What's New In Industry Web Sites

Online training and site redesigns highlighted.

State-of-the-art business, marketing and operational training will be available online to all Quality Service Contractors (www.qsc-phcc.org) members through the organization's alliance with EPL for Residential (www.eplresidential.com), an online Web training company.

“Webinar” seminar programs have been offered to QSC members for the past two years, but this new alliance with EPL creates more extensive coverage of a full range of business, operational, managerial and leadership topics.

Controlled Energy Corp. recently launched its Internet-based Tankless University (www.tanklessuniversity.com). The Web site intends to educate and train builders, architects, engineers, wholesale distributors, contractors and sales representatives.

With five separate professional categories, students can customize their learning experience. The site features detailed text, diagrams and step-by-step videos for maintenance and installations of gas and electric tankless water heaters. After finishing the study material, students can test themselves with an interactive quiz.

The Service Roundtable is offering free downloads for contractors - such as “100 Simple Practices Every Service Business Should Perform” or “50 Comanche Marketing Tips For Building Your Service Business” - at its Web site, www.serviceroundtable.com. The free information changes daily. The site also features a Service Business Tip of the Day and links to news and articles of interest to contractors.

Lead-free solder maker Taracorp Inc. launched two new online productivity tools at www.taracorp.com. Supplier Search allows plumbing contractors to locate wholesale distributors stocking Taracorp products. Partner Focus provides a page for key customers to promote their business online.

Briggs Plumbing Products launched a new Web site featuring the Vacuity Series toilet - www.briggsvacuity.com. The site includes an animated toilet illustration, which allows the user to see the vacuum-assisted flushing system, a comparison chart, buying tips and purchasing locations.

Legislative and regulatory activities, business development opportunities, education and training, insurance, safety and legal issues all can be found on the Associated Builders and Contractors redesigned Web site (www.abc.org). The site also features a calendar of events, online event registration and advanced search capabilities.