As HoldRite approaches its 40^th Anniversary, company announces enhanced digital experience  

Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC) is a leading manufacturer of premium branded push-to-connect plumbing products, valves, secondary pipe supports, firestopping solutions, DWV testing and fluid control technologies for residential and commercial applications. RWC’s portfolio of brands includes SharkBite™ push-to-connect plumbing products, HoldRite™ engineered plumbing and mechanical solutions, Cash Acme™ valves and John Guest™ fittings and fluid dispense products.

In anticipation of HoldRite’s 40^th anniversary in 2022, RWC is getting ahead of the celebration with a new website centered on improving the online experience for end users. These advancements will greatly expand RWC’s digital experience for contractors by using their feedback to inform a new on-site search experience. This will make it easier than ever for customers to find vital information quickly. Additionally, the new website boasts enhanced product and resource filtering. HoldRite’s new website launch is the first of several website enhancements to roll out for RWC brands, including changes to SharkBite.com, CashAcme.com and JohnGuest.com — all to unify the overall brand and website customer experience.

“Our customers are busy and want to be able to find information quickly and easily,” said Chris Carrier, Marketing Director, Americas, Reliance Worldwide Corporation. “Improving the user experience became our top priority when redesigning the HoldRite website, and contractors will see continuous improvements in the subsequent brand webpages over the next year.”

The online enhancements seen on HoldRite’s website, include:

• New technical download center so visitors can find all relevant documentation in one place
• Improved “Where to Buy” functionality and site search experience
• Consolidated product pages with a clean user interface
• Faster submittal generator process
• Added filters to product categories
• Faster site and page speed

To further support professional contractors, RWC regularly evaluates its online experience to assess performance and uncover opportunities to optimize the experience. With website visitors growing in sophistication and need, RWC sought the opportunity to improve the HoldRite website to ensure plumbers, engineers, architects, mechanical contractors and electricians were able to efficiently find important product information in a timely manner.

To view HoldRite’s improved website experience, visit the U.S. site, here, and Canada’s site, here.

RIDGID, part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, has a long history of supporting local education

As part of its ongoing commitment to support education, RIDGID®, a part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, and its employees donated a variety of school supplies to the Elyria City School District as part of a back-to-school supply drive sponsored by Mosaic, an Emerson employee resource group focused on serving the community, celebrating cultural diversity, and supporting future leaders through educational initiatives. The supplies, including writing utensils, glue sticks, scissors and backpacks, will be used in elementary school classrooms across the district so all students have the resources needed to learn and succeed.

“RIDGID is proud to be able to support Elyria students by providing additional school supplies to classrooms through our Mosaic school supply drive,” said Manirajan Manivannan, sr. project manager, Professional Tools and Founder/Global Chair, Mosaic for Emerson. “One of our goals through Mosaic is to take part in activities that bring us together as a community and embrace how our diverse cultures make anything possible.”

As part of the donation, Emerson’s Mosaic team created special age-appropriate activity sheets for young students that encouraged them to welcome inclusive cultures within their classrooms. “We want to provide the next generation of leaders with information regarding the benefits of cultural diversity and empathy,” said Manivannan.

As part of RIDGID’s ongoing commitment to education and fostering the skills of the next generation, employees regularly volunteer in the school district and demonstrate the role science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) plays in manufacturing through student tours at its state-of-the-art manufacturing center.

Over the years, RIDGID has also sponsored many other key projects with the school district, including a technology lab, new computer equipment for students, and the district’s Maker Space – a learning area dedicated to fostering STEM education.

“We’re thrilled to have RIDGID’s support on such an important initiative. These extra supplies will go a long way in helping teachers and students focus on learning and eliminate concern over whether they will have the resources needed to make it through the school year,” said Amy Higgins, communications director, Elyria Schools.

To learn more about RIDGID, visit RIDGID.com.

The first of its kind grant program will help recipients across North America further invest in their small businesses and the communities they serve

Jobber, the leading provider of home service management software, today announced the recipients of its $150,000 grant program, Boost by Jobber. Thirty small businesses were selected from thousands of applications and received funds ranging between $1,500 to $20,000 USD.

