Whenever wholesale distributors in Illinois and Indiana need industry-leading hot water heaters and boilers, they look to R.C. Sales & Service LLC “Our greatest strength as a company is our product knowledge, application knowledge, and our expertise in water heaters and hydronic equipment,” says Michael Dore, principal of the Downers Grove, Ill.-based manufacturer’s representative. “Our knowledge and skill in working with engineers, contractors, and wholesalers help them design, sell and install hot water and hydronic systems that work.”
“Our customers rely on us,” he adds. “If there’s a problem on a job, they can call us and we shall meet them on the jobsite and resolve the issue.”
* TACO, a leading manufacturer of circulators, pumps, ASME expansion tanks, and hydronic accessories;
*Uponor, a global pioneer in piping, intelligent plumbing and climate solutions;
* Weil-McLain, a leading North American manufacturer of hydronic boilers and comfort heating systems;
* Testo, an HVAC testing instrument manufacturer;
“We are selective on which manufacturers we represent,” Dore says. “We are regularly approached by different manufacturers who would like for us to represent their products because of our relationships with engineers, contractors, builders, and the wholesale distribution channel.”
R.C. Sales & Service selects companies that manufacture mechanical room products and complement existing products in the plumbing and HVAC industry that will be of interest to its wholesaler customer base. The company’s inside and outside sales departments closely evaluate each potential new manufacturer. This includes asking whether there’s a market for the prospective products as well as if the company can help the manufacturer increase its sales.
R.C. Sales & Service also analyzes whether the product would fit the offerings of its existing wholesalers. “With technology and efficiency standards changing, there’s more to selling products,” Dore says. “It needs to be the right product for the application.
“We probably say no to more companies than we say yes to,” he adds.
R.C. Sales & Service sells exclusively to wholesaler distributors in the HVAC; plumbing; and pipe, valve and fitting channels. As an industry participant, R.C. Sales maintains memberships in several industry associations. The company has strong relationships with the American Society of Plumbing Engineers, the American Society of Sanitary Engineers, the Illinois Plumbing Heating and Cooling Council, the American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers, the American Supply Association, the Association of Independent Manufacturers/Representatives, the Western Trade Association, the Indiana Plumbing Heating and Cooling Council, the Chicagoland Better Heating and Cooling Council, Plumbing Contractors Association and other organizations. Members of these groups help promote and sell the products specified on many of RC Sales & Service’s projects, Dore says.
In addition to sales, the company offers technical training to the installers of the products it represents. This includes teaching courses required by the State of Illinois for plumbing contractors. The state requires four hours of courses, known as continuous education units, annually in order for plumbers to remain licensed.
R.C. Sales & Service can teach six two-hour courses. The company instructs roughly 2,500 to 3,000 plumbing professionals annually.