Industry News

Acquisition Lays Foundation for Fieldpiece APAC Expansion

Fieldpiece Instruments, the leading manufacturer of HVACR tool and test instruments, has announced the acquisition of its Australian master distributor, Fieldpiece Australia, based outside of Sydney. The acquisition establishes a direct corporate presence in Australia and a foundation for further expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.

Since 2001, Steve and Vicki Hartelust have owned and operated Fieldpiece Australia and had tremendous success introducing, positioning, and growing the brand. The Hartelusts’ decision to retire and sell the distributorship aligned directly with Fieldpiece’s global growth initiatives. They will aid the transition over the coming months as Fieldpiece integrates the business and hires a local management team.

“We are thankful to the Hartelusts for their dedication to the brand and the excellent job they have done building the market over the last 20 plus years,” said Jim Gregorec, vice president of business development and licensing for Fieldpiece. He continued, “We’re eager to build on what they started by installing a local team and further exploring APAC opportunities.”

Fieldpiece is actively seeking a dynamic and experienced General Manager, located in Australia, to lead the new center of excellence and drive the next phase of growth. This role will be pivotal in steering strategic initiatives and overseeing daily operations. For more information, see the position listing on fieldpiece.com/careers.

The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) has announced the promotion of PHCC Educational Foundation Executive Director Dan Quinonez to PHCC Chief Operating Officer.

“I am pleased to announce this expanded role for Dan, as he continues his position as the Executive Director of the PHCC Educational Foundation,” said PHCC CEO Cindy Sheridan. “Drawing on his strong association management background, strategic mindset, leadership and creative direction, Dan will assist me in driving strategy and operations for the association; he will also oversee most revenue-generating areas of the organization.”

Since joining the Foundation on June 1, 2023, Quinonez has overseen the release of new plumbing and HVAC training materials, an increase in annual giving campaign donations, expanding the PHCC Academy® to develop more post-apprentice courses, the addition of new scholarships for veterans and Latino applicants, and an industry joint effort to train the U.S. competitor for the WorldSkills competition.

“I am truly honored to take on this new role and am excited to collaborate closely with CEO Sheridan, the PHCC team, and all of our members,” said Quinonez. “Together, we will enhance operational performance and remain dedicated to delivering exceptional value to our members, all while upholding the highest standards of quality and service in everything we do.”

Before joining the PHCC Educational Foundation, Quinonez served as a Senior Account Executive for the Kellen Company, a prominent Association Management Company. In this capacity, he served as the Executive Director for the Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA) and the Professional Electrical Apparatus Reconditioning League (PEARL), playing a pivotal role in expanding and promoting these organizations through various initiatives, including education, outreach, technical advancement, and advocacy.

His other roles included working with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in Washington D.C., where he advocated for the home building community. In addition, he served in the United States Army Reserves for 12 years.

Quinonez’s appointment was part of an internal structural reorganization of PHCC that is designed to increase membership, sponsorship opportunities and industry exposure.

“I am excited to head into 2025 with this new organizational structure and am looking forward to a new phase of growth for PHCC,” said Sheridan.

Trusted manufacturer renews support with $17,000 grant to expand nonprofit’s educational outreach in raising awareness of skilled trades opportunities.

Ambler, Pa. — Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, has partnered with Explore The Trades for the second year in a row as they continue to bridge the technical talent gap by raising awareness of career opportunities in the skilled trades and support the next generation of industry professionals.

Explore The Trades, founded in 2005, is a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about the trades with students in kindergarten through 12th grade throughout the United States and Canada. Through educational resources, the organization’s mission is to give educators, students and parents a foundational understanding of the plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical trades.

Philadelphia’s Mayfair Elementary School has been able to provide materials to students interested in the skilled trades thanks to the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grant program.

Through a grant from its Industry Forward® charitable giving program, Bradford White Corporation is donating $17,000 to Explore The Trades to support the organization’s expansion of its poster kit program, which has delivered more than 3,500 kits to North American classrooms since July 2021. The expansion includes a Spanish translation of the posters kits as well as an infographic series aimed at ages 5-11.

“We’ve already reached more than 700,000 students through our poster kit program — and we’re thankful for that — but widespread awareness of the trades is slow-going,” said Kate Cinnamo, executive director at Explore The Trades. “This expansion will give us the opportunity to connect with Spanish-speaking and English as a second language learners, which is so important with the K-12 Hispanic student population in the United States growing to nearly 30%. Bradford White’s support helps us reach this new audience, as well as introduce young learners to the trades in a simple, friendly way.”

