Advanced HVAC & Plumbing

Advanced HVAC & Plumbing is Morgantown's residential HVAC leader. For over 20 years, Advanced has served North Central West Virginia, leveraging the latest technologies through unrivaled customer care to create a comfortable climate for your home.

Unlike many contractors who come from trade backgrounds, Advanced has its roots in hospitality. Founder Dave Seman's frustration arose from his search for HVAC companies to service the restaurants he managed. "Advanced Heating & Cooling began in a small garage in my home in Morgantown, West Virginia," Seman shared. "We were seeking a company that could deliver on its promises promptly and efficiently. Often, we didn't even receive a response when we needed assistance," he continued.

Similar to Carrier, renowned as the father of air conditioning and a pioneer in the field, Advanced Heating & Cooling emphasizes innovation. Despite its reputation as a forward-thinking employer, Advanced faced challenges in attracting top talent essential for scaling its operations, experiencing a sluggish annual growth rate of less than 5%.

Initially, Advanced sought a versatile standalone symbol that could easily translate across promotional materials, encouraging people to wear it in support of marketing efforts and employee retention. Looming threats of equity firms acquiring other local HVAC companies with seemingly unlimited marketing budgets, inevitable competition, and the growing convenience of online services weighed heavily on Advanced to stay ahead of the competition. “We can’t sit here and be comfortable,” Seman interjected, “I’m not comfortable staying where we are. I know that if we want to be true leaders, we gotta make a splash, and we gotta keep rolling.”

Furthermore, while Advanced had gradually entered the plumbing market in recent years, its presence remained largely unrecognized by the public. Additionally, the company confronted the challenge of offsetting nearly a million dollars in lost revenue from low-profit commercial plumbing projects by shifting focus towards residential plumbing services. Compounded by the closure of the majority of its large out-of-state projects due to escalating interest rates, Advanced encountered a critical turning point for its business.

“We’ve changed a lot after 20 years,” noted Seman, “It was time to change. And, if we’re gonna do this, we’re gonna do this right.” Stewart Design collaborated with the refocused Advanced to defend its position as leaders in HVAC and expand its presence in the residential service plumbing market.

Our work began with a fundamental shift in naming, transitioning from ‘Heating & Cooling' to 'HVAC & Plumbing' to better represent its expanded scope. Collaborative clarity sessions with key personnel facilitated the development of key messages emphasizing innovation, exemplified by Advanced’s new slogan, 'Cutting-Edge Comfort.' Additionally, we aided in refining content across various marketing materials, including a comprehensive sales booklet, preventative maintenance agreements, social media platforms, and website development.

Stewart Design collaborated with Advanced to craft a compelling corporate brand identity, aimed to solidify its status as the local leader. The refreshed brand identity boasts versatility and recognizability across various physical and digital applications. 

"The new symbol for Advanced suggests elements of heating, cooling, airflow, and even water flow, while its raised shapes hark back to its former tagline, 'One Step Ahead.' This evolution signifies a bold and clear direction for the future of Advanced.

Stewart Design played a key role in supporting the relaunch of Advanced HVAC & Plumbing. This included tasks such as advertising, developing brand materials, creating campaigns, improving sales tools, coordinating sponsorships, trade show design, website development, and various other aspects of the relaunch.

Stewart Design was instrumental in Advanced’s success, helping the local leader in attracting new clients, scaling annual maintenance agreements, and expanding its residential service plumbing division. This strategic pivot resulted in increased profitability and revenue after years of slowed growth, positioning Advanced as the true leader it has always been, dedicated to delivering cutting-edge comfort and care to families for decades to come.