Bridging the gap between wholesalers and contractors

Supply House Times Chief Editor takes on Plumbing & Mechanical; aims to share information between two audiences.

Hand holding two white puzzle pieces with a brown background. — *Photo courtesy of simarik / iStock / Getty Images Plus*

Natalie Forster
Photo courtesy of Plumbing & Mechanical

The relationship between PHCP-PVF contractors and their wholesaler partners is one of mutual dependency. Both parties rely on each other to keep the flow of goods, services and information on track so that projects run smoothly.

Over the past five years, I have gotten to know the supply chain side of this partnership pretty well through my work on Plumbing & Mechanical’s sister publication, Supply House Times. I’ve had the privilege to get to know many of the best and most reliable PHCP-PVF wholesalers. Through that time, I’ve heard both their pain points and what they believe to be the most prominent pain points that contractors face on a daily basis. I have also learned that the vast majority of them share the same goal: be the best partner for their contractor customers.

As of last month, Nicole Krawcke moved on to her next adventure – we wish her the very best on her new endeavors. This means that I am taking on the Editorial Director role, where I will oversee the editorial direction of both Supply House Times and Plumbing & Mechanical. This opportunity puts me in the unique position to hear daily from all parties in the supply chain – from wholesalers and reps to contractors and engineers.

While the goal is to have all of the above groups are working together like a well-oiled machine, that isn’t always the case. The needs of contractors, building owners and homeowners are ever changing, and it’s up to manufacturers and distributors to do their best to meet those evolving needs. Unpredictable global and US economic factors, supply chain volatility, natural disasters, data integration (and the list goes on) are all factors that make it more difficult than ever to keep everyone on the same page.

The way I see it, our role as trade media is to provide the most reliable, useful and timely news and trends that you need to know. With my new role “swimming in both ponds,” I intend to use all of the knowledge I gather from each side to benefit the other. At the end of the day, wholesalers need to know what contractors want, and contractors need to outlet to tell wholesalers what they want. My hope is to be a liaison for you to connect and learn about one another.

Please reach out to me at forstern@bnpmedia.com to share any thoughts you have on how I can best achieve this goal and better serve your side of the industry.

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Natalie Forster is the director of communications for the American Supply Association (ASA), where she leads the association's public and media relations strategy, social media efforts, and member-focused online and print communications. Prior to joining ASA, she was the Editorial Director of Plumbing & Mechanical and Supply House Times. Before that, she served as an editor and digital content director for Southern Trade Publications, a publishing company focused on the PHCP trades and real estate industries. Natalie holds a bachelor's degree in communication studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.