Ruud Opens a New PROSTOCK Store in New Jersey with United Supply Company

2012-11-28

Lindsey Ford

New Jersey-based company celebrates its centennial anniversary and opens its first PROSTOCK store, which distributes Ruud HVAC parts and aftermarket supplies

BLACKWOOD, N.J., Nov. 28, 2012—On Nov. 14, Ruud distributor United Supply Company opened a new PROSTOCK location in Blackwood, N.J. United Supply Company has been serving HVAC and plumbing trade customers in New Jersey since 1912, and this is the first PROSTOCK location that the company has opened with Ruud, part of the Rheem family of quality brands.

“We’ve been in business since my grandfather, Abraham Kantor, established United Supply Company 100 years ago, and we opened our first plumbing retail showroom in the 1970s. It’s natural that we’d try to do something with our HVAC products that feels more like a convenient, retail shopping experience,” said Steve Kantor, CEO, United Supply. “We’re excited that Ruud partnered with us to roll out the PROSTOCK store, which has proven to be a turnkey system for United Supply. We look forward to debuting additional PROSTOCK locations in 2013.”

PROSTOCK stores offer replacement parts directly from Rheem and Ruud, as well as aftermarket parts and supplies for professionals that install, maintain and service HVAC and water heating equipment. These stores are designed to meet the needs of local contractors by creating helpful, self-service retail showrooms. Kantor indicated that United Supply decided to pursue the PROSTOCK model in order to help customers more quickly purchase parts and supplies so they can get back to job sites faster.

Kantor also noticed that the visually appealing retail layout has helped educate customers about the full range of parts and products offered by United Supply.

“Customers have always been aware of our mainstay products, but now they notice items that often don’t get discussed as much—and that’s because they’re displayed much more effectively in the PROSTOCK format,” added Kantor. “Now, customers are buying products that they didn’t even know we carried, and they’re saving time by getting everything from one store.”

“Ruud has a longstanding relationship with United Supply Company—going back more than 50 years—and we’re pleased to have the opportunity to partner with the company to launch its first PROSTOCK store,” said Don Harter, vice president and general manager of Rheem Sales Company. “PROSTOCK’s bright, organized format is a modern approach to HVAC parts distribution, and it’s fitting that United Supply chose to employ this model as it marks its 100-year anniversary”

On Wednesday, Nov. 14, PROSTOCK and United Supply Company hosted a grand opening event for contractors in the Blackwood area. The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and giveaways for attendees. Attendance at the event held steady throughout the day, despite the fact that Superstorm Sandy impacted Blackwood and the surrounding communities.

“Ever since Superstorm Sandy made landfall, our teams have been busy trying to get the right replacement parts and products out to our contractor customers right away,” said Kantor. “The retail layout of the PROSTOCK store has helped exceed customer demands because our contractors can quickly locate the products they need.”

This year marks United Supply Company’s centennial anniversary, and today the company is a third-generation family business. United Supply remains committed to empowering its employees to be more entrepreneurial through training and decentralized management practices at each branch location. The company boasts nearly 100 employees, and many have been employed with United Supply for more than 30 years.

The Blackwood store is located at 1001 Lower Landing Road, and it is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. More information can be found on United Supply Company’s website, www.unitedsupplynj.com.

About Ruud (www.ruud.com)
Ruud, part of the Rheem family of quality brands, provides heating, cooling and water heating products for residential and light commercial use. Founded more than 100 years ago by the inventor of the water heater, Edwin Ruud, Rheem acquired the Ruud Company in 1960. Today, Rheem continues developing Ruud products in its tradition of quality, reliability and durability.

About Rheem (www.rheem.com)
Rheem is privately held with headquarters in Atlanta and U.S. operations in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Minnesota and North Carolina. In its 87th year of operation, the company manufactures a full-line of eco-friendly, technologically advanced residential and commercial heating and cooling systems; tank, tankless, solar and hybrid heat pump water heaters; whole-home standby generators, controls, swimming pool and spa heaters; indoor air-purification products; and commercial boilers throughout North America and world markets. The company’s premium brands, including Rheem, Raypak, Ruud and Richmond have been recognized with countless industry and consumer awards for reliability, innovative design and high quality.

About United Supply Company (www.unitedsupplynj.com)
United Supply Company has been servicing trade customers in New Jersey since 1912. United Supply Company has continually been named in the Top 100 Distributors nationwide. Our HVAC Division operates ten wholesale distribution warehouses and our Plumbing Division operates four showcase showrooms. Each showroom is a Registered Kohler Premier Showroom as a result of meeting the high quality and product presentation standards set by the Kohler Company. For more information, please see www.unitedsupplynj.com.

###