U.S. sales increased 9.4%.
Allied Motion 1Q Sales Up Slightly YOY Read More »
The sale of Bathstore is in line with Wolseley’s announced strategy of focusing on core businesses.
Wolseley Sells U.K.-based Bathstore Read More »
On an unadjusted basis, April marks the seventh straight month of slowing increases.
Wholesale Prices Down 0.2% in April Read More »
Edgen Group completed its initial public offering on May 2.
Edgen Group Sales Up 55% Read More »
News briefs from April 26 – May 10, 2012.
MDM News Digest 4209 Read More »
Selling more product to existing customers is a common goal for many distributors. The challenge is figuring out how to achieve that goal. And according to Paul Cherry, president of Performance Based Systems, the answer may be in the questions salespeople are asking. Cherry spoke at the Industrial Supply Association's 2012 Product Show & Conference in San Antonio, TX.
"There are still a lot of customer relationships that seem to holding back a bit," Cherry says. "We want to get them to share that money, and share that money with us."
But by the time your salesperson arrives …
Sell More to Customers by Asking the Right Questions Read More »
Bart Schwartz, president of Industrial Channel Research, believes consolidation will continue, but on a much greater scale than we are seeing now: “Distributors that don’t respond – and respond with thoughtful strategy and great execution – aren’t just going to be relegated to second place or bad profitability, they’re going to be gone.” Schwartz spoke at the Industrial Supply Association’s 2012 Product Show & Conference in San Antonio, TX.
There will still be room for niche players, “but they have to be really good, they have to offer something different, and they have to constantly evolve to stay ahead of the players of scale,” he says. Schwartz presented 10 measures of channel success: …
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Download This Issue in PDF: May 10, 2012 Read More »
Amazon.com recently launched AmazonSupply.com, a B-to-B website with more than 500,000 products across 14 categories in industrial and lab supplies. This article, with input from distributors, manufacturers, service providers and industry consultants, examines the potential impact of Amazon’s move into industrial markets. MDM also outlines the next steps for distributors looking to compete more effectively in an increasingly crowded market.
With a broad product offering, name recognition and years of e-commerce best practices under its belt, Amazon and its new industrial marketplace – AmazonSupply.com – should not be discounted as a competitor to independent distributors.
That’s what many industry consultants, distributors and manufacturers say about Amazon’s recent announcement that it would serve the B-to-B market in a formal and more aggressive way by selling more than 500,000 industrial and lab supply products across 14 categories at AmazonSupply.com.
While Amazon has been growing its sales of these products over the past few years, AmazonSupply.com signals a much more serious intent to compete in industrial and commercial markets.
The Details
Amazon is capitalizing on what Grainger, MSC and other large MRO distributors call “unplanned spend” for MRO supplies. Grainger in the past has put the percentage of unplanned spend for MRO as high as 75 percent of all purchases in the category. That’s a huge opportunity.
It’s also homing in…
What AmazonSupply.com May Mean for Independent Distributors Read More »
We often hear distributors complain that no matter how many times they communicate to customers that they are the better partner, lowering costs and improving productivity for the end-user, the selling decision always comes down to price. These claims have grown louder in the wake of Amazon’s launch of its online industrial platform AmazonSupply.com.
But there’s a problem. …
Commentary – Get Past Price: Learn & Capitalize On What Really Matters to Customers Read More »
Customers segment distributors much like distributors segment customers. Because of this, customers don’t typically think beyond the products they already buy from you. This article examines how distributors can expand what they sell to existing customers by uncovering unexpected cross-selling opportunities in their transaction data.
As consumers, we routinely experience cross-selling by retailers. It can be as simple as “Do you want fries with that shake?” or in more complex e-tail environments: “Customers who bought X also bought Y.”
Companies who do this well include Amazon and Netflix. In fact, Netflix thought the problem was so important that they setup a contest with a $1 million reward for anyone in industry or academia who could create …
Uncover Unexpected Cross-Selling Opportunities Read More »
Business intelligence tool allows distributors to segment their customer base.
Epicor Introduces Customer Profit Analyzer Application Read More »
Steps you can take to mitigate the turmoil that often surrounds changes to sales incentive plans.
Tip: When Changing Compensation Plans, Consider the Risks Read More »
Process and motion control sales in the fourth quarter were up 14 percent on an organic basis.
Rexnord Sales Up 16% in Fiscal 2012 Read More »
Profit for the distributor of roofing materials and complementary building products was $3.1 million.
Beacon Roofing Supply Organic Sales Up 28% in 2Q Read More »
Inventories edged up 0.3 percent from February.
Wholesale Revenues Up 0.5% in March Read More »
City Sprint serves the New York metropolitan construction market.
Tanner Fasteners & Industrial Supplies Buys City Sprint Safety & Supply Read More »
MDM LinkedIn Group Discussion: The impact of Amazon’s new B-to-B platform, AmazonSupply.com, on independent distribution channels.
Readers Respond: The New AmazonSupply.com Read More »
Profit for the MRO distributor increased 8.7 percent.
Interline Brands Organic Sales Increase 4.3% in 1Q Read More »
The Economist on the Third Industrial Revolution examines how technology is changing manufacturing .
Report: Factory of the Future May Drive More Production at Home Read More »
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