For many wholesalers, HVACR distribution runs in their blood. This is evident by the ample number of second-, third-, and fourth-generation owners leading wholesale distributors nationwide.

For our inaugural issue of Distribution Trends, we’ve assembled a panel of some of HVACR distribution’s most recognizable leaders — individuals who have their pulse on trends of today and aren’t afraid to set the tone of tomorrow.

Jon Hirsch’s visit to Harford Union was one of more than 60 presentations he’s made to 40-plus area high schools and tech schools since October 2017. In less than six months, he’d introduced more than 2,000 students throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota to the HVAC trade.

While communication has always been a cornerstone of HVACR distribution sales, the means in which these interpersonal transactions are transpiring is evolving exponentially. And while emails, phone calls, and in-store visits aren’t going to sunset anytime soon, the next generation of HVACR distribution is widely embracing a new form of communication: texting.

Back when I started, we always tried to do what was right for our customers and employees. That holds true today. We’ll absolutely put ourselves in our employees’ and customers’ positions and use that as a sounding board for whether we’re doing the right thing.

Two-step distribution — where manufacturers sell to distributors and distributors sell to contractors — has proven to be an effective HVACR business model for decades.

The joint venture will include marketing, sales, and distribution of ductless and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heating and air conditioning systems through Ingersoll Rand’s Trane and American Standard commercial and residential channels and existing Mitsubishi Electric distributors and representatives in the U.S. and select countries in Latin America.

LAS VEGAS — Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) took one small step for HVACR and one giant leap for two-step distribution at its 2017 Annual Conference: NOVA, Dec. 2-5 at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

The announcement was made at Ferguson’s 2017 Vendor Summit Awards celebration in Norfolk, Virginia