June 2016

2016 Trends Snapshot: HVACR/Plumbing Distribution

Leave a Comment / HVACR, Plumbing Products & PVF Distribution, Research & Analytics, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue. It provides a quick look at key trends affecting the HVACR/plumbing distribution sector.

The annual feature was researched and written by MDM based on interviews with dozens of distributors, industry experts and manufacturers. MDM also conducted a survey of its readers to uncover the trends outlined in this issue.

The full special issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers. Subscribe below for full access. Or log-in if you are already a subscriber.

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Differentiate with Strategic Marketing

Data & Analytics, eCommerce, Management, MDM Market Leaders, Online Marketing, Research & Analytics, Sales & Marketing, Strategy, Technology / Brooke Baum

This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.

Although marketing has grown in importance for distributors over the last year, most dont realize the crucial role it plays in gaining a competitive advantage.

This article includes:

How distributors are using strategic marketing to differentiate
Key marketing investments to stay competitive
Marketing challenges and tips to overcome them

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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.

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2016 MDM Market Leaders Methodology

Leave a Comment / Free / Jenel Stelton-Holtmeier

How MDM determined rankings for the 2016 top distributors lists.

2016 MDM Market Leaders Methodology Read More »

2016 Trends Snapshot: Hose and Hose Accessories Distribution

Leave a Comment / Hose & Hose Accessories Distribution, MDM Market Leaders, Research & Analytics, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue. It provides a quick look at key trends affecting the hose and hose accessories distribution sector.

The full special issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers. Subscribe below for full access. Or log-in if you are already a subscriber.

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2016 Trends Snapshot: Gases & Welding Equipment Distribution

Leave a Comment / Gases & Welding Equipment, Research & Analytics, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue. It provides a quick look at key trends affecting the gases & welding equipment distribution sector.

The full special issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers. Subscribe below for full access. Or log-in if you are already a subscriber.

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2016 Trends Snapshot: Fluid Power Distribution

Leave a Comment / MDM Market Leaders, Power Transmission/Motion Control/Fluid Power, Research & Analytics, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue. It provides a quick look at key trends affecting the fluid power distribution sector.

The full special issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers. Subscribe below for full access. Or log-in if you are already a subscriber.

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MDM News Digest 4611-4612

Leave a Comment / Uncategorized / MDM Staff

News briefs from May 26-June 25, 2016.

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2016 Trends Snapshot: Industrial Distribution

Leave a Comment / MDM Market Leaders, Research & Analytics, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue. It provides a quick look at key trends affecting the industrial products distribution sector.

The full special issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers. Subscribe below for full access. Or log-in if you are already a subscriber.

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Industry ‘Muddling Along’ in 2016

Economic Trends, MDM Market Leaders, Research & Analytics, Strategy / Eric Smith

This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.

With the forgettable first half of 2016 now behind them, distributors hope to bid farewell to a tepid sales climate that has stunted industry growth since late last year.

This article includes:

An overview of distributor revenue
How distributors are adapting to economic conditions
Insights from industry executives on economic trends

Subscribers should log in below to read this article.

Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.

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Paramont EO’s Team-Building Redesign

Companies, Electrical, Free, Human Resources in Wholesale Distribution, Inventory Management, Management, MDM Market Leaders, Operations, Research & Analytics, Strategy, Technology, Top Distributor Sectors / Jenel Stelton-Holtmeier

This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.

Chicago, IL-based electrical and decorative lighting distributor Paramont EO recently reconfigured its warehouse to accommodate more products more efficiently. The company was selected as an MDM Market Mover for how it turned an operational efficiency exercise into a company-wide team-building strategy.

Subscribers should log in below to read this article.

Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.

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New Tech Disrupts Supply Chain

Companies, Inventory Management, Management, MDM Market Leaders, Operations, Research & Analytics, Strategy, Technology / Jenel Stelton-Holtmeier

This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.

