After several years of demand volatility tied to inflation, tariffs and supply chain disruption, many distributors have moved into a more defensive operating posture.
Hillman said the deal supports its strategy to expand in industrial MRO, an area it has identified as a growth priority.
Distributors that import directly are already absorbing higher tariff costs and managing refund filings, while those that rely on suppliers face a lag before those costs are reflected in pricing.
The results point to continued growth among independent welding and gas distributors using cooperative purchasing and shared programs to expand scale and capabilities.
Distributors may face a more complex product mix as Makita integrates factory fastening systems and connected tools into its lineup.
AWG supplies more than 1,100 member companies operating at about 3,500 store locations across 33 states.
Graybar is restructuring its senior leadership team, naming new executives to oversee subsidiaries and national operations as the distributor adjusts its management structure to support growth.
For the 12 months ending February, sales rose 2.4%, indicating steady but subdued demand across residential and commercial HVAC channels.
For distributors, the shift is occurring alongside a second, equally important change: logistics providers are moving deeper into B2B delivery.
John Achille will continue to report to CEO Robert Buck and take on responsibility for day-to-day operations across TopBuild’s Installation Services and Specialty Distribution segments