Through Industry Forward®, Bradford White partners with nonprofit organizations and technical schools to educate individuals and families on the importance of the skilled trades and the role that industry professionals provide in the health, safety, sanitation, and infrastructure of their communities through strategic grant funding that supports workforce development training and education programs and industry career opportunities, events, and partnerships.

“We’re grateful for the top-of-mind awareness Explore The Trades is bringing to skilled labor, and we’re proud to be able to help them expand their reach,” said Rebecca Owens, senior communications manager for Bradford White. “Introducing the career and financial opportunities that exist within the skilled trades to today’s youth is a vital component when it comes to staffing these essential positions in the future. We applaud organizations like Explore The Trades for ensuring that introduction is happening.”

For more information about Bradford White Corporation, visit https://www.bradfordwhitecorporation.com.

For more information about Explore The Trades, visit https://explorethetrades.org/.

Home Service businesses to benefit from focus on maintenance projects as homeowners regain financial flexibility

Jobber, the leading provider of home service software, today released its latest Home Service Economic Report: 2024 Q3. The report features expert insights and proprietary data aggregated from more than 250,000 residential cleaners, landscapers, HVAC technicians, electricians, plumbers, and more, who run their businesses using Jobber.

The U.S. Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate cuts are already showing early signs of impact on consumer spending, bringing cautious optimism for the home service industry. After a slower first half of 2024, Jobber’s data shows increased momentum through the end of Q3, signaling a gradual recovery fueled by improved financial flexibility for consumers. These findings are also supported by the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (MCSI), a monthly survey based on interviews that measure U.S. consumer attitudes towards personal finances, business conditions and economic activity.

“As we move through the second half of 2024, we’re seeing encouraging signs for the home service category—especially as financial conditions continue to improve and consumer confidence grows,” said Sam Pillar, CEO & co-founder of Jobber. “At Jobber, we’re committed to helping small home service businesses capitalize on these opportunities, and the data we’re seeing suggests a path toward sustained growth in the months and years ahead.”

Demand for Home Service Outpaces Consumer Goods

Despite fluctuations in new work volume, consumer demand for home services held steady in Q3, with spending on services outpacing consumer goods. Higher average invoice sizes helped stabilize revenue, balancing the variability in new work. As interest rate cuts improve disposable income and consumer sentiment, household spending power is expected to rise, potentially driving further growth in home service demand.

Economists anticipate that the interest rate cuts will continue into 2025, providing greater affordability in areas like mortgage rates and financing for home improvements. This environment is expected to boost activity across both the housing and home service markets as consumers look to invest in essential home maintenance and renovation projects.

The housing market remains closely tied to demand for home services, and recent data indicates a promising future for this sector. While certain indicators, such as construction spending, new permits, and housing starts, have shown temporary stagnation, the cumulative effect of rate cuts is projected to revitalize the market by mid-2025. Rising home equity and expected increases in home improvements will drive demand for both discretionary and essential projects, pushing projected annual spending to $477 billion by Q3 2025, nearing previous peak levels.

Jobber’s report includes insights on the four key segments within the home services category, revealing trends in consumer spending and business resilience:

• Green: The Green segment, which includes lawn care and landscaping, saw early growth in 2024, though activity slowed in Q3 except for July. Despite economic pressures, median revenue remained stable as homeowners prioritized smaller, recurring outdoor maintenance over large renovations.
• Cleaning: Cleaning services, including residential and commercial cleaning, have seen rising median prices but declining volumes in 2024. While new work scheduled fluctuated due to reduced consumer spending, service providers have maintained stable revenue growth by increasing prices and focusing on premium offerings.
• Contracting: The Contracting segment, covering services like electricians and HVAC, experienced a downturn in new work scheduled by late Q3. Nonetheless, median revenue stayed steady, likely due to pricing adjustments and a shift toward higher-value projects.
• Construction: Construction services, including residential and commercial projects, have seen an improvement in median revenue as consumer spending shifts toward maintenance and improvements. However, new work scheduled continued to decline in Q3, reflecting cautious spending amid the gradual economic recovery.

“The 2024 Q3 Jobber Home Service Economic Report shows a promising outlook for the home services sector as interest rate cuts start to boost consumer spending and demand,” said Abheek Dhawan, Senior VP, Strategy & Analytics at Jobber. “With rising home equity and a shift toward maintenance projects, we anticipate steady growth as financial conditions improve. The sector is well-positioned to benefit from an aging housing stock and increased focus on essential updates, setting the stage for sustained demand and expansion through 2025 and beyond.”

To download the Jobber Home Service Economic Report: 2024 Q3, visit: https://getjobber.com/home-service-reports/nov-2024/