Rheem Manufacturing Looks to HARDI to Sharpen Forecasts

Supplier Member, Rheem Manufacturing in Fort Smith, Arkansas, hosted HARDI’s Talbot Gee to discuss ways HARDI’s Targeted and Regional Economic News for Distributor Strategies (TRENDS) program and Chief Economist, Alan Beaulieu, and the major HVAC and water heating manufacturer could work more closely together to build better market forecasts and channel efficiency. HARDI and Rheem also discussed changing channel and market dynamics as well as the impact of current and future policy issues on the HVACR industry.

Pictured left to right: Talbot Gee, HARDI, Ken Rothgeb and Bill Hanesworth, Rheem

TN Distributor and Member Touts Value of NATE During Flood Recovery

Kudos to HARDI member, Comfort Supply of Nashville, TN and their CEO, Clay Blevins, for this nice piece in SNIPS about his promotion of NATE-Certified technicians to help the city recover the right way, the first time from the terrible flooding they experienced recently.

Auer Steel's Dealer Meeting at Lambeau Part 2

They actually pipe in crowd noise when they take you out to the field through the players' tunnel. Unfortunately though, they discourage "Lambeau Leaps" during the tour

Auer Steel's Dealer Meeting at Lambeau Part 1

Congrats to Auer Steel, this is a great place to hold a meeting!

Much More Than a "Middle Man"

HARDI is always working to overcome common perceptions that HVACR distributors are just middlemen in the channel adding costs and delivering little added value. Today's tour of distributor member Gustave A. Larson Company defuncts this misperception yet again in spades. This is just one of the photos from my tour today showing a first-class training room, which isn't even one of the company's most frequently used. To doubt that there is a science and significant value add provided by HARDI distributors is ignoring overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Watsco Sales Increase 18% in 2009 | 2010-02-17 | Modern Distribution Management

Watsco Sales Increase 18% in 2009 2010-02-17 Modern Distribution Management

HARDI Helps DOE Understand HVACR Distribution

HARDI organized a tour of full-line HVACR wholesale distributor member, Aireco Supply in Savage, MD for DOE and Navigant Consulting analysts on Friday. DOE is currently preparing for two appliance standards rulemakings on HVAC residential products. Central air-conditioners and heat pump efficiency standards are being reviewed, as are standards for gas furnaces, and all of these products are potentially subject to regionalized standards. HARDI has been working with DOE to better understand the impact analysis process for evaluating the impact of efficiency standard changes on wholesale distributors, and ultimately end customers. Today's tour marked a major step towards helping DOE better characterize HVACR wholesale distribution and, therefore, perform more accurate market analyses in these and future rulemakings.

Carrier Announces Another JV to Divest Distribution Business

Seemingly patterned after their 40-60 joint venture with Watsco earlier this year, Carrier Corp. is entering into another joint venture with Russel Sigler, Inc. to combine its factory distribution operations in California with the long-time independent Carrier distributor. The press release states, "The venture is expected to generate about $360 million in sales and have 35 facilities, including the Carrier sites in California and Russell Sigler's distribution in nine western states."

HARDI Officer, Bud Mingledorff, Named HVAC Insider 2009 Man of the Year

Congratulatons to Bud Mingledorff, Chairman of the Board of Mingledorff's, Inc. in Norcross, GA, and current HARDI Vice President. Bud was named HVAC Insider News national 2009 Man of the Year. Check out the Fourth Quarter '09 issue for the complete story which includes a seemingly endless list of glowing quotes and congratulations from industry colleagues. Congrats again, Bud!

Daikin Distributor Meeting Stresses Dedication to Distribution

I'm headed home now from speaking at Daikin AC America's distributor meeting this week in Dallas, TX. I got to see many strong HARDI members there and learn more about the equipment manufacturer who has recently been the most engaged with HARDI, dating back to the recent Fall Conference in Phoenix.

Hungry and focused on growth, Daikin emphasized distribution's vital role in their strategy which, of course, I was pleased to hear. Daikin's leadership apeared to support HARDI's assertion that, despite the sluggish economy, green building may present one of the greatest opportunities HVACR distributors have seen as our industry's products get increasingly efficient.

HARDI Supplier Member Shines at Greenbuild

The Ductmate crew Ed Rafalski, Katie Flynn, and Mark Smith, shows off their booth at Greenbuild 2008. Incidentally, I had lunch with a large general contractor/project manager who lauded Ductmate's products and congratulated HARDI for having Ductmate as one of our Supplier members.

Star Supply and Daikin Lookin' Good at Greenbuild

I ran into Larry Cohen and John Danek of Star Supply Company, New Haven, CT (on right) at the Daikin booth. Daikin team members, (left to right) Chris Bellshaw, Christina Trondsen, and Russell Tavolacci showed off their great booth and declared the show thus far a big success.