Consider how two-day delivery was coined “Prime” by a vendor like Amazon, but in some cases, that is now eclipsed by same-day delivery. Rationally, people know the circumstances might be different, but those speedy experiences still have an effect on how much patience feels like enough when ordering equipment or parts.

The event is scheduled for Sept. 23-25 at the Loews O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois.

Channel partner incentives, collectively and imprecisely known as rebates, are huge, addictive, and problematic.

The Rees Scholarship Foundation has awarded more than $700,000 to 400-plus deserving students since 2003. Each year, the foundation awards scholarships of up to $2,000 each to qualified students who are enrolled in an HVACR program at an accredited institution.

Even in today’s digital world, 74 percent of customers in wholesale distribution still prefer to submit orders via email.

To compete with Amazon, distributors need to add value — not only to their businesses but for their customers as well.

Believe it or not, business owners do not make their people complete an annual physical inventory count just to make everyone miserable each year. I would venture to say that most managers probably dislike it more than anyone else in their companies. Anything that is disruptive to people’s work and personal schedules easily becomes a hassle that managers do not want to endure if they can avoid it.

The important subject of employee training and retention gets the coverage it deserves. However, there is only a modest amount about the “care and feeding” of the supply side of the business.

In his role, Rowbotham will develop and lead Uponor’s sourcing strategy in North America, which will include continuing to build strategic partnerships with suppliers, assessing vendors, and, most importantly, leading continuous improvement initiatives in supply planning, production scheduling, distribution, transportation, and inventory.