Articles Tagged with ''trades''

A joke about plumbers on late-night TV is a reminder of a deeper problem the trades have been dealing with for years.

For years, leadership in the trades was defined by grit, hustle, and sheer willpower. If you worked harder, stayed longer, and pushed through, you were considered a strong leader. And while work ethic will always matter in plumbing, the demands of today’s workforce are calling for something more.

Expanding on the momentum of Pfister Faucets’ award‑winning American Plumber Stories, Project Stories shifts the lens to the full project ecosystem—plumbers, designers, developers, architects, and builders—while putting a strong emphasis on storytelling. 

In this episode of And So It Flows, Jennifer Harrison and Kaytee Gray from SupplyHouse.com discuss how digital merchandising and fulfillment are evolving to empower contractors with expert product information, simplifying decision-making in the field.

Trent Leinenbach, VP of customer experience at Stratus, discusses ways that contractors can implement technology into their workflow. 

Technology has reshaped the job. Dispatching, pricing, training, and communication tools have given plumbing businesses more control, clarity, and consistency than ever before. Think about it; in 2010, real-time data was a luxury. In 2025, it’s a baseline. Fortunately for our industry, automation doesn’t replace craftsmanship, it amplifies it, allowing leaders to make decisions with supporting data.

Bring Back the Trades has announced its Spring 2026 Skills Expos, returning to New Hampshire and expanding into Maine for the first time with hands-on events designed to introduce students and families to careers in the skilled trades.

Artificial intelligence is being used in a plethora of ways across the trades industry. According to Lynn Wise, CEO of Contractor in Charge, “Plumbing and mechanical contractors are moving past the experimental phase of AI and are adopting practical solutions that integrate directly into their daily operations. These tools are streamlining workflows, enhancing customer service, and boosting profitability.”

With the skilled labor shortage reaching critical levels, Metabo HPT is reigniting a national conversation about the trades through its “Bring Back Shop Class” campaign.

The Bring Back the Trades Skills Expo will take place at the Gillette Stadium on October 25, 202