With the benefit of retrospect, we can presume that the number of electrical distribution start-ups will mimic those in the past ten years … in other words, very few and those that have had success, defined as significant growth, are even fewer. (Okay, let\'s run an crowd-sourced effort to list electrical distribution start-ups in the last 10 years ... post in the below comment … [Read more...] about The Changing Distribution Landscape – 2030 2040 2050
AD
eCommerce Product Content is King
When times are tough people often say “cash is king”. This can frequently determine which companies survive and thrive during difficult economic times and those that suffer. Nowadays, as companies ramp up their eCommerce initiatives product content is king. This is occurring for two reasons: Quality, robust product content delivers on customer expectations. These … [Read more...] about eCommerce Product Content is King
The Future of Marketing Groups?
Could True Value\'s new ownership model be a opportunity for independent distributors and their marketing groups? Many have asked about the future of marketing groups. While IMARK is a cooperative and according to Bill Weisberg a couple of years ago, AD will revert to a cooperative (with the essence of cooperatives being member-owned), perhaps there is another alternative … [Read more...] about The Future of Marketing Groups?
Distributor End of Year Performance
Over the past few weeks a number of national distributors have released their 2017 performance and earnings reports. AD, Grainger, Graybar, Anixter and WESCO and others have made news. We\'ve also talked to a number of manufacturers who see the \"highlight\" numbers and use them as benchmarks, so we\'ve reviewed and sought to find some trends. Overall, business is improving, … [Read more...] about Distributor End of Year Performance
Focusing on People in Need with Disaster Relief
At last month’s AD meeting (our observations here) Bill Weisberg announced the launch of the AD Disaster Relief Foundation. While the timing was serendipitous given the recent tragedies in Houston, Florida, the Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Mexico and now California with the wildfires, the concept was in discussion for over a year due to floods in West Virginia … [Read more...] about Focusing on People in Need with Disaster Relief
Acquisitions – Pieces of a Puzzle …Border States and Womack
Monday marked the day that Amazon closed on its Whole Foods acquisition and that Border States closed on its Kriz Davis acquisition. Both provided the acquirer strategic opportunities to increase their footprint and become pieces of a puzzle to become national. As many recall, last month Border States announced it was going to acquire the $200M Kriz Davis business while … [Read more...] about Acquisitions – Pieces of a Puzzle …Border States and Womack
Is Amazon An Alternate Channel or Just Meeting Customer Needs?
Yes, Amazon Business is a competitor to distributors. It is also an opportunity for manufacturers given that it represents an additional distribution channel to reach customers. Why? Because some customers desire to purchase through a different mode. Why are they not an alternative channel? Consider, how are they different than catalogers, distributors who sell online, … [Read more...] about Is Amazon An Alternate Channel or Just Meeting Customer Needs?
