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HVACR Trends

HVACR Trends

Information to Inspire, Grow and Profit

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Branch Leadership Blueprint for Distribution

January 8, 2026 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

Foundations of a Giant book cover by Brian Eason, focused on branch leadership in wholesale distribution

If you work in wholesale distribution, you already know that strategy may be written at headquarters, but execution lives and dies at the branch.  That reality sits at the heart of Foundations of a Giant: A Branch Boss’s Blueprint for Wholesale Distribution, a new book built around one core idea: strong branch leadership is still the most reliable competitive advantage in the … [Read more...] about Branch Leadership Blueprint for Distribution

BuildOps Bluon Integration Expands AI Support for Commercial HVAC

January 6, 2026 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

Technician using AI-powered HVAC software in the field

The BuildOps Bluon integration is now broadly available following a successful trial, expanding in-workflow access to AI-powered technical data for commercial HVAC contractors.  The expanded integration brings Bluon’s equipment intelligence and guided technical support directly into BuildOps, allowing technicians to access model-specific information while working in the … [Read more...] about BuildOps Bluon Integration Expands AI Support for Commercial HVAC

A Conversation with Richard Boothman, North American Sales Director for Modine Manufacturing

December 19, 2025 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

Modine Market Outlook 2026 | Richard Boothman

Richard Boothman serves as North American Sales Director for Modine Manufacturing's Heating Division, where he is responsible for commercial strategy, sales, channel relationships, and market development across the company’s heating vertical within the Climate Solutions portfolio.  He has spent decades in HVAC, with experience spanning unitary equipment, engineered systems, and … [Read more...] about A Conversation with Richard Boothman, North American Sales Director for Modine Manufacturing

Real-Time Product Data Is a Competitive Divide in HVAC

December 3, 2025 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

HVAC contractor in home mechanical room using tablet with real-time product data overlay.

Real-time product data is now a competitive divide in the HVAC channel, and manufacturers who provide real-time product data gain an immediate advantage. When specs, pricing, and availability are current for reps, distributors, and contractors, jobs move quickly and customers feel confident.  When that information is old or inconsistent, quotes slow down, margins weaken, and … [Read more...] about Real-Time Product Data Is a Competitive Divide in HVAC

Carrier and Women in HVACR Award $55,000 in Scholarships to Advance Women in the Trades

December 2, 2025 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

The HVACR industry is stronger when more people have a real chance to contribute, lead and build meaningful careers. That is why the Women in HVACR scholarships program, in partnership with Carrier, stands out. Their joint effort is not simply another feel-good moment. It is a concrete investment in the next generation of technicians, engineers and business leaders who will … [Read more...] about Carrier and Women in HVACR Award $55,000 in Scholarships to Advance Women in the Trades

2026 Housing Market: What HVAC Channels Must Do Now

November 24, 2025 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

Housing market trend graphic showing demographic shifts, rates, and construction forecasts

The team at John Burns Research & Consulting is painting a different picture of the next housing cycle. It is not a reset back to 2021-style demand. It is a structural shift, and the 2026 housing market implications for HVAC channel leaders are significant. If you operate in HVAC manufacturing, wholesale distribution, or as a rep agency, what happens over the next eighteen … [Read more...] about 2026 Housing Market: What HVAC Channels Must Do Now

Lantern’s AI Forecasting: A New Era for Distributors

November 21, 2025 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

Lantern AI forecasting platform for distributors

I had the chance to sit in on a demo of Lantern’s AI forecasting platform recently, and it was one of the more compelling tools I have seen in a while.   The team is tackling a problem every distributor knows too well.  Distributors are carrying more inventory than they want, chasing fill rates they cannot afford to miss, and leaning on ERP rules that were written when the … [Read more...] about Lantern’s AI Forecasting: A New Era for Distributors

AI Adoption in Distribution: How Leadership and the Right Partner Drive Lasting Change

November 14, 2025 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

AI adoption in distribution showing leader at top of staircase guiding team through transformation stages from foundation technology selection through implementation rollout to team buy-in

The distribution industry is at an inflection point.  Tariffs, labor shortages, and margin pressure are reshaping how companies compete, while AI adoption in distribution is changing how work gets done.  The challenge is no longer whether to adopt AI, but how to implement it in a way that delivers immediate results and builds lasting competitive advantage. In this article, … [Read more...] about AI Adoption in Distribution: How Leadership and the Right Partner Drive Lasting Change

Watsco’s Q3 2025 Results: Better Than Feared, but Not Out of the Woods Yet

November 13, 2025 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

Watsco logo representing Watsco Q3 2025 results article on HVACR Trends

Watsco’s Q3 2025 results offered a sigh of relief for HVAC distributors and manufacturers watching the A2L refrigerant transition unfold.  Earnings per share of $3.98 missed Wall Street consensus by about 6 percent but came in ahead of buy-side expectations.  That mix of mild disappointment and cautious optimism perfectly sums up where the HVAC channel sits today: weathering … [Read more...] about Watsco’s Q3 2025 Results: Better Than Feared, but Not Out of the Woods Yet

Data Centers – an HVACR Distributor Opportunity

November 10, 2025 by David Gordon Leave a Comment

Data Centers - an HVACR Distributor Opportunity

Data centers are perceived as a “huge” market opportunity by almost every manufacturer. Many distributors believe that they should be able to win some business there. Reps are expected to win business there. And yes, there are lots of data centers in the country, and in most markets, but the data centers gaining visibility today, the mega projects, are for AI and are being … [Read more...] about Data Centers – an HVACR Distributor Opportunity

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Women in HVACR logo announcing 2026 leadership team

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Distributor sales team using AI platform across counter, inside sales, and field operations

AI for Distributors: Supporting the Entire Sales Team

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