From the Proton team
Hope your April’s treating you well and the weather is finally warming up wherever you are!
This month we’re diving into how Ewing built a succession plan that actually works, recent industry news and M&A activity, plus the brutal truth about how we judge AI versus human error.
Now let’s dive into the good stuff...
In our ears
Doug and Jack York on Running a Top Family-Owned Business
Benj recently sat down with Doug and Jack York from Ewing, the largest family-owned landscaping distributor in the US. These two have cracked the code on growing from 12 locations to 268 stores while keeping that family culture intact.
Here are the top 2 takeaways from the conversation:
- Family members should work outside first, then come back. Ewing requires all family members to get a four-year degree and work elsewhere before joining the business. The benefit? By the time they return, they’ve earned credibility on their own terms and actually want to be there, they’re not just cashing in on the family name.
- Blend different leadership styles. Doug built Ewing on growth and risk appetite by expanding aggressively and betting on acquisitions that take years to pay off. Meanwhile, Jack brings Wall Street M&A experience and financial discipline. Instead of clashing, they’re intentionally combining Doug’s growth mindset with Jack’s margin-focused analytics skills. This lets them focus on growth, profitability, and return on sales (AKA everything they need to compete against billion-dollar players like Home Depot)
Want the full scoop on how they’re approaching succession planning, maintaining their culture while growing fast, and staying competitive against Home Depot and other giants?
Listen to the full episode
AI, captain!
What’s Separating AI Winners and Losers
PwC’s 2026 AI Performance Study surveyed over 1,200 senior executives and found that AI winners and losers are already pulling apart.
The study shows that the top 20% of companies are capturing 75% of all financial gains from AI. These leading companies view AI as a way to reinvent their business model and expand into new markets.
By contrast, most other companies are still using AI for basic cost-cutting: automating customer service, trimming headcount, speeding up existing processes.
According to PwC’s analysis, AI leaders are increasing the number of decisions made without human intervention at almost three times (2.8x) the rate of peers.
Things SKU should know
April News in Review
Deal Wave Rolls On
The M&A machine isn’t slowing down. Nexans dropped $800M to grab Republic Wire, expanding its U.S. electrical distribution footprint. Meanwhile, Watsco scooped up Jackson Supply for 25 Sunbelt locations and $230M in revenue, and smaller players like Gravis and Shrieve Chemical kept the acquisition spree going with strategic adds.
But deals aren’t all sunshine. For example, RNDC issued WARN notices for nearly 2,800 employees as the Reyes acquisition nears close.
Legal Storm Clouds Gathering
HVAC distributors are watching a legal mess unfold. Two new price-fixing lawsuits hit major OEMs, following a March class action that alleges years of coordinated overcharging. Translation: if these stick, expect some serious supplier relationship conversations and potential cost adjustments downstream.
Markets Show Signs of Life
The good news keeps coming. Rexel posted 5.8% same-day sales growth in North America — the first time all three company regions hit positive territory in nearly three years. Even Watsco noted “stabilizing markets” despite flat Q1 numbers.
The momentum’s real, but measured. Construction job growth is slowing in some pockets, even as 30 states saw increases, and cargo theft incidents dropped but dollar losses stayed steady — which either means fewer thieves or smarter ones.
Link(ed) in bio
Where’s the Love? (For Robots)
Some folks have noticed lately that there’s a huge bias on AI errors versus human ones.
Think about it: while a single self-driving car accident makes national news (despite having an 85% lower injury rate than human drivers), thousands of human-caused accidents happen daily without anyone batting an eye.
Check out this LinkedIn post for an example of how this bias plays out with AI in business.
New on the shelf
Proton PIM updates
Proton’s PIM just got even smarter! You can now lock specific fields so your AI agent won’t overwrite the product descriptions, specs, or data you’ve already perfected.
That way, your team does the heavy lifting once and the AI handles the rest without stepping on your toes.
Curious how these tools could work for your team? Request a demo
Stay in touch
Just because our newsletter is monthly, doesn’t mean the insights have to be! Connect with Benj on LinkedIn to hear his latest musings and best practices weekly.
Got thoughts on this issue? Share ’em! Let me know what you liked, what felt off, or what you’d like to see more of. Seriously, I read every reply.
Until next time
Katie WhiteSr. Content Marketing Manager, Proton.ai
