4 Ways Distributors Can Use Trade Hounds to Become the First Choice for Contractors

The way contractors and skilled tradespeople find suppliers and purchase materials is changing. Today’s buyers expect fast answers, digital tools, and convenient ways to connect with their preferred distributors.

The numbers don’t lie. A Trade Hounds poll found that 93% of tradespeople buy from more than one distributor, and 68% shop with three or more.

With younger generations of tradespeople preferring digital interactions over phone calls, distributors who embrace this shift will secure long-term customer loyalty.

One of the most effective ways to do that? Meeting them where they already are—on Trade Hounds, a community of half a million skilled workers across electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and other industries.

Here are four powerful ways to strengthen your digital presence, simplify the buying process, and become the go-to distributor for contractors:

1. Create a Free Company Account for Each Branch on Trade Hounds

Creating a free Trade Hounds company account for each branch gives contractors and tradespeople a direct way to connect with your team, ask questions, and get faster responses. It’s an efficient way to build relationships digitally with customers who prefer texting over phone calls.

Your employees can also associate their profiles with your company by listing you as their employer. This automatically lists them in your company account's public "members" list making it easy for tradespeople to engage with the right contacts at each branch. This personal connection helps your brand build trust and can also improve customer satisfaction by reducing wait times for responses and information.

Your company account gives you the ability to share admin responsibilities with as many people as you'd like. Admin access allows employees to publish posts on behalf of your company account, engage with tradespeople in the comments and direct message users you're connected with. Admins can also post job openings. These will appear in the job section of your company account, in the discover feed for all users, in the My Crew feed for users you're connected with and in the job board in the Trade Hounds toolbelt page. 

Distributors often use their company accounts to share posts about products, giveaways, or events happening at the branch. This is a great opportunity to collaborate with manufacturers to cross promote new products, for example. 

2. Leverage Catalog Visibility

Tradespeople and contractors don’t have time to waste calling supply houses. By displaying your branch locations, operating hours, and product catalogs on the Supply House Map, you make it effortless for contractors to see what you carry and where to get it.

Distributors can share product catalogs in the form of API or flat files. API connectivity is the best way to set it and forget it. API ensures product data is automatically updated and any new products you add to your catalog also show up in the Trade Hounds product search.

Trade Hounds works with IDEA and DDS. We have a 7-million part product catalog. When you share your data with us, we will enrich the product records and show buyers which products your branches carry.

Trade Hounds recently launched AI-powered image search that allows technicians to snap or upload a photo to instantly identify and locate the products they need—no part number required. This not only speeds up the buying process for tradespeople but also solves a daily pain point for distributor reps who regularly receive product images from customers.

For distributors, digital product visibility is becoming a competitive advantage. When contractors can quickly find your locations, inventory, and product information, they are more likely to choose your branch when they need materials.

By combining searchable catalogs, GPS-integrated branch details, and AI-powered product discovery, you eliminate guesswork and wasted time. Contractors can confirm stock, plan trips efficiently, and get what they need faster—reinforcing your branch as the most convenient and reliable supplier.

Email Contact@TradeHounds.com to share your product catalog and put your branches on the map.

3. Make Ordering Materials Faster with AI

Once tradespeople find your branch, the next step is making it easier to request materials and keep jobs moving. Trade Hounds’ AI Material Ordering tool helps contractors build a bill of materials in seconds by allowing them to speak, text, upload a list, or take a photo of their materials.

The AI BOM engine automatically structures the materials list for quoting and ordering, helping eliminate manual data entry and making it easier for field technicians to submit accurate requests.

Once the BOM is ready, field techs with purchasing authority can send the order directly to a nearby supply house, select their preferred branch, and request a quote or place an order. 

By making it easier for contractors to organize materials and send requests directly to distributors, Trade Hounds helps supply houses stay connected to customers throughout the buying process.

4. Build Trust and Credibility Through Community Engagement

Actively engaging in the Trade Hounds community can position your branch as a go-to resource for installation tips, product recommendations, and expert advice.

Answering questions and sharing insights strengthens your relationships with tradespeople and contractors. This builds credibility, fosters loyalty, and keeps your branch top of mind when tradespeople need materials and support.

Get Started Today—For Free

Creating a free Trade Hounds company account for each of your branches is the first step toward engaging the next generation of trades professionals.

Watch the video below to learn how to create a free company account on the app!