“From experienced entrepreneurs to those starting a new career in home service, all our Boost by Jobber recipients are unique—but the incredible impact they’re making on their local communities is something they all share,” said Sam Pillar, CEO & co-founder at Jobber. “Our team was truly inspired by the entrepreneurial stories and demonstrations of resiliency that were shared with us. Home service businesses are made up of incredible people and hometown heroes that deserve to have a spotlight on their work, their stories heard, and our continued support. This is our goal for the Boost by Jobber program.”

The grant recipients range from pre-business entrepreneurs to experienced owners and represent a variety of home services industries, including tree care, lawn care and landscaping, plumbing, residential cleaning, HVAC, contracting, carpentry, pressure washing, and more. These funds will help support entrepreneurs in the home services category who keep our homes and offices running smoothly, help their friends and neighbors build meaningful careers, and give back to the communities where they live and work.

The application process involved written and video submissions, followed by interviews with Boost by Jobber’s judging panel. To select the recipients, Jobber individually scored applicants based on their community contributions, leadership style, business plans, and the overall impact the funding would make towards their goals.

The top grant of $20,000 was awarded to experienced entrepreneur Joseph Gillingham, founder of Heritage Tree Care. Gillingham started his company, a full service tree care business, 15 years ago and now employs 20 people during peak seasons. The company has helped create interactive outdoor learning spaces for local schools and daycares by donating labor and repurposed wood chips, logs for seating, and large outdoor wooden building blocks for children to play with, all while maintaining 5-star customer service. The company also supports a network of community gardens and assists with emergency response for urban animals requiring rescue from heights.

“Receiving this Boost by Jobber grant makes it all worthwhile in a way,” said Joseph Gillingham. “As an entrepreneur, sometimes I wonder if I am doing the right thing as there is often a residual feeling of imposter syndrome despite the thousands of happy customers over lots of years. Getting recognized in this way takes away the doubt. Thanks to Jobber, we can bring some of our dream entrepreneurial ideas to life. With this funding, we will not only grow the business and hire more expert team members, but also we plan to help subsidize tree planting for low-income daycares and community centers, thereby creating a green legacy of shady spaces throughout my city and beyond.”

New entrepreneurs Courtney and Burgess Heberer, owners of Santa Claus Exterior Cleaning, received a $10,000 grant. Courtney has been a middle school music teacher and Burgess previously worked as a scientist developing infant formula and childrens’ nutritional products. Santa Claus Exterior Cleaning donates 10% of profits to children in need around the holidays, and also cleans and sanitizes four local public school playgrounds at no charge.

“The Boost by Jobber grant was really needed,” said Burgess Heberer. “We are at this point where we are ready to take things to the next level and move our business out of our garage and into its own dedicated space. This grant is going to help us do that. It’s a big step forward⁠— and to know your hard work is acknowledged by a partner like Jobber is awesome.”

Courtney added, “We took a big risk starting this business, so this is very reassuring. We can’t say enough good things about the team at Jobber.”

Below is the full list of 30 recipients for this year’s Boost by Jobber grant program from across North America:

Experienced Business Owners (3+ years):

• Joseph Gillingham, Heritage Tree Care Inc. (Toronto, ON)
• Monique Olson and Erik Olson, Safe N Soft Carpet Cleaning (Boise, ID)
• Amber Starling, Good Witch Cleaning Services LLC (Manhattan, KS)
• Branden Sewell, Seal Pro Painting Inc. (Orlando, FL)
• Bryon Rocz, Father & Son Restoration (Taylor, MI)
• Kirk Brown, Kirk’s Lawn Care LLC (Limerick, PA)
• Lauren Penner and Julie Penner, Unaffiliated Hot Tub Home Care (Saskatoon, SK)
• Chris Senger, Errol Palmer and Dane Findlay, Mow Town Edmonton Ltd. (Edmonton, AB)
• Jessica Bilmer and Jonathan Alvernaz, Kitchen Makeovers (Aldergrove, BC)
• Dave Clauson, Cove Power (North Vancouver, BC)

