this: Equipment Brand Price Relationship Today, it looks very different: Availability Pricing Delivery Service and Support Ease of Doing Business Equipment Brand The HVAC/R industry has changed. The question is whether manufacturers and wholesalers have changed with … [Read more...] about Today’s HVAC/R Contractor Scorecard
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 thinking to it, and the timing is good. I have been working on a research project focused specifically on how reps are using these tools today and what they actually want and need from them. Chris’s piece lines up with … [Read more...] about Is CRM for Rep Agencies Still Optional?
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 … [Read more...] about Ferguson HVAC Strategy and the Q1 2026 Channel Read
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 coming in roughly 5 percent … [Read more...] about Lennox Q1 2026 Earnings Signal Shifts Across the HVAC Channel
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%, … [Read more...] about HVAC Market Stabilization: Watsco’s Q1 Signals
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 … [Read more...] about AI in Distribution: A Reality Check Before You Commit the Budget
