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What do logging and plumbing have in common? Jon Hatch for one. After a friend told him about a plumbing apprenticeship opening 15 years ago, Jon Hatch made the jump to the plumbing industry. 

What does a looming housing shortage, a significant increase in energy prices and 52% of home buyers ready to heat and cool their homes with electricity have in common? They’re all remedied in the same way: All-geothermal residential developments.

“I don’t think people care that I’m young, or female. They care about what I know.”
Those words, spoken by Baylie Frost, a virtual design and construction (VDC) lead at Harvey’s Plumbing & Heating in Bozeman, Montana, must be music to the ears of an industry that is seeking to attract more talented young people to its ranks.

While the overall kitchen and bath industry continues to show healthy growth for the year, the overall index is down 4% quarter over quarter as lingering issues caused by the pandemic seem to be catching up to consumer sentiment. Despite this, the industry is coming off of a record-breaking quarter of growth in Q2, which has fueled projections for the year at around 12% growth in sales year-over-year, with many members still encouraged about future growth in 2022.  

After the past two years, the entire world — plumbing industry included — is waiting for things to return to normal. This past year gave us some normalcy with a return of in-person meetings and events; however, with this latest spike in COVID-19 cases and the continuing supply chain issues and rising material costs, normal may be a bit further away than we hope.

In October, Hiller launched the newest of its 14 locations in Chattanooga. With this expansion, Hiller’s coverage area includes the entire state of Tennessee and operations in its fourth state, Georgia.

Southern Trust Home Services began life on a farm. An electrician by trade, Ted Puzio founded his contracting business in 1995 while raising his two teenage sons. Then named TP Electric, Puzio and his sons renovated and flipped farmhouses before building a two-story facility to both live in and use as a workshop.

Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke had a chance to chat with Chris Carrier, director of marketing for RWC, and David McCulloch, executive director of Trade Talks USA, about their partnership and campaign to attract new blood to the plumbing industry.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) released its annual Design Trends report. The 2022 study, a deep dive into all aspects of both kitchen and primary bathroom design, forecasts the styles, features, materials and innovations expected to be most popular over the next two to three years. The current study finds that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated consumer interest in and adoption of key trends in their homes such as integration of smart technology, multi-functional spaces and natural and nature-based designs.