Manufacturers' representatives' mobile trucks are specialized vehicles showcasing their products and services directly to customers. These trucks are mobile showrooms or offices, bringing the manufacturer's offerings to different locations. Equipped with displays, samples and interactive demonstrations, these trucks provide a convenient and flexible platform for manufacturers to engage with potential clients, distributors and retailers. They can be customized to match the manufacturer's specific needs and can feature a wide range of products, from industrial equipment to consumer goods.

Training materials, multimedia presentations and interactive tools allow manufacturers to educate their clients about product features, benefits and usage guidelines. Training sessions in these mobile units offer a hands-on experience, allowing participants to interact with the products in a realistic environment. The convenience of having a mobile training facility enables manufacturers to reach out to a broader audience, particularly in remote or underserved areas, and ensures consistent and standardized training across different regions. 

Moreover, these trucks can also serve as a platform for launching new products, conducting demonstrations and collecting valuable customer feedback, all while enhancing brand visibility and establishing personal connections with clients. 

We put out an all-call to see what is hitting the road and received an overwhelming response — so much so that we have placed a portion of the responses in print, and the full feature can be found online at www.phcppros.com. Note that answers have been edited for clarity and space.  

Barclay Sales - Port Coquitlam, British Columbia

“As a manufacturers rep, we always look for better ways to service our customers, manufacturers and market. With equipment becoming more complicated with increased efficiency requirements and technological advancements, building a fully functioning display trailer would allow us to better showcase our brands.  

“Product changes from year to year, and not all training can be done outside, so we designed the training trailer to be modular. All product displays are on casters that snap onto the walls and can be rolled out and into the customers' facilities or reworked only to show products the customer buys when doing customer events. This also makes it easy to modify the trailer when we have new products, changes or updates.            

“The trailer itself contains a full line of tankless water heaters (Noritz), boilers (NTI), heat recovery ventilators (Fantech), thermostats, humidifiers (Aprilaire), and soon a full line of plumbing fixtures (Gerber). The display unit is independently powered, so we can get 1 to 2 days of use before recharging the batteries. Barclay Sales covers Western Canadian markets in the plumbing, HVAC, irrigation and fire protection space.” 

Burns Cope Associates - Williamsport, Pa.

“Burns Cope Associates is ‘taking the field’ with Sioux Chief Mfg.  

“How do you effectively show 8000-plus SKUs in a 10-foot by 6-foot single-axle trailer? You can't — but by showing 'smart products for smart plumbers,' you earn the opportunity to show and tell the Sioux Chief way.  

“Since 2011, Burns Cope Associates has proudly hauled its Sioux Chief Mfg. product trailer throughout eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Plumbers and mechanical contractors are the primary focus audience corralled into the trailer; however, we also engage with wholesale distributors, engineers/designers, builders and facilities managers where applicable.  

“Sioux Chief offers a vast catalog of rough and finish plumbing products focusing on supply — drainage — support — specialties. Our ‘rolling catalog’ helps secure Sioux Chief brand awareness and loyalty through our network of contractors, distributors, and industry professionals; these folks (our customers) tend to become the best salespeople and brand ambassadors.”  

Cooper New England Sales - Bethany, Conn.

“We have had the Liberty trailer for three years and the bathing solutions trailer for just over one year. We do sales calls in the field, going directly to architects, engineers, and job sites as needed. We also do joint sales calls with wholesaler salespeople, counter days, and trade shows. 

We do training in the field - Job site visits, lunch and learns, dinner events, you name it! It is extremely powerful when people can put their hands on the product and experience its quality and unique features. The truck is live-fired, and we do live-fire grinder pump demos where we torture-test the products and let the audience see how tough our grinder pumps are. They always have a story about how a competitor's product failed, and we replicate that scenario and demonstrate how our product can handle the application. 

We have been in business since 1973 and are celebrating our 50th anniversary this year! We have always taken the approach that to be successful, not only do our salespeople need to be the best-trained reps in the market but so do our customers as well. This is the commitment we make to anyone who partners with our agency.” 

