R.E. Michel Company, LLC
R.E. Michel Company, LLC is a family-owned wholesale distributor of HVACR equipment, parts, and supplies serving HVAC/R contractors, service companies, property managers, institutions, and government agencies through 300+ branch locations across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1935
- HeadquartersGlen Burnie, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What R.E. Michel Company, LLC does
R.E. Michel Company, LLC is a privately held, family-owned wholesale distributor of HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration) equipment, parts, and supplies, founded in 1935 by Robert E. Michel in Baltimore, Maryland. The company operates more than 300 company-owned branch sales locations across the United States, supported by a central distribution campus exceeding 1 million square feet in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and a newly opened 600,000-square-foot distribution center in Clinton, South Carolina. R.E. Michel distributes more than 35,000 line items sourced from over 1,000 industry-leading manufacturers across 19 categories including HVAC equipment, water heating, refrigeration, propane equipment, gas and fuel oil systems, hydronics, motors, controls, electrical supplies, tools, test instruments, and indoor air quality products. Daily operations ship more than $3 million of product and dispatch 50 or more trailers seven days a week.
The company's operational technology includes the proprietary ESP (Exclusive Supplier Partnership) program launched in 1991, which gives dealer customers direct access to R.E. Michel inventory, pricing, and ordering through Customer Link software; a mobile app for inventory lookup, ordering, and branch directions; barcode tracking and automated conveyor/sorting at the central distribution campus; and an e-commerce storefront for registered trade accounts. Affiliate entities Schwartz Distributing and Dealers LP Equipment (DLPE) operate as adjacent distribution channels within the R.E. Michel family of companies.
R.E. Michel generates revenue through wholesale transactions on Net 10th Prox open-account terms or C.O.D./major credit card terms with qualified trade customers. The primary customer segment is HVAC/R mechanical and service contractors (SMB), with secondary segments in property management, institutional buyers (colleges and hospitals), and local, state, federal, and military government agencies. Customer-acquisition and retention channels include an annual digital catalog, MailChimp email marketing, social media presence (Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram), a multi-manufacturer REM Rewards loyalty program, a co-op advertising program, and a customer incentive travel program. Leadership remains within the founding family, with Doc Michel (son of the founder) as Chairman and Robert "Bobby" Michel (grandson) as President.
R.E. Michel Company, LLC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- R.E. Michel Company, LLC
- Legal name
- R.E. Michel Company, LLC
- Website
- https://remichel.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1935
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- R.E. Michel Company, LLC is a family-owned wholesale distributor of HVACR equipment, parts, and supplies serving HVAC/R contractors, service companies, property managers, institutions, and government agencies through 300+ branch locations across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
R.E. Michel Company, LLC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- HVACR Wholesale Distribution
- NAICS
- Warm Air Heating and Air-Conditioning Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42373), Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423740)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070)
- akta.pro primary industry
- HVAC, Water Heaters & Indoor Air Quality Distribution (CRAOAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- HVAC Equipment (Heating, Cooling & Air Handling) (IMAHAKAB), Commercial Refrigeration & HVAC (Foodservice) Wholesale (AFAIALAI)
Keywords
Where R.E. Michel Company, LLC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glen Burnie
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
R.E. Michel Company, LLC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- HVAC Equipment and Parts Distribution: R.E. Michel generates revenue by distributing heating, ventilation, air conditioning, propane, and refrigeration equipment, parts, and supplies. The company stocks over 35,000 line items from over 1,000 manufacturers and ships over $3 million of product daily to customers.
- Wholesale Distribution: As a wholesale distributor, R.E. Michel sells to qualified trade customers including contractors, dealers, and service companies. The company operates on open account terms (Net 10th Prox) or C.O.D./Major Credit Card payment terms.
- ESP Program Services: The Exclusive Supplier Partnership (ESP) program provides tailored inventory management services to dealers, generating additional customer loyalty and recurring business.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Account-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
R.E. Michel Company, LLC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
R.E. Michel Company, LLC is a family-owned wholesale distributor of HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, propane, and refrigeration) equipment, parts, and supplies, stocking over 35,000 line items from more than 1,000 manufacturers and distributing them from a central distribution campus to over 300 branch locations across the United States via company-operated fleet delivery and an account-based e-commerce platform. The company primarily serves trade contractors, service companies, property managers, institutions, and government agencies.
Product overview
R.E. Michel Company is a wholesale distributor of HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration) equipment, parts, and supplies operating over 300 branch locations across the United States. The company's core offering is a comprehensive product catalog spanning 19 major categories including HVAC Equipment, Water Heating Equipment, Refrigeration, Propane Equipment, Gas Systems, Fuel Oil Systems, Hydronics and Steam, Motors, Controls, Electrical Supplies, Tools, Test Instruments, and Indoor Air Quality products. The product portfolio includes over 35,000 line items provided by over 1,000 industry-leading manufacturers. Beyond physical products, the company offers digital services including an ESP Inventory Management system (Customer Link software for inventory access and ordering), REM Rewards loyalty program, Energy Rebate programs, and online self-service portals for credit applications and invoice search. The company also operates an Outlet section for discounted/discontinued items and provides digital catalogs in partnership with Airtemp and Broan as exclusive product brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ESP (Exclusive Supplier Partnership): Exclusive computer software system launched in 1991 that allows customers direct access to R.E. Michel inventories to check availability, pricing and place orders through 'Customer Link' software.
