Rheem Opens Two New PROSTOCK Stores in Mississippi with Southern Pipe & Supply Co., Inc..

2011-11-11

Stores in Meridian and Gulfport will distribute Rheem heating and cooling parts and aftermarket supplies for local contractors

MERIDIAN and GULFPORT, MISS., Nov. 11, 2011—Last month, Rheem distributor Southern Pipe & Supply Co., Inc., opened two new PROSTOCK locations in Mississippi. Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Meridian, Miss., Southern Pipe & Supply is one of the largest privately held, independent wholesalers of plumbing, heating, air conditioning, industrial, mechanical, water and sewer supplies in the Southeast.

Rheem worked with Southern Pipe & Supply to convert two of its stores in Gulfport and Meridian to PROSTOCK locations. These are Southern Pipe & Supply’s first PROSTOCK locations. Southern Pipe & Supply owns more than 90 stores throughout Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

“Southern Pipe & Supply has an amazing reputation as a longstanding partner for HVAC, plumbing and industrial suppliers in the Southeast,” said Don Harter, general manager of Rheem Sales Company. “These new PROSTOCK stores will help them showcase a highly professional, bright and organized retail presence that can meet the needs of local contractors.”

PROSTOCK stores provide replacement parts directly from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), Rheem, as well as aftermarket parts and supplies for professionals that install, maintain and service HVAC and plumbing equipment. Rheem is one of the few manufacturers in the country offering a retail presence to meet the needs of HVAC and plumbing contractors.

“The PROSTOCK model is a new concept for Southern Pipe & Supply and we’re confident that it will help us better serve the needs of contractors in Meridian and Gulfport,” said Buddy Wallace, director of HVAC, Southern Pipe & Supply. “Our PROSTOCK retail locations are incredibly visual and organized in a way that our contractor customers can quickly and easily find all the replacement and aftermarket parts that they may need.”

On Thursday, Oct. 20, and Friday, Oct. 21, PROSTOCK and Southern Pipe & Supply hosted grand opening events for local contractors in Meridian and Gulfport. The events included ribbon-cutting ceremonies and also featured lunches and giveaways, including PROTECH branded hex sets to the first 50 customers. Plus, Southern Pipe & Supply conducted drawings at each opening event, where one lucky contractor in Meridian and another in Gulfport won $1,500 credits toward the Rheem heating or cooling unit of their choice.

A number of company representatives from Southern Pipe & Supply—including Marty Davidson, chairman; Mark Roebuck, vice president, sales; Buddy Wallace, director of HVAC; Mike French, central regional manager; Britt Glenn, territory manager; Todd Cotton, branch manager; Dennis Manley, branch manager; Scott Spears, territory manager, HVAC sales; Tommy Cason, corporate sales manager; and Van Slayton, counter sales merchandising manager—were able to participate in the grand opening events. Beth Childress, manager of store development for PROSTOCK; Lee Wilkerson, district sales manager for Rheem; and Mike Himel, southeast district parts manager, from Rheem Sales Company in Randleman, N.C., traveled to Mississippi to attend the events.

The Meridian store is located at 2223 Highway 39 North. The Gulfport store is located at 2202 34th Street. Both stores are open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. More information can be found on Southern Pipe & Supply’s website, http://www.southernpipe.com.

About Rheem Manufacturing Company
Rheem Manufacturing Company (www.rheem.com) is privately held with headquarters in Atlanta and U.S. operations in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Minnesota and North Carolina. In its 86th 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. Rheem is the official heating, cooling and water heating supplier to Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and Kevin Harvick, Inc. (KHI), and is a primary sponsor of RCR’s No. 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series® car and KHI’s No. 33 NASCAR Nationwide Series® car. Harvick was named Nationwide Series “Driver of the Decade” in 2010.