New Business Owners (0-3 years):

• Courtney Heberer and Burgess Heberer, Santa Claus Exterior Cleaning LLC (Santa Claus, IN)
• Raquel Hughes and Aaron Kirkaldy, Sparkle & Sheen Organize and Cleaning Services Ltd. (Edmonton, AB)
• Donny Mills, Liberty Village Plumbing (Toronto, ON)
• Eric Kleynenberg, Alpha Repair and Renovation LLC (Caledonia, MI)
• Meaghan McVicker, Green Clean Machine (Nipomo, CA)
• Nolan Rinta and Taylor Rinta, T-Rex Rinks (Stillwater, MN)
• Amy Morgan and Cody Morgan, Pit Stop Pool Service (Cypress, TX)
• Bernard Jackson, BLE Management LLC (Fayetteville, NC)
• Alberto Herrera, Exin Car Detail (Tempe, AZ)
• Riley Flatt and Brittany Flatt, Semper Fi Heating & Cooling (Malta, MT)

Almost Entrepreneurs (pre-business):

• Kevin Long, Fall Creek Power Wash, LLC (Pendleton, IN)
• Findley Wilson, Fin’s Custom Builds (Ohsweken, ON)
• Crystal Bissell, Eco Food Gardens (Austin, TX)
• Jacob Micflikier and Alysha Murdoch, Seed Cleaning & Services LLC (Destin, FL)
• Ben Clark, CSRA Bin Cleaning (North Augusta, SC)

COVID-19 Support:

• Lisa Sullivan and John Sullivan, Heather Ridge Contractors Inc. (North Riverside, IL)
• Ana Lupu and Horea Lupu, FloorMaxx Inc. (Chicago, IL)
• Paddy Treacy, Northern Lines (Toronto, ON)
• Fatukanu Kabia, Diamond Janitorial Services (Anchorage, AK)
• Adrienne Tutty, Calavo Landscape Inc. (El Cajon, CA)

To learn more about the Boost by Jobber recipients and their stories, and to watch for updates around next year’s program, visit https://www.boostbyjobber.com/

Manufacturing Plant and Training Center in St. Louis, Missouri

RLS LLC, manufacturer of the Rapid Locking System line of flame-free press-to-connect fittings for HVAC and refrigeration systems, has announced it will be moving into a new 80,000 square foot multipurpose facility in St. Louis, Missouri, which will serve as its corporate headquarters and will include a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, training center and showroom.

RLS will be relocating manufacturing from Shelbina, Missouri, where it has been sharing a plant with its sister company, Cerro Flow Products. Both are part of the Plumbing and Refrigeration sector of Marmon Holdings, a Berkshire Hathaway company. All RLS operations are planned to be consolidated into the new building by the end of 2021.

“We’re very excited to have manufacturing, office staff and training all under one roof,” said Paul Schubert, president of RLS. “The larger, upgraded facility will significantly increase our production capacity to meet the growing demand for our products. And the new training center will allow us to regularly educate HVAC/R contractors and distributors on our patented press technology, which is easily identified by our unique double circular press and flares.”

After originally introducing its press fittings in 2015 under the ZoomLock brand through a private-label agreement with Parker Hannifin, RLS has experienced tremendous growth since relaunching under its own brand name at the end of 2019. To support this continued growth, RLS has recently added more than 10 new positions in sales, marketing and engineering across the U.S., and is currently hiring.

“As more and more contractors discover the many benefits of using press fittings over the traditional brazing process, they continue to choose the time-tested and field-proven technology provided by RLS,” said Schubert. “As a result, we are continuing to invest in the facilities, equipment and people needed to meet demand.”

RLS press fittings connect in 10 seconds using a battery-powered tool and jaws, replacing the time-consuming process of manually brazing HVAC/R joints. The fittings result in faster, more consistent connections that reduces total installed costs, while also increasing jobsite safety by eliminating the use of an open flame.

For more information on RLS, visit rapidlockingsystem.com.