Over the past few weeks distributors and manufacturers are reporting an uptick in their industrial business and, in some cases, a significant increase. The reasons vary from \"general optimism\" to the increase in oil rigs; from replacing / upgrading aging equipment to responding to the need for increased capacity; from consolidation of operations requiring investment in a … [Read more...] about Industrial Market Drivers, Can You Compete Differently
Market Analysis
Tips to Ensure Sales Operations and Customer Satisfaction
Operations is the lifeblood of a distributor as it delivers upon sales\' commitment of getting material to the customer. And at the end of the day, distribution, and customer satisfaction, is about getting the right material to the customer when and where they need it. While technology can frequently improve processes, enhance efficiency, perhaps be more cost-effective and … [Read more...] about Tips to Ensure Sales Operations and Customer Satisfaction
Celebrate the Season
Can You Afford Declining Margins?
2016 seems to have been the \"year of pricing\". A number of distributors either discussed, or undertook, pricing initiatives this past year. In many instances it was a desire to reverse an industry trend ... eroding margins. Others recognized that if they invested in eCommerce they needed to ensure that the price shown on their website was the same that the customer received … [Read more...] about Can You Afford Declining Margins?
Affordable eCommerce for Smaller Distributors
As everyone knows, there has been much discussion regarding eCommerce and how it is \"vital\" for the survival of distributors. It\'s essential to compete against Amazon. And small distributors (<$25M) are dinosaurs, destined to become extinct because of their inability to invest in eCommerce. And at the same time we heard of eCommerce systems that cost hundreds of … [Read more...] about Affordable eCommerce for Smaller Distributors
Looking Forward – Industry Outlook for Basic Sales Forecasting
Only 30 days left in the year. And with all of the year-end things to do and possibly meetings you had to attend, many are just getting around to doing their 2017 planning … or at least sales forecasting. The planning element … determining how you want to affect change in your “environment” whether through service offerings, operational improvement, personnel “enhancement”, … [Read more...] about Looking Forward – Industry Outlook for Basic Sales Forecasting
Electing to Market Through Video
With Tuesday being Election Day, far be it from me, or a rep agency, to try to influence an election, but the debates have captured our attention. Living in a \"swing state\" I can say unequivocally that I am tired of the election advertising ... by the presidential candidates as well as every state and local electable role. And after awhile (okay, less than a week), I got … [Read more...] about Electing to Market Through Video
