CSTG 229: Stop Losing Thousands on Inventory Mistakes with Dave Wigder

Can't Stop the Growth

Every HVAC, plumbing, and electrical business hits the same wall: material costs balloon, trucks run short, and cash flow becomes unpredictable. In this episode of Can’t Stop the Growth, Chad Peterman sits down with Dave Wigder, co-founder of Ply, to explore how contractors can take control of their inventory and purchasing to unlock massive growth.

Dave shares how Ply was built to give contractors visibility into their warehouses, trucks, and purchasing, while eliminating dead stock, wasted billable hours, and costly supply runs. He also explains how AI and supplier integrations are changing the future of materials management.

If you’re leading a service business and want to stop losing money due to inefficiency, this conversation will provide you with the playbook to scale smarter.

Additional Resources:

Dave on LinkedIn

Learn more about Ply

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Key Takeaways:

• Materials Eat Profits – For many contractors, 20–35% of revenue goes to materials, yet most lack visibility or control over that spend.
• Data Beats Gut Decisions – Centralizing purchasing and inventory data allows contractors to be proactive, avoid last-minute supply runs, and unlock supplier discounts.
• Dead Stock Is a Hidden Tax – Unused parts in trucks and warehouses quietly erode cash flow. Ply’s system helps uncover and eliminate it.
• Billable Hours Are Gold – Every supply house run can cost six figures annually across multiple techs. Smarter inventory keeps techs in the field.
• AI Is the Future of the Trades – From voice-driven field requests to automated replenishment, AI is reshaping how contractors manage their operations.