Disney-McLane & Associates - Cincinnati, Ohio

“Growth has far exceeded the pace of earlier decades at Cincinnati-based manufacturers’ rep firm Disney-McLane & Associates (DMA), due chiefly to the quality of its outreach among contractor buyers and specifying engineers. One example of its success in being different is the rock n' roll tour-themed ‘DMA Training Wheels Traveling Roadshow’ —a flashy, industry-centric van, fully outfitted to help them carry fully-operational Watts products and technology deep into the markets they serve.  

“Jim Huesman, Todd Schneider and Brett Mullins are partners in (DMA), a manufacturers’ rep firm with additional locations in Indianapolis and Cleveland. DMA serves Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania. The exceptionally successful engineered plumbing and mechanical enterprise has grown steadily since its founding in 1954 — by daring to be just a bit different.  

“‘The combination of the van, the operational products, and the way we can provide an understanding of how they're used and perform has become a huge advantage among installing contractors and specifying engineers alike,’ Huesman explains. ‘It's all very engaging.’ 

“‘There’s real value in seeing these technologies up close and personal,’ he adds. ‘To feel the weight and heft of a product, or to test it and see it perform, and to ask questions with the product in hand are all huge advantages when considering purchases. Our traveling showroom has proved to be a great investment.’" 

Futura Sales - Framingham, Mass.

“In partnership with Delta Faucet Co., Futura Sales introduced its Mobile Training Center (MTC) in August 2017. Since then, the MTC has traveled throughout New England, offering a comprehensive training experience to pros, engineers, contractors, wholesalers and specifiers. 

“The MTC is equipped with a state-of-the-art interior, with running water, working touch faucets, and various interactive displays showcasing everything Brizo, Delta and Peerless have to offer. The Delta MTC is a game-changer in the faucet industry, demonstrating how technology and innovation can be brought directly to customers.  

“We showcase how our products work, along with how to install them. The MTC is brought to jobsites, trade shows and counter days for on-the-job training. Using our working shower display, we present Delta’s H20kinetic technology, which gives the user the feel of a stronger flow while staying in accordance with EPA WaterSense specification for showerheads. 

“Kenny Wilensky incorporated Futura Sales in 1991 and operates as a sales and marketing organization covering all six New England states. We provide our customers and manufacturers with the best service, product knowledge, technical assistance and sales experience in the industry.” 

Gordon and Associates - Vancouver, Wash.

“The Sioux Chief trailer helps us get out and do what we love: visit the contractors and do counter mornings with the wholesalers; this is a great tool. We love watching the contractors come into the trailer; it's like watching kids in a candy shop. This is a great way to show the contractor all the products Sioux Chief offers to make their jobs easier and more professional.”  

Herkowski Stickler & Associates - Bensenville, Ill.

“Here at Herkowski Stickler & Associates (HSA), we developed an internal team called Hot Water Technical Solutions that specializes specifically in Bradford White and Laars hot water products. This team consists of three licensed plumbers and two inside sales support personnel. 

”HSA is now able to offer a variety of services, including design assistance, project equipment estimation, product allocation, start-up, P.M. scheduling, technical support and training. The Bradford White trailer has been a huge asset to us, showcasing the line at customer events and shows and as a hands-on training tool. It allows us to customize training per customer's request onsite or off. It allows people to come in, touch and feel the product vs. providing an image. 

“We have multiple options, from tank and tankless units to gas or electric units on display. It includes TVs that allow us to display the most current marketing media and training videos. This trailer helps make our training and customer interactions memorable when promoting the Bradford White line. We are thrilled to have an interactive way to connect to our market.” 

The Joyce Agency - Newport News, Va.

“The Joyce Agency is a manufacturers’ representative in the Mid-Atlantic region and has been in business for more than 40 years. In 2022, we proudly partnered with Milwaukee Tool, and as part of this collaboration, we created a mobile tool demonstration trailer that allows us to showcase equipment while on the road. This trailer has served as an essential resource, providing comprehensive product training to contractors, wholesalers and trade show attendees.  

