November 2011

MDM Interview, Part 2: Grainger’s Growth Drivers

Companies, Facilities Maintenance (MRO), Management, Strategy, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / Lindsay Konzak

In part 2 of MDM’s interview with Grainger U.S. President Mike Pulick, Pulick talks about growth drivers, e-commerce, and inventory management services, and about targeting small and mid-sized customers.

Part 1 of this interview was featured in the Nov. 10, 2011, issue of MDM. Read: MDM Interview, Part 1: Grainger's Take On the Market

MDM: You have increased your focus on inventory management programs, specifically your program KeepStock. Why do you believe you are seeing increased demand for these services? What kinds of customers are you targeting with inventory management programs?

Mike Pulick: Our KeepStock program is really an important part of our business, and it continues to grow very rapidly. It all gets back to the MRO purchasing process, which is usually very cumbersome. They use many, many different suppliers and there are a lot of ways that we can help them take waste out. But there is also …

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Commentary: Three Differentiators for 2012

Management, Strategy, Subscriber Only / Tom Gale

Planning, analytics and talent are critical areas for development in the new year.

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Behind ERIKS’ Acquisition of Lewis-Goetz

Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Power Transmission/Motion Control/Fluid Power, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / Lindsay Konzak

Jeff Crane, CEO of industrial rubber products distributor Lewis-Goetz and Company says the distributor will remain focused on its growth strategy after being recently acquired by ERIKS. This article looks at how Lewis-Goetz’s strategy fits in with the European distributor’s plans for fast expansion in North America.

The recent acquisition of industrial rubber products distributor Lewis-Goetz and Company by ERIKS NV, a Netherlands-based industrial distributor, puts Lewis-Goetz in a new position both financially and strategically.

Lewis-Goetz was owned by The Audax Group, a private equity firm who has invested in and grown many industrial distributors over the past several years.

Lewis-Goetz CEO Jeff Crane spoke with MDM …

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The Impact of Recent Economic Turmoil on European Distributors

Economic Trends, Research & Analytics, Subscriber Only / Jenel Stelton-Holtmeier

Recently, the European Power Transmission Distributors Association hosted its annual meeting in Budapest, Hungary. Jean-Marie Fink, managing director of JMF Consulting, Mougins, France, attended the meeting and in this article shares insights on trends in the European manufacturing and distribution industry.

While international businesses have to contend with many unique operational issues – from import/export regulations to varied labor laws – the underlying challenges they face are universal. At the European Power Transmission Distributors Association’s annual convention in Budapest, Hungary, earlier this year, distributors discussed their top concerns and the key trends facing their industry.

Top Concerns for Europe
Current economic condi …

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