For years, distributors have blamed the “small order problem” for shrinking margins and disappearing profits.

 

Twice in the past year, ASA’s Applied AI Task Group surveyed members on where they stand with AI, once last fall and again in April. The surveys covered adoption, tools, challenges, and concerns, but one question turned out to be the most revealing: what support from ASA would help you most?

The Trump administration has announced another adjustment to its Section 232 tariff program, temporarily reducing tariffs on certain HVAC, agricultural and industrial equipment while maintaining broader protections on steel, aluminum and copper imports.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued new guidance that changes how federal home energy rebate dollars can be used under several programs established by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Product lines can be duplicated. Pricing can be matched. Delivery expectations continue to rise across the board. But trust? Trust is much harder for competitors to take away.

The wholesale distribution industry is facing no shortage of challenges. Companies continue to navigate workforce development, operational efficiency, technology adoption, customer expectations and profitability pressures all while preparing the next generation of leaders to take on greater responsibility.

New White House executive order highlights how artificial intelligence is becoming a business necessity, emphasizing cybersecurity threats.

Leadership development ranks as the No. 1 requested area for expanded training among ASA members, with 58% selecting it, tied with sales training and well ahead of operational or technical skills.

For years, Amazon has steadily moved beyond retail into logistics, fulfillment and last-mile delivery, reshaping expectations around speed, availability and service across industries. Its latest move, however, marks a notable escalation: opening its logistics network to businesses regardless of whether they sell on Amazon’s marketplace.

A new federal policy shift is poised to reshape how housing projects are specified, built and supplied across the U.S., with direct implications for PHCP-PVF distributors.

 Over the past few days, Congress has seen three members – Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Tony Gonzalez (R-TX), and Sheila Cherfilius-McCormick (D-FL) – all resign after measures to expel them from the House gathered steam.

The branch is moving. Counter traffic is steady, inside sales is working through quotes, and a contractor is waiting on material to finish a job before the end of the week. A shipment just came in that needs to turn quickly, and no one has time to slow down.

A new federal development with significant financial implications for the PHCP-PVF supply chain is beginning to take shape, as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) formally opens its CAPE (CBP Automated Processing Environment) refund portal to process tariff refunds tied to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Congress returns in January to begin the second session of the 119th Congress, but significant work remains. Only half of the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills have been enacted, and Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are racing to prevent a partial government shutdown when the current continuing resolution expires on January 30.

One of the key takeaways from the American Supply Association’s LEAD strategic planning retreat earlier this year in Dana Point, California was the question of how is the PHCP-PVF industry addressing the top-of-mind subject of the transfer of industry knowledge from retiring veterans to the next generation?

As product data continues to play a larger role in distribution operations, digital commerce, and internal systems, many organizations are reassessing how they manage and govern that data. In those conversations, one question comes up repeatedly. If a company already receives product data from a trusted source, why is an industry product data standard still necessary?