“We travel to various locations within our region to make it easy for our customers to access our products and gain valuable information. During our demonstrations, we cover proper tool usage, features and benefits and review the unique aspects of Milwaukee Tool. We emphasize the hands-on experience, allowing attendees to interact with the tools, test their functionalities and gain confidence using our products. We showcase a range of plumbing products, such as press tools, inspection systems, drain cleaners, and power and hand tools. Safety equipment and lighting solutions are also highlighted, exhibiting Milwaukee Tool's comprehensive product line.  

“Our Field Marketing Specialist Grover Miles can readily address real-time questions and provide in-depth explanations, enriching the customer's understanding of our product and fostering a community of skilled craftsmen. Due to the overwhelming success of our trailer, we are in the process of setting up a second trailer in southern Virginia.”  

KM Sales - Westminster, Colo.

“KM Sales is excited to present Bradford White's innovative training trailer for our wholesalers, plumbers, engineers and contractors. This state-of-the-art trailer was acquired this year and has already traveled many miles for hands-on training! The trailer's interior displays a Bradford White heat pump unit, a tankless unit and a standard gas unit that can be opened to allow trainees to see inside the water heater.  

“Two large-screen television monitors are playing training videos directly from Bradford Whites' training facility in Middleville, Mich. The trailer also encompasses a variety of fun lights, posters and literature to create a full experience that has been proven successful in educating our customers. Training has remained one of the priorities of KM Sales since our commencement in 2012.  

“KM Sales represent only the highest quality products in our field. We take great pride in representing our region, covering Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. This training trailer has been so advantageous in creating new customer relationships while promoting products in a fun and innovative way of learning, rather than the traditional classroom setting!”  

MMI  - Indianapolis, Ind.

“We are an independent manufacturers’ rep and have had our trailer since August 2022. It has been an enormous help in how we approach the market. We take it to our distributor's locations, contractor's shops and events showcasing water heaters and various products we represent. We use our trailer for increasing product awareness and driving sales, as it is not live-fired and doesn't lend itself to technical training as much as sales training.  

“There is a huge benefit in taking physical products to the far reaches of our territory. Contractors can be too busy to make the trip to us, so we take it to them! We travel with a small gas griddle and will cook a meal for anyone who wants to take a tour and learn. When we schedule with a distributor, we set up in their parking lot and show the product to contractors coming to pick up or place an order. The distributor typically advertises our event in the weeks prior, so we have a good turnout.  

“Our trailer is a mutual benefit for distributors and ourselves and a good way to teach our distributors how to sell specialty products.” 

NCS Corp. - Bloomington, Minn. 

“NCS, a plumbing-hydronic rep agency based in the Twin Cities, has a mobile showroom it can set up at wholesaler counter days, contractor events and specifier PKs. We have had the trailer for six years and continue to make improvements to ensure it has the most up-to-date products — and is impactful.  

“The goal of the mobile showroom for NCS is to bring something to meetings/training that is different and gets attendees excited to see what they have to talk about. They have found that taking people out of the office or showrooms significantly increases their engagement. NCS has installed a live-fire HTP combi boiler to run hot potable water through Zurn PEX to three Delta showerheads mounted on the side of the trailer. This is a great demonstration of temperature rise and showerhead flow rates.  

“The trailer also includes a television running a product loop as people walk through, Slatwall on the side walls to mount displays, a Toto Drake mounted to the floor, and a Bootz Nextile Pro multipiece shower installed in the corner of the trailer to show the design and how the product is assembled in the field.” 

O’Connor Sales - Cerritos, Calif.

“O’Connor Sales takes great pride in representing Saniflo and its innovative plumbing solutions. One of the key ways we showcase Saniflo products is through Saniflo's mobile truck. This truck is a dedicated training and demonstration platform, enabling us to offer hands-on experiences to potential customers. 