- REM Rewards
Products and services
- Boilers
Quantifiable outcome
- Ships over $3 million of product to customers each day
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use R.E. Michel Company, LLC
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
R.E. Michel Company, LLC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature3 records
R.E. Michel Company, LLC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Schwartz DistributingminorAffiliate company operating as a separate distribution entity within the R.E. Michel family of companies.
- DLPE (Dealers LP Equipment)minorAffiliate company focused on propane equipment distribution, operating as a separate entity within the R.E. Michel family of companies.
- REM Rewards Manufacturer PartnersminorVarious manufacturers participate in the REM Rewards customer loyalty program including Airtemp, Aprilaire, Bosch, Bradford White, Broan, Buderus, Burnham, Diversitech, Emerson (White-Rodgers), Fieldpiece, Fujitsu, Heil, Honeywell, Lennox, Malco, Maytag, Owens Corning, Pro-1, Rectorseal, Robertshaw, Taco, UEI, and Unico. These manufacturers provide qualifying products and reward items for the program.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
R.E. Michel Company, LLC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Carrier Global Corporation: HVAC OEM with substantial captive distribution. Competes indirectly via own-brand distribution that can pressure independent distributors like R.E. Michel on brand availability and contractor relationships.
- Goodman Manufacturing / Daikin Distribution: HVAC OEM (part of Daikin) with proprietary distribution arm. Represents a key supplier-side relationship for distributors like R.E. Michel but also a channel competitor on Amana/Goodman branded equipment.
- Trane Technologies: HVAC OEM with proprietary distribution network. Trane-affiliated dealers and distribution compete for the same contractor accounts that R.E. Michel serves, particularly on premium residential and light-commercial equipment.
- Ferguson Enterprises: Large publicly-traded distributor of plumbing, heating, cooling, and industrial products. Overlaps with R.E. Michel in HVAC/water heating/plumbing supplies, but operates at much larger scale and broader product scope including industrial.
- Rheem Manufacturing: HVAC and water heating OEM with dedicated distribution. Sells water heating, heating, and cooling products to contractors via overlapping dealer/distributor channels that include competitors to R.E. Michel.
Direct peers
- Watsco, Inc. Largest U.S. distributor of HVAC/R equipment, parts, and supplies with a multi-regional branch network. Direct competitor to R.E. Michel in serving HVAC contractors with a broad multi-brand product portfolio and comparable distribution scale.
- Johnstone Supply: Member-owned cooperative distributing HVAC/R products through hundreds of branch locations across the U.S. Competes head-to-head with R.E. Michel in contractor-served HVAC distribution with similar multi-brand, multi-category SKU breadth.
- APR Supply Co. Wholesale distributor of HVAC, plumbing, and hydronics products across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Closely comparable in scale and customer mix to R.E. Michel's regional branch footprint.
- Winsupply Inc. U.S. distributor of plumbing, HVAC, and related supplies via local operating companies. Similar contractor-served go-to-market and product breadth, competing for the same trade customer wallet share as R.E. Michel.
Others
- HD Supply Holdings (White Cap / HVAC division): Large facilities-maintenance and specialty distribution platform with HVAC, plumbing, and repair parts exposure. Adjacent competitor in institutional and property-management supply, with partial overlap in the contractor customer base R.E. Michel serves.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
R.E. Michel Company, LLC social profiles
Digital presenceR.E. Michel Company, LLC compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
R.E. Michel Company, LLC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
R.E. Michel Company, LLC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
R.E. Michel Company, LLC subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
R.E. Michel Company, LLC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
R.E. Michel Company, LLC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about R.E. Michel Company, LLC
What does R.E. Michel Company, LLC do?
R.E. Michel Company, LLC is a family-owned wholesale distributor of HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, propane, and refrigeration) equipment, parts, and supplies, stocking over 35,000 line items from more than 1,000 manufacturers and distributing them from a central distribution campus to over 300 branch locations across the United States via company-operated fleet delivery and an account-based e-commerce platform. The company primarily serves trade contractors, service companies, property managers, institutions, and government agencies.
Is R.E. Michel Company, LLC a public or private company?
R.E. Michel Company, LLC is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was R.E. Michel Company, LLC founded?
R.E. Michel Company, LLC was founded in 1935. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is R.E. Michel Company, LLC based?
R.E. Michel Company, LLC is headquartered in Glen Burnie, United States, in the North America region.
How does R.E. Michel Company, LLC make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. HVAC Equipment and Parts Distribution is the primary driver. The others are wholesale Distribution and ESP Program Services.
Who are R.E. Michel Company, LLC's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Carrier Global Corporation, Goodman Manufacturing / Daikin Distribution, Trane Technologies, Ferguson Enterprises and Rheem Manufacturing. Direct peers are Watsco, Inc., Johnstone Supply, APR Supply Co. and Winsupply Inc.. HD Supply Holdings (White Cap / HVAC division) is listed as an others.
Does R.E. Michel Company, LLC have an API?
No public API is recorded for R.E. Michel Company, LLC.
What industry is R.E. Michel Company, LLC in?
R.E. Michel Company, LLC's product category is HVACR Wholesale Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAOAFAJ, HVAC, Water Heaters & Indoor Air Quality Distribution, with a secondary code of IMAHAKAB, HVAC Equipment (Heating, Cooling & Air Handling). Its NAICS code is 42373 and its SIC code is 5070.