February 2, 2009

Pentair 4Q Sales Dip 5%

Electrical, Free, HVACR, News, Plumbing Products & PVF Distribution, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

Pentair, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, reported fourth quarter sales decreased 5% to $768 million, compared with $807 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. Profit declined 90.5% to $4.6 million, primarily a result of losses on disposal of discontinued operations.

For 2008, sales were $3.35 billion, up 2.2% from 2007. Profit increased 8.4% to $229 million.

Through the first three quarters of 2008, a period when we met or exceeded our financial outlook, we recognized the global economy was slowing and we began taking aggressive cost reduction actions, CEO Randall J. Hogan said. “However, as we exited the third quarter, the speed and magnitude of the economic deterioration increased dramatically. This caused us to miss our original fourth quarter …

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Emerson Sales Down 2% In 1Q

Free, News, Power Transmission/Motion Control/Fluid Power, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

Emerson, St. Louis, MO, announced that sales for the first quarter ended Dec. 31, 2008 were $5.4 billion, down 2% from the same period last year. Profit declined 19% to $458 million.

Underlying sales were essentially flat for the quarter, excluding a 4% unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation, and growth of 2% from acquisitions. Underlying sales in the U.S. declined 7% and underlying international sales increased 7%, including 10% growth in emerging markets. …

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Anixter 4Q Sales Decline 2%

Companies, Electrical, Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

Anixter International Inc., Glenview, IL, a global distributor of communication products, electrical and electronic wire & cable, fasteners and other small parts, reported sales for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 2, 2009, were $1.46 billion, a decline of 2% from the year-ago quarter. Profit declined 87% to $9.4 million.

Sales in 2008 were $6.14 billion, an increase of 5% over 2007. Profit decreased 23% to $195.7 million.

The European wire and cable business experienced organic growth of 33%, including growth of 47% outside of the U.K. Emerging markets grew 21%. North American OEM supply sales reported organic growth of 20%. Enterprise cabling and security reported declines in sales in North America and …

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PTDA Survey: Distributors, Manufacturers Expect Flat Sales In 2009

Economic Trends, Free, News, Power Transmission/Motion Control/Fluid Power, Research & Analytics, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

The mixed results of the 2009 Member Forecast Survey of the Power Transmission Distributors Association underscore the uncertainty in the economy, revealing a healthy dose of optimism mixed in with a cautious outlook for the coming year.

While two-thirds of this year’s respondents confirm that the economy is declining, nearly the same proportion project that their sales will increase or remain flat in 2009.

The 79 manufacturer respondents are slightly more optimistic about 2009 sales than their 58 distributor counterparts. Nearly half of manufacturers project an increase in sales, compared to 36.2% of distributors.

Overall 42.8% of all firms project their companies’ sales will increase in 2009, down roughly 15% from …

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Keeping Your Senior Managers

Free, Human Resources in Wholesale Distribution, Management, Operations, Strategy, Subscriber Only / Lindsay Young

A recent survey shows that engagement among your top executives may be falling faster than any other group of employees, according to the Corporate Executive Board. (Read BusinessWeek article here.)

A CEB survey showed that just 13% of senior executives at the vice president level or higher (down from 29% two years ago) say they are willing to go above and beyond what is expected of them.”

CEB speculates that most companies feel that senior leaders are “just grateful to have a job.” But the reality is, “valued players are increasingly likely to be looking around.” According to the survey, one of four …

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Adam Fein on Surviving the Recession

Economic Trends, Free, Management, Research & Analytics, Strategy, Subscriber Only / Lindsay Young

On his blog, Pembroke Consulting’s Adam Fein gives us his take based on his experiences at the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors meeting last week on how the best companies are surviving the recession.”

He says:

“As I see it, the winners are those companies with the will, the skill, and the till to survive this recession. Here are some specific ideas I heard from executives at the wholesaler-distributors that are growing faster (or shrinking more slowly) than competition.”

His ideas: Work harder, enforce profit discipline, stay connected, acquire distressed competitors, and keep perspective (ie, …

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Moving Past the Cuts

Economic Trends, Free, Human Resources in Wholesale Distribution, Management, Operations, Research & Analytics, Strategy, Subscriber Only / Lindsay Young

Employees and their managers are on edge these days; uncertainty about jobs, strategic direction and generally the future of the company can breed a wide range of emotions.

A recent Wall Street Journal article addressed this, and the advice offered can be used by employees and managers at all levels. The article says that it takes deliberate thought and action” to get past the cuts.

The highlights:

Confirm new business priorities based on the new direction of the business and the changing importance of certain projects.
Take initiative by looking for work that needs to be done. (To this end, look for …

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February 2, 2009

Pentair 4Q Sales Dip 5%

Emerson Sales Down 2% In 1Q

Anixter 4Q Sales Decline 2%

PTDA Survey: Distributors, Manufacturers Expect Flat Sales In 2009

Keeping Your Senior Managers

Adam Fein on Surviving the Recession

Moving Past the Cuts

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