Nicklas Supply, a wholesale distributor of plumbing, kitchen and bath products, is a cornerstone for Pittsburgh-area builders and contractors. With its six locations, it is focused on delivering high-caliber customer service and supplying quality products. The company has made significant changes since its inception in 1956 and recently, hit several major milestones.

To say the company is in growth mode is an understatement. In 2018, the family-owned and -operated company ensured its future success by transitioning into an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), further cementing its legacy and long-term success for its owner-team members. 

This year, the company embarked on an exciting journey of expansion and innovation, opening a state-of-the-art showroom, buying another distributor and developing an e-commerce platform to better serve its customers. 

Making A Splash

On Aug. 15, 2024, Nicklas Supply unveiled its latest project with a red carpet celebration. In attendance were more than 150 designers, customers, vendors and guests celebrating the unveiling of this Splash Showroom in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, Pa. Adding on to an existing branch, the idea was to make the showroom an immersive and experiential environment designed to “tantalize the senses” of customers. 

The 4,000-square-foot new showroom packs a lot into its footprint. The company’s sales manager, Ben Nicklas, explains, “We wanted it to be a state-of-the-art showroom, so careful planning, creativity, and execution were essential.” This attention to detail is evident in every aspect of the showroom, from the fully functional kitchen, a shower garden, flushing toilets, and troths lined with various working kitchen and lavatory faucets to give customers a real sense of how these products will work in their homes. 

With running water throughout the showroom and more than 20 shower applications, the showroom provides an interactive experience, allowing customers to try products before making a purchase.

“Our objective is to tantalize our customers senses while enabling our highly trained staff to build solid relationships with them,” says Mark Nicklas, president of Nicklas Supply. The company positioned the Splash Showroom as a one-stop shop for high-end kitchen and baths. 

“This showroom encompasses many of the products that would be used in residential and corporate venues— it brings a lot of color and beauty with the addition of cabinetry, tile, stone, marble, and architectural hardware,” he notes. “In addition, the showroom vignettes creatively display many of these products for our customers to be able to visualize their space. It’s relevant to today’s design trends and appeals to affluent customers looking for a customized experience.”

The “Experiential Room” is another highlight of the new showroom, featuring two therapeutic tubs and a steam shower that engages customers’ senses with aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, chromotherapy and music. “This feature allows customers to experience the luxury of these products before making a decision,” says Mark Nicklas. 

Not to be missed are the large television screens throughout the new space — not only for promoting the partnerships with its manufacturers and vendors but also to allow its designers to present 3D renderings of customers’ potential projects. “It provides our clients with a different concept to see their remodeling project in 3D,” he says, “thus ensuring that we are able to deliver on a client’s vision.” 

The new showroom in the South Hills of Pittsburgh is the fourth Splash Showroom in the company’s portfolio, and a significant milestone for Nicklas Supply.

Expanding Reach With Elite Plumbing Supply

 Coincidentally, on the same day as the Showroom’s grand opening, an opportunity for further expansion came to light. Mark Nicklas explains, “While we were preparing for the red carpet event at the Splash Showroom, one of our colleagues mentioned that Elite Plumbing Supply was up for sale. By Sept. 4, we had finalized the deal.” The Latrobe branch, which includes a showroom and warehouse, adds to the company’s existing branches and is now officially its sixth location. It also positions Nicklas Supply to serve customers in a new market.

Elite Plumbing Supply, a 9,000-square-foot facility with a four-person team, complements Nicklas Supply’s focus on customer service. “The real win here was acquiring a branch with excellent staff already in place, Mark Nicklas says. He adds that “Finding good people is the biggest obstacle in growth, and this team has exceptional experience and product knowledge, making this a winning acquisition.” It does so in an area not previously served by Nicklas Supply, offering opportunities for future growth and expansion. 

The ESOP Transition

One of the most significant developments in Nicklas Supply’s recent history was its transition in 2018 to an ESOP. The move was a game-changer for the company, helping to align employees’ interests with the business’s long-term success.

Ben Nicklas emphasized how the ESOP underscored the company’s culture: “Developing that ownership mentality among everyone incentivizes their desire to do well. When someone in the company succeeds, we all do. There’s an extra accountability because we’re all owners.”

Mark Nicklas underscores how moving to an ESOP positioned the company for future growth: “With the ESOP, we are no longer concerned with what the former private shareholders desired. Instead, we’re retaining earnings within the company, which allows us to reinvest in growth opportunities such as acquisitions and new showrooms.”

Embracing E-Commerce 

Another exciting avenue of growth and innovation is the company’s launch of a new e-commerce platform aimed at saving time for its core customers — contractors and plumbers. 

The online ordering platform, expected to go live by the end of 2024, will allow customers to browse products, place orders online, and pick them up in-store without waiting in line.

“We value our customers’ time and want to make it easier for them to get what they need quickly,” explains Nicklas Supply’s marketing specialist Will Kocur. “The platform will allow our customers to place orders online, and we’ll have them ready for pickup. It’s all about streamlining the process so they can quickly return to the jobsite.”

The platform is a significant undertaking for the company, requiring the integration of a large portion of its product catalogs into an online system. “We’ve hit some roadblocks along the way, but we’re nearing the finish line,” he says. “We expect to have the platform live and fully functional by the end of this year.” 

Celebrating Growth and Looking Toward the Future

It’s been a transformational year for Nicklas Supply; its heart is the commitment to customers and the communities it serves. 

In addition to its growth within its communities, the company also actively takes part in giving back. In late September, a team of member-owners spent the day volunteering with a charitable construction non-profit called Hosanna Industries, replacing a roof for a local homeowner. “We have partnered with Hosanna  because  it has a meaningful mission and an outstanding team,” beams Kocur, who handles the company’s wholesale marketing.  

Taking a moment to reflect on the company’s achievements, Mark Nicklas smiles when he says: “We’ve come a long way since 1956, and we’re proud of what we’ve built.  More than that, we’re excited about where we’re going. The ESOP has given us the tools to continue growing, and we’re always looking for new ways to serve our customers better.”

As the company continues to expand its footprint in Pennsylvania and beyond, Nicklas Supply remains committed to the principles that have guided it for nearly seven decades: its core values and mission statement, innovation, customer service, and employee empowerment.