A new year means new opportunities to grow your distribution business. Pushing for more sales from existing customers is a good strategy, but so is identifying new customers.

Where to find those new customers? Start by researching and getting involved with any state and regional associations that may apply to your business and help you expand your customer base.  For example, if your company is in Florida, then you should join and get active in the Florida Association of Plumbing Heating & Cooling Contractors. Exhibit at their local trade shows and use the “find a licensed plumber” portion of their website for new customer leads.

You can also look at national organizations, such as the American Society of Plumbing Engineers. There are 61 chapters across the country, so there’s sure to be potential new customers in your marketplace.

One of the easiest steps when researching organizations is to use the “contractor referral” or “find a contractor” buttons on a website. Look up plumbers and contractors within 25 miles of your location to make sure every service person listed is targeted for your sales efforts. For example, the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association has a Contractor Search button that makes it fast and easy for you to find new customers in your area!