Nortek Global HVAC (NGH), a leading manufacturer of HVAC equipment, has named Winston Water Cooler, Lubbock, Texas, and Winsupply of Rio Grande Valley, Mission, Texas, as HVAC wholesale distributors of its residential unitary equipment brands. Winston Water Cooler now carries approximately 40 models of Maytag unitary equipment and will also have several of NGH’s Gibson models available for multi-housing projects. Winsupply will feature approximately 30 Maytag and Frigidaire split air conditioner and air handler models.

The agreements illustrate NGH’s recent aggressive expansion into the Texas market, which is exploding with growth. “We definitely have an expanded focus on the state of Texas, and these new distributors illustrate our concentration into areas where our brands didn’t previously have a presence,” said Rob Hawk, national director strategic accounts, NGH.

Both distributors will offer NGH’s renowned Elite Marketing Program tools and assistance at www.nortekhvac.com/marketing-programs/. Contractors will be provided optional website building, tablet-friendly sales assistance programs, rebate offers, Customer-For-Life direct mailers, brochures, e-newsletters, logos and other marketing tools that some contractors may not have in-house.

The seven-month-old Lubbock franchise, founded by partners Kirk and Keith Craddick is one of 30??-Winston Water Cooler locations in the Texas, Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona. The 25,000-square-foot operation will allocate about 35-percent of its space to Maytag air conditioners, heat pumps, air handlers, gas furnaces and parts. The Craddicks have a combined 25-years HVAC experience in both commercial/residential contracting and wholesale. “We saw that larger distributors were no longer attending to what contractors need in the form of personal relationships and customer service,” said Keith Craddick. “When we saw one of the premier unitary equipment brands (Maytag) available for distribution in Lubbock, we jumped at the chance.”   

Winsupply of Rio Grande Valley was formed last January as a stand-alone location for the 600-plus Winsupply Family of Companies in 45 states. Ernie Pena III, president, and Joseph Midkiff, vice president, bring a combined 20 years HVAC distribution/contracting experience and operate from a 16,550-square-foot store/warehouse. Frigidaire and Maytag were chosen to anchor the operation because of “Nortek’s reputation with unitary equipment that has enormous brand awareness,” according to Midkiff. “We’re concentrating on residential equipment, parts and supplies now, but eventually we’d like to add Nortek’s light commercial brands too,” added Pena. “Building a brand from the ground on up in the Rio Grande Valley is exciting for us.”

The young company’s territory stretches eastward to South Padre Island and with partial distribution in Laredo and Corpus Christi. It has already established contractor incentives and charity programs for the underserved local community. For every Frigidaire purchase, contractors get complementary installation accessories under the Frigidaire Freebees program, plus 10 free meals are donated to a local food bank. The Maytag Money program offers contractor rebates, plus 12 food bank meals for every unit purchase to reflect the equipment’s industry-leading 12-year warranty.

NGH’s Texas expansion also signed Dallas-Fort Worth HVAC distributor AC Supply last month.