Among the customers who attended were Blue Dot Heating and Air Service, Carroll Independent Fuel, C&D Sheet Metal, Naylor Plumbing and Heating, Baltimore Gas Electric Home Services, Positive Home Services, John Smith & Sons Plumbing and Heating, BBR Inc., Four Seasons Heating and Air, J.M. Taylor, and George Clark Plumbing. Vendors were also on hand to take a look at the new store.

"The idea of the Prostock store is to be a better service partner for our service contractors," said Ted Munson, sales manager for the Frederick region. "The way we do that is to create a store that isn't just a parts counter.

"The Prostock concept is to display as many parts as possible out front, to make the shopping experience more user-friendly. Sure, we still have an ordering counter where contractors can order anything they want. But now, we have made everything more interactive."

According to Munson, the new Prostock store will change the way HVAC contractors approach their parts buying. "It's the same kind of shift you've seen in auto parts," said Munson. "It used to be just a counter area. Now you see a wide variety of aftermarket parts, supplies, and accessories. You can look and touch and feel it. That's what we're trying to do here.

"If you provide a well-lit, fully stocked store, with lots of parts and a professional staff, people will come. Our goal is to be a one-stop shop."

The Noland/Prostock store is located in Baltimore at 1006 Middle River Road. It is open 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Publication date: 09/06/2004