April 2025

Partnering with a buying group offers independent wholesalers in the PHCP industry a strategic advantage through collective resources, exclusive vendor programs and a robust network of industry peers. Explore the benefits and support provided by three prominent buying groups — AD, IMARK, and The Commonwealth Group.

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Strategic Advantages of Membership

Partnering with a buying group provides more than opportunities; it provides a network for continued growth.

April 3, 2025

Ruth Mitchell

In an industry where competition is fierce and margins are tight, independent wholesalers often face an uphill battle against larger, more consolidated players.

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Sandpiper Supply: Leveraging IMARK Resources for Growth and Excellence

The distributor has improved its financial performance, strengthened industry connections and enhanced employee training.

April 3, 2025

Ruth Mitchell

Founded in 1977 by Chat and Carol Howard, the company has been a trusted resource for plumbing professionals and homeowners in the Coastal Empire (the lower coastal plain in southeast Georgia) for more than four decades.

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Locke Supply Co.: A Legacy of Growth and Innovation

AD membership has been instrumental in overcoming challenges related to vendor negotiations and program management, providing significant financial and operational benefits.

April 3, 2025

Ruth Mitchell

Don J. Locke (1923-2000), founder of Locke Supply Co., began work in the plumbing business in 1946 while attending the University of Oklahoma. He graduated in 1948 after serving 2 1/2 years in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

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Women in PHCP 2025

Celebrating 13 women helping advance gender equity in the plumbing, heating, cooling and piping industry.

April 3, 2025

Pamela Accetta Smith

Two steps forward, one step back. Over the past decade, businesses have advanced gender equity with more women in leadership and stronger inclusion efforts.

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The End of the Knowledge Bottleneck for Reps

The introduction of AI librarians represents a revolutionary shift for manufacturers’ sales reps and will transform their working landscape.

April 3, 2025

Six million maps. Thirty-six million books. Seventy-five million manuscripts. The Library of Congress is recognized as the largest library in the world.