When I first began writing about the plumbing and heating industry in 1998, succession planning was an issue because many owners of contracting businesses weren’t looking ahead to retirement, especially those who owned smaller shops.

I grew up in Cadillac, Mich. And no, it’s not near Detroit. My parents still live there, and I like to go back and visit — especially when the high-speed pace of Chicago gets to me.

 You probably have heard the story about a former director of the U.S. Patent Office. In 1899, the story goes, he recommended closing the office because “everything that can be invented has been invented.” 

If you’re the owner of a small business — or small businesses make up a big part of your customer base — here’s another reason to worry about climate change.  

 The Plumbing Industry Leadership Coalition met in June to address three topics we’ve discussed in this column in recent months: the federal law on no-lead plumbing products; the next generation of plumbing industry professionals; and the nation’s aging infrastructure. 

 We’ve seen this collision before when two indicators of nonresidential construction activity are released virtually at the same time, with each moving in a different direction. The divergent reports support comments I’ve heard lately from contractors, wholesalers and manufacturers that the road to economic recovery remains a bumpy one. 

 I first heard the phrase “frugal fatigue” a couple months ago at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in New Orleans. It refers to people who have grown so tired of minding their tight budgets that they are starting to spend money again.

 You may have heard the news last month that an ingredient found in red meat and energy drinks can harden your arteries, causing you to develop heart disease.