“By bringing the mobile truck to distributor counter days, we ensure that consumers can fully comprehend the advantages of Saniflo products. This hands-on approach lets people witness firsthand how Saniflo's solutions can transform their plumbing experiences, making previously impossible installations possible and offering flexibility in locations where conventional systems would be impractical. 

“O’Connor Sales is committed to representing Saniflo in the best possible way. We invest time and effort into training our team to be knowledgeable about Saniflo’s products, ensuring they can answer any questions and provide expert guidance. By doing so, we strive to offer exceptional customer service and ensure that consumers understand the value and benefits of Saniflo’s plumbing solutions.” 

Paragon Sales and Marketing - Omaha, Neb.

“Established in 2003, Paragon Sales and Marketing (PSM) is a manufacturers’ representative agency covering the states of Nebraska and Iowa over the past 20 years. PSM proudly represents manufacturers in the plumbing, irrigation, HVAC and well-drilling markets. Over the past three years, Paragon Sales has invested in three 18-foot drop-down pull trailers to showcase its respective products. The fully stocked trailers in Omaha, Neb.; central Iowa; and eastern Iowa primarily focus on Milwaukee Tool. 

“When showcasing power tools, accessories and hand tools, Its been said that ’90 percent of the deal is the feel of the wheel.’ Both contractors and distributors want to see, touch and demo all that Milwaukee Tool offers. The ease of driving into a parking lot or warehouse and opening each trailer allows for simple hands-on training and demonstrations. There may be a few occasions when there is apprehension about new products and how/where/when they work. The ability to freely test and use each product vastly calms any concerns of the individual. 

“Each trailer is outfitted with lighting, heat and electrical for charging batteries. If the weather gets too warm, the excess number of fans cools down each trailer. With the plethora of products from Milwaukee Tool, Paragon can represent our other manufacturers in the press-fitting/salve, PEX crimp/expansion and well-water markets. The term ‘synergy’ gets overused on occasion, but there might not be a better word in this situation.”  

Paramount Sales - Livermore, Calif. 

“We used some of our pandemic downtime to build a new, state-of-the-art show trailer to showcase products from Sioux Chief Mfg. The new build included more than 400 products, 60 interactive displays and 32 QR scan codes linked to product web pages. A workbench was installed with a large monitor display and two 10-inch media players; enough space was left over to comfortably seat six for onsite PK and installation training. Two onboard battery generators provide enough electricity to power the trailer for up to seven hours of training. 

“Shortly after completing construction, we embarked on a territory-wide roadshow. Over two weeks, we made 24 stops at multiple wholesale distributors, contractors and engineering firms. Over 100 Sioux Chief customers walked through to see our products and displays. We held drawings and handed out COVID-19 PPE masks and a lot of swag. The roadshow was very successful, with many of our trade partners placing new orders and requesting more information about items in the trailer. 

“Roadshows are now an annual event for us, in addition to appearances at industry trade shows, product shows and too many counter days to count. We continue to see increased interest in Sioux Chief products and requests to bring out our trailer to industry events.”  

Pepco Sales & Marketing - Dallas, Texas

“Pepco Sales & Marketing is a plumbing, mechanical and HVACR agency based in Dallas. We cover the new construction and repair/remodel markets for both residential and commercial segments. Our territory includes Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and New Mexico, serviced by our sales and distribution centers in Dallas, Houston and Austin/San Antonio, and sales offices in New Orleans, Tulsa, Okla., and El Paso. Our mission is to drive value and opportunities for our marketplace and stakeholders as the most professional, efficient, tech-savvy, knowledgeable and diverse team in our territory. 

“Pulled by our sales teams' fleet of Ford trucks, Pepco's PPRCT trailer is a mobile fab shop to launch Uponor's new PPRCT initiative on jobsites across Texas. The 17-foot aluminum trailer features a full suite of McElroy fusion tools, a gas generator, air conditioning and full audio/visual functionality. 

