Distributors have been seeking opportunities to generate, or increase, their service revenue. While traditionally a complementary service for industrially-oriented distributors, construction-oriented distributors are also seeing opportunities. Some distributors have defined revenue goals, others look at this opportunistically (or give the service away to capture the product … [Read more...] about Service Agreements / Extended Warranties – Revenue Generator & Potential Differentiator
Market Analysis
Channel Marketing and Funding … but for eCommerce Initiatives?
The essence of “channel marketing” infers that members within a channel (manufacturer, rep and distributor) are working together to market products, services and applications to generate demand from customers. The term doesn’t infer whom funds the initiative but frequently there are co-marketing, and hence co-funding, initiatives. At times this is co-op, perhaps MDF or other … [Read more...] about Channel Marketing and Funding … but for eCommerce Initiatives?
Increasing Warehouse Accuracy in an Age of Employee Churn
In talking with senior management and HR managers of distributors, a continual challenge is personnel. While frequently these discussions relate to qualified (industry or skilled) personnel for sales, branch management and/or specialists, a frequent comment is the \"churn\" that they experience in their warehouse as well as with their drivers. Low unemployment and the reality … [Read more...] about Increasing Warehouse Accuracy in an Age of Employee Churn
eCommerce & Amazon Business … Driving Change?
What is Amazon Business\' true impact on the electrical distribution channel? It isn\'t \"point and click\"? Over the past few years it\'s been said \"if you don\'t have a commerce-enabled website you\'ll be out of business.\" The mantra has been repeated in industry meetings and trade publications. Analysts such as Forrester Research and Gartner predict that B2B purchasers … [Read more...] about eCommerce & Amazon Business … Driving Change?
GM Leader Drives Cultural Change, Innovation and Results
General Motors (GM) historically has been known as a \"staid\" company and the prototypical \"old boys\" company. And its had its share of \"challenges\" ranging from uninspiring design to consumers feeling there was \"built in obsolescence\"; from being extremely difficult to sell to due to its purchasing philosophy to the ultimate disaster ... being the face of the automotive … [Read more...] about GM Leader Drives Cultural Change, Innovation and Results
Innovation through Intellectual Curiosity
Much is talked about \"innovation\". It\'s a term that is loosely tossed around and requires a commitment, or perhaps a better term is \"mentality\", that is infused into individuals and a culture. It\'s a desire to \"excel\" and, perhaps more importantly, to bring idea generation to challenges and a willingness to \"do differently.\" To be \"innovative\" infers that a … [Read more...] about Innovation through Intellectual Curiosity
The Next Phase of Acquisitions?
At the NAED Annual meeting I asked distributors, manufacturers and others who typically hear about mergers / acquisitions what they were hearing. Not so much about specific companies but more in general ... were they hearing of activity. All said that \"the market\" was quiet and a few shared that the one of the marketing groups was being a little more \"proactive\" in trying … [Read more...] about The Next Phase of Acquisitions?
