ST. LOUIS — Unico Inc., a maker of small-duct, high-velocity (SDHV) central heating and air-conditioning systems, has begun four initiatives designed to help its business partners: quarterly video conferences with top distributors and installers, an exclusive distribution agreement with a maker of complementary products, a new sales and support division to assist partners serving the custom home-building market, and a compendium of incentives for the purchase and installation of energy-efficient HVAC equipment.
“We’ve always maintained that we have the best distributors and installing contractors in the HVAC industry,” said Ashton Gavelek, Unico brand marketing manager, in a press release. “And we are committed to providing them with everything they need to continue Unico’s success in the marketplace.”
Chief among these initiatives are the newly instituted video conferences with the manufacturer’s distributor and contractor councils. Historically, Unico has hosted at its factory a yearly meeting of representatives from its top-selling wholesalers and veteran installing contractors. With the pandemic and rise of remote meeting technology, Unico is expanding these consultations into quarterly remote conferences.
The Unico distributor council is comprised of the manufacturer’s most active distributor partners who participate in training, joint dealer calls, advertising, and stock placement in their distribution centers and branches. These council members advise and work with Unico management on subjects such as advertising, product enhancements, the timing of product releases, pricing, regulatory issues, and territory rebate inclusions.
Similarly, the Unico dealer council consists of long-term installer partners who have made Unico a cornerstone of their businesses.
Unico has also entered into an exclusive partnership with Chiltrix Inc. for its air-to-water heat pump line in North American markets, which will be available through Unico beginning in August. “Bringing on top-notch outdoor units from Chiltrix is a direct response to input from our leading partners in the field,” said Shannon Intagliata, Unico’s national sales manager. “We’re confident this product addition will provide both our distributors and installers even more solutions for their customers.”
Unico has also created a sales and support division specifically tailored to distribution and contracting partners that service the custom home-building industry.
Leading this new division are Ken Ware, custom home sales manager, and Maura Intagliata, custom home coordinator. Gavelek also provides support to the division, overseeing marketing activities, communications, and outreach to the custom home-building community.
Unico has also launched a webpage listing the various rebates, tax incentives, loan programs, and other federal and local incentives available to end users and homeowners who install energy-efficient HVAC products.
“All of these efforts demonstrate our commitment to providing our partners with the very best in resources for extending The Unico System’s brand reach and adoption,” said Gavelek.