“The trailer is two years old. It's small enough to pull onto a construction site but large enough to have six or seven people inside and 20 to 30 people outside watching through the large side opening in the trailer. We have a generator large enough to operate all our McElroy heaters and other equipment, and being from Texas, it has a small AC unit that helps.” 

Pinnacle Sales Group - Haines City, Fla.

“At Pinnacle Sales, our commitment to training contractors, engineers and distributors has always been a cornerstone of our business. We believe in empowering customers with knowledge to make informed decisions about the manufacturers we represent, providing access to the best products for their specific needs. For more than a decade, we have been conducting comprehensive training sessions at our warehouse in Pittsburgh, catering to the needs of industry professionals. 

“Recognizing the demanding schedules of contractors, we invested in a fully equipped demo trailer a year ago. This mobile unit lets us bring product demonstrations and troubleshooting training to worksites. One of the key advantages of our trailer is its live-fired capabilities, allowing us to provide practical, hands-on training with our cutting-edge boiler, tankless water heater and pump systems. It showcases the top-quality products offered by several esteemed manufacturers we represent, including A O Smith, Grundfos, Axiom, Spirotherm, Velocity Boiler Works, Legend and tekmar. 

“By immersing contractors in interactive training sessions at their jobsites, they gain firsthand experience and deepen their understanding of the products we represent. At Pinnacle Sales, we remain dedicated to delivering exceptional training experiences that equip professionals with the expertise needed to excel in their respective fields.” 

Platsky Co. - Westbury, N.Y.

“Platsky Co., founded in 1936, is a third-generation manufacturers’ representative for plumbing, HVAC and decorative manufacturers. We believe in ‘Representing The Brands You Trust,’ and part of that trust comes from servicing and training the products we sell. In 2018, we realized it was becoming harder for contractors, engineers, architects and supply houses to send staff to our training facility because of the wasted time traveling, especially considering the New York traffic.  

“So, we decided to take the training on the road. Platsky has three mobile training vans and one trailer, enabling us to do live-fired training ranging from heat pumps and mini-splits to grinder pumps and pressure boosters. We have custom carts and displays that enable our team to perform training classes anywhere. Our team will be there whether it is at a contractor's office, an engineer's parking lot, a jobsite, customer-vendor day or even a golf outing. 

“We hold classes regularly to ensure that customers are aware of products and also garner an understanding of the technology and process by which these products can help them and their customers. We firmly believe there is no substitute for learning by doing it with your own hands. Knowing this, Platsky’s outside sales staff and three full-time trainers present and demonstrate on live-fired equipment so that our customers can walk away feeling confident about specifying, selling, installing or servicing the products they learned about.”  

Preferred Sales - Hermitage, Pa. 

“The Preferred Sales mobile water heating and hydronics trailer showcases all the latest technology Bradford White Corp. offers. In 2022, Bradford White outfitted many of its reps across the United States with similar trailers to enhance our connection to professional installers and distributors. Preferred Sales decided to use our trailer to offer hands-on training for our wholesale distributors and professional installers on key Bradford White specialty products, such as the AeroTherm heat pump water heaters, Infiniti line of tankless water heaters and Brute FT boilers.  

“We also have additional product information and training content for Bradford White's comprehensive offering of residential and commercial water heating solutions. The contractor engagement with the trailer has exceeded all our expectations, and our wholesale distributors have been vital in helping us put this training tool in front of the pros.”  

Rich-Tompkins Co. - Philadelphia, Pa.

“Rich-Tomkins Co. represents Bradford-White Corp., and we cover eastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Delaware. We purchased our Bradford-White trailer in July 2022. This trailer is consistently on the road showcasing new product launches from Bradford-White to the plumbing trade.  

“John Wallace of Rich-Tomkins Co. is the primary user of our trailer, using every opportunity to hit the road and accompanying our salesforce to participate in customer events, trade shows and even jobsite visits. We always have something new in the trailer that our contractors need and request training on. On the days the trailer is parked at our agency, John takes full advantage of a captive contractor audience participating in our monthly water heater troubleshooting classes at our Aston, Pa., location.  

