Sharkbite

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.

It’s fair to say that the last year has been a significant challenge for just about every industry. Even something as essential as plumbing hasn’t gone without being impacted by the changes that have come about due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, just because you’re facing these unique challenges, doesn’t mean that you’re not going to be able to overcome them. With that in mind, here are some things that you can do in order to keep your plumbing business afloat in a post-COVID world.

Stay safe

The most obvious thing to remember when working during the pandemic is to make sure that you, your employees, and your clients are all as safe as possible. There are plenty of ways that you can do this of course. If you’re heading out to clients then make sure that you have procedures in place so that you can maintain social distancing and that you’re always keeping yourself and your equipment clean and sanitized. This applies to your office and warehouse too. Of course, this is all alongside the other, more typical health and safety measures that you need to take. Safety should always be your number one concern, even once we’re all on the other side of this pandemic.

Present yourself properly

People are pretty frightened at the moment and they need to feel secure in whatever business they hire. They need to be sure that not only are you going to do the best job possible but that you’re going to be able to do it safely and securely. This means that you have to put your best foot forward at all times. Things like making sure that your website is as high quality as possible or using something like http://physicaladdress.com to set up a virtual mailbox that can help smaller plumbing companies look better established can make a huge difference. If you want to keep your business going during these tough times, your customers need to feel as though they can trust you completely.

Adjust your working methods

You may previously have had particular ideas about how your business is run. Everything from plumbers out on jobs to the manufacturing side to the way that the office itself functions. The reality is that in this new world there’s a good chance that you’ll need to rethink all of these in one way or another. From making sure that you’re compliant with safety regulations to ensuring that all of your staff are working to the highest possible standard no matter where they are. The modern world has changed and it’s up to you to change with it.

The reality is that, pandemic or no pandemic, your business is one that is always going to be necessary both domestically and commercially. Being able to adjust to the needs of the modern world in whatever form that takes is one of the most important things that you can do to stay ahead of the competition and to make sure that your business comes out of the totally unprecedented situation as cleanly as possible.

Organizations will work together to emphasize career opportunities in the trades

Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC), a leading manufacturer of premium branded push-to-connect plumbing products, valves, secondary pipe supports, firestopping solutions and fluid control technologies, is partnering with Home Builders Institute (HBI), a national leader in career training for the building and construction industry, as the exclusive Trade Sponsor for its 22 plumbing programs across the U.S., primarily serving Job Corps students and justice-involved individuals.

These HBI programs provide students with the skills, experience and placement services they need to have a successful career while helping the trade address labor shortages.

“We are thrilled to engage with HBI and believe this is the beginning of an important, long-lasting partnership,” said Chris Carrier, Marketing Director, Americas at RWC. “HBI’s ability to connect, train and place potential new talent into the trade makes them an ideal partner. Not only do we see this as an opportunity to help our trade, but also an opportunity to help the local communities that these programs are in.”

This partnership was a natural opportunity for RWC to double down on its commitment to promote and further the plumbing trade after its Careers in Construction Month efforts, through its SharkBite® and HoldRite® brands, in October.

“Our diverse product portfolio enables us to produce solutions that are designed to help plumbing contractors work more efficiently in the field,” Carrier continued. “In our conversations with them, we’ve recognized the need to help the trade address its labor challenge.”

HBI’s programs help approximately 10,000 students each year receive real life, hands-on training and find meaningful careers in the trades. HBI also provides them with job placement and transition assistance, and qualified graduates are able to enter advanced training programs to expand their education and experience.

“Home Builders Institute is proud to welcome our new partner, Reliance Worldwide Corporation,” said HBI President and CEO Ed Brady. “Together, we are training the next generation of skilled labor for the building industry. As HBI’s exclusive Trade Sponsor of our plumbing programs, RWC will provide its excellent products to help train our students in 22 locations nationwide. In the process, they will develop customers for life as our graduates enter the industry. I look forward to working with RWC and to seeing how the many resources they bring to the table will help enhance our training programs and ensure the future success of our students.”

To further discuss this partnership during IBSx – the 2021 International Builders Show – please visit RWC or HBI’s exhibits. Learn more about RWC and its family of brands.

As the deep winter freeze arrives, frozen or burst pipes can become prevalent. Dealing with an unexpected leak is the last thing anyone wants to tackle in the middle of a busy season; but if it happens, there’s a quick solution to restoring ruptured pipes with no specialty tools, soldering, crimping or glue required: SharkBite push-to-connect slip and transition fittings. 

“SharkBite gives you a wide range of slip fittings and valves to repair burst copper or CPVC pipes quickly,” said Michael Kornegay, SharkBite Product Manager. “Up to two inches of damaged pipe can be removed using a single fitting, even in wet lines, and a drain valve can be easily added to prevent future freezing.”

Ideal for working with multiple pipe types and in tight spaces, SharkBite’s Brass Push transition fittings can be installed in wet lines and can transition between pipe types, including PEX, copper, CPVC, PVC, polybutylene, HDPE and PE-RT pipes, making them one of the most versatile solutions.  

“SharkBite’s push-to-connect transition fittings come with color-coordinated collars for each specific pipe material,” Kornegay continued. “The tool-free transition fittings allow for quick and easy repair of copper pinhole leaks and replacement of brittle polybutylene pipe or broken CPVC.” 

Since pipes are at a higher risk of freezing and bursting in the winter, it pays to have a solution like SharkBite’s push-to-connect slip and transition fittings handy for a quick fix. Follow these steps to get the job done fast: 

1. Cut the pipe cleanly – Be sure the pipe is clean of scratches or debris. If working with copper pipe, use a deburr tool or sandpaper to remove any sharp edges or burrs. 
2. Measure and mark the insertion depth – Use SharkBite’s Deburr & Gauge Tool to mark the insertion depth on the damaged pipe. 
3. Make the connection – Push the fitting to the insertion marks. Then, turn on the water and check the connection.