Nordyne, for instance, made one of the bigger splashes when it entered into a contractual relationship with Maytag in 2002 to market a line of high-end air conditioning and heating systems. This year they brought together selected distributors to provide them with research information to substantiate the value of the Maytag brand with the consumer.
More brands are available, and contractors are also selling more brands this year. In The News' 2003 Unitary Heating/Cooling Study, 25 percent of the contractor respondents revealed they sell at least three brands, but 25 percent also said they sell four or five brands. Such was not the case just two years ago. In 2001, 27 percent said they sold three brands, but only 19 percent said they sold four or five.