“Our Bradford-White/Rich-Tomkins trailer isn't live-fired, but with the help of technology outfitted inside the trailer with TV monitors, we can quickly bring solutions to anything our trade partners would need help with. John Wallace is a 20-plus-year veteran contractor, and he knows how to demonstrate and troubleshoot any difficult situation that could come up. Time and time again, we have heard that not only does John know the product, but he also knows the contractors and how to train and help them with any questions or situations that may arise!” 

ROI Marketing - Millersville, Md.

“ROI Marketing, representing the mid-Atlantic territory, has two mobile trailers used to help promote and educate our customers on the products we represent. We have a full-time trainer on staff, Chris Masiulis, and a long-time industry guru teacher, Roger Prevost, to conduct training in our live-fire training room or by using one of our two mobile trailers. We have one live-fire trailer and one that is more of a show-and-tell trailer. We also have access to a mobile van to show off our condensing boilers by U.S. Boiler.  

“We use these vans throughout the year to educate and train our customers on installing the products we represent. We can teach contractors the proper way to vent water heaters and boilers. We can teach them proper venting techniques with Centrotherm Piping and how to size a Grundfos pump. We can also teach them how to control their systems with tekmar and all the other products we represent. 

“ROI Marketing has expanded to more than 20 employees and covers from Virginia to southern New Jersey. We pride ourselves in customer service and hold true to our mission statement: ‘To provide unsurpassed service and support to all our customers in the wholesale channel.’” 

RSL Sales - Jupiter, Fla.

“Our Sioux Chief trailer gets often used for engineer and contractor presentations. By far, it is the most valuable presentation tool we have. When I bring customers into the trailer, I try to take them on an organized path and tell the Sioux Chief story. I start with arresters because most customers know Sioux Chief is the top arrester manufacturer in the world. We built a working FinishLine installation into the trailer so they can see how the drain is installed from pour to finish, showing the adjustability and even shim use. Installed down both sides of the trailer, we have flip-up compartments where we keep samples so we can put samples in their hands and try them for themselves.”  

Synergy Sales NW - Kent, Wash.

“The Synergy Sales NW Bradford White mobile training trailer directly brings plumbing education to plumbers in the Pacific Northwest, eliminating the need to travel to a fixed location. This increases opportunities, especially for those without training spaces. Our trailer can be equipped with gas, electric, heat pump and tankless water heaters so our audience can practice their skills with hands-on experience. This practical approach enhances their learning and confidence, enabling them to tackle real plumbing challenges more effectively. 

“Our mobile training trailer significantly reduces infrastructure costs by eliminating the need for dedicated training facilities. It also optimizes resource usage, as the same trailer can be used for specific water heater training sessions, maximizing the impact and value. Our trailer can serve as a platform for collaboration between plumbing organizations, educational institutions and industry professionals. It facilitates networking, mentorship and knowledge exchange, ensuring that plumbers are updated with the latest industry practices and innovations. 

“The Synergy Sales NW Bradford White training trailer enhances accessibility, provides practical learning opportunities, offers flexibility, reduces costs and increases industry engagement. It is a transformative solution that empowers aspiring plumbers with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in their profession.” 

Tipton Co. - Conroe, Texas

“Tipton Co. has been in business for 88 years; covers Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana; and is led by third-generation owner Ty Tipton. 

“We have a training trailer we introduced in 2022, shortly after the pandemic. Tipton Co. uses this trailer to do counter days and training with contractors and distributors. While the trailer showcases several product lines we represent, we mainly use it to train on Vesta tankless water heaters. Our trailer includes live-fire tankless water heaters, and we can show contractors how to program, install and service the gas-fired tankless water heaters onsite.  

“As a bonus, we also have a race car that we carry around on the trailer. This race car is real and is driven around at every event. It was raced on "The Legend" series race circuit and is a retired race car now, but it gets a lot of attention at the different events that we take it to. In this day and age of Zoom, digital marketing and social media, Tipton Co. is taking its products and training face-to-face with our customers. It's a great service and reinforces our company's motto, ‘Service Starts Here.’”  

Wales Darby - Warren, N.J.

“Wales Darby's Mobile Learning Center (MLC) is an essential tool for educating contractors, engineers and distributors in the HVAC and plumbing industry. As a company that values technical training and education, Wales Darby's Contractor Services Group (CSG) offers a range of training opportunities to ensure industry professionals have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. 

“The MLC is a fully equipped training facility on wheels, allowing the team to bring hands-on training, technical assistance and troubleshooting directly to contractors and distributors. The van has been on the road for nine years and travels throughout the company's New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania territory.  

“Inside the MLC, attendees experience live-fire demonstrations and interact with a variety of HVAC and plumbing products. The van is equipped with TVs for presentations and video segments, ensuring participants have a comprehensive understanding of the products. The inclusion of backup generators and roll-out live-fire training carts allows for versatile training options, no matter the location. 

“What sets Wales Darby's MLC apart is its emphasis on a full-system approach. By showcasing multiple product lines and their interaction, attendees gain a holistic understanding of the plumbing and HVAC systems.  

“The MLC features a wide range of products, including air conditioning, heat pumps, boilers, hydronic pumps, piping systems, water heaters, and more. Attendees leave the training sessions equipped with practical skills and supported by Wales Darby's continued assistance whenever needed.” 

Walter Schmitt & Associates - West Newton, Pa. 

“Over the last 65 years as a manufacturers’ rep agency, we have learned there is no better sales tool than a customer being able to see and touch the product, whatever that product may be.  

“We represent King Electrical Mfg. Co., and the King Demo Truck has given us the valuable opportunity to show our distributor customers and end-users a quality product line that they can see and touch. The King Demo Truck is a staple for us when attending distributor events and taking it on end-user calls. It has allowed us to educate and show what the King product line offers and, in some instances, has sealed the deal for us. 

“Like King, our company is a family business. Our father, Walter Schmitt, and grandfather, Rheinhold Schmitt, operated a plumbing store in our small town of West Newton, Pa. As Walter began seeing an opportunity to sell to distributors, he and his wife, Sara, started their rep business in 1958. The company is currently operating under the leadership of Walter and Sara's children: Rheinhold Schmitt, Clinton Schmitt and Betsy Sweeney.  

“The company has eight employees covering areas of inside/outside sales, engineering, office and special fabrication personnel.  

“At Walter Schmitt, we call on electrical distributors, electrical contractors, industrial plumbing and heating distributors, electric utility companies and HVAC distributors. Our concentrated territory includes Pennsylvania, West Virginia, bordering counties of Ohio, Western Maryland (two counties, Garrett and Allegheny), Delaware and Southern Jersey.”  

Watermark - Noblesville, Ind.

“Watermark, headquartered in Indiana, is a manufacturers’ representative for a wide range of products for the plumbing, HVAC, sewer, irrigation and infrastructure markets. Watermark has transformed customer training and counter days with its advanced mobile training trailer that has been traveling through Watermark's market, from Indiana to Chesapeake Bay, for the past year. 

“Little Giant is one of the premier plumbing brands that Watermark reps and has featured the product line in its mobile training vehicle.  

“The Watermark mobile training vehicle is incredibly versatile, providing static product displays and dynamic pump demonstrations. It features internal and external monitors to showcase Little Giant training videos. Whether it’s condensate removal pumps, sewage pumps, grinder pumps or any other cutting-edge pumping solutions, visitors gain a firsthand experience and comprehensive understanding. 

“By bringing training directly to customers’ locations and tradeshows, the Watermark mobile training vehicle eliminates the need for travel and off-site sessions. Water industry professionals value convenience, saving time and resources while receiving top-notch training and product knowledge. 

“The Watermark mobile training vehicle not only offers a unique learning experience, but also fosters interaction and collaboration. Customers can engage with industry experts, exchange ideas and explore customized solutions to meet their specific needs.”