The proliferation of mobility and growth in the use of sensors is driving connectivity in the consumer and business worlds. Distributors have increasingly embraced the role of mobile in purchasing, leading to more focus on creating mobile-friendly websites. But the practical role of these devices also continues to grow.

This article includes:

How distributors are using new tech to improve the supply chain
Why mobility and sensors are important
What to expect from new tech in the future

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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.

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Customer Engagement: Don’t Be Amazon

eCommerce, Management, MDM Market Leaders, Research & Analytics, Sales & Marketing, Strategy, Technology / Eric Smith

This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.

The B2C shopping concept, in which people can get anything they need anytime they want it, is clearly influencing B2B buying. But a distributors customer has certain needs from superior product knowledge to service and sales reps available to answer phone calls that the Amazon experience cant provide.

This article includes:

Why a customer-focused experience is better than an “Amazon experience”
How distributors are improving their customer experiences
Tips for shifting your focus from products to customers

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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.

To access this page, you must purchase MDM Premium Subscription, MDM Premium Subscription – Monthly or MDM Premium Subscription – Annually.

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A Growing Competitive Threat

Companies, Data & Analytics, eCommerce, Economic Trends, Inventory Management, Management, MDM Market Leaders, Operations, Research & Analytics, Sales & Marketing, Strategy, Technology / Jenel Stelton-Holtmeier

This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.

It used to be that the largest distributors were the biggest threats to small ones. Their ability to outspend other players in technology and growth allowed them to eat up market share across geographies, but new technology and customer expectations have changed the competitive landscape.

This article includes:

How technology is growing the reach of smaller distributors
Innovative supply chain solutions that grow market share
Other strategies distributors are using to gain competitive advantage

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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.

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Increase ROI from Existing Technology

Data & Analytics, eCommerce, Management, MDM Market Leaders, Research & Analytics, Sales & Marketing, Strategy, Technology / Eric Smith

This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.

Companies that dont have the right technology in place or dont optimize their current capabilities are leaving dollars on the table. But a renewed focus on getting the most out of existing systems can yield numerous benefits.

This article includes:

Ways to optimize existing technology
Benefits of improving current systems
The importance of viewing technology as an evolution

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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.

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Reduce HR Cost Pressure

Companies, Economic Trends, Human Resources in Wholesale Distribution, Management, MDM Market Leaders, Operations, Research & Analytics, Strategy / Jenel Stelton-Holtmeier

This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.

For the next generation workforce, pay is still important, but the benefits that come with a position from health insurance to career development programs are just as important, if not more so. As a result of that and new or changing regulations, the cost of employment keeps rising.

This article includes:

Why offering health insurance and other benefits is so important
An overview of HR costs and challenges
Ways to combat the cost of providing benefits

Subscribers should log in below to read this article.

Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.

To access this page, you must purchase MDM Premium Subscription, MDM Premium Subscription – Monthly or MDM Premium Subscription – Annually.

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Special Issue: 2016 Wholesale Distribution Trends

Leave a Comment / MDM Market Leaders, Research & Analytics / MDM Staff

The 2016 Distribution Special Issue is the most comprehensive report on the wholesale distribution industry. This seventh edition was researched and written by MDM and is based on interviews with dozens of distributors, industry experts and manufacturers, as well as a survey of readers to uncover the most important issues facing distribution today.

The full report is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers. Subscribe below for full access. Or log-in if you are already a subscriber.

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Tech Sparks Transformation of Action Health

Data & Analytics, Economic Trends, Finance, Free, Human Resources in Wholesale Distribution, Management, MDM Market Leaders, Mergers & Acquisitions, Operations, Pharmaceutical & Health Care, Research & Analytics, Sales & Marketing, Strategy, Technology, Top Distributor Sectors / Brooke Baum

This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.

Bensenville, IL-based health care packaging distributor Action Health was selected as a 2016 MDM Market Mover for its innovative approach for adapting to the new low-margin reality of its market.

Subscribers should log in below to read this article.

Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.

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Tech Sparks Transformation of Action Health Read More »

Other Trends to Watch

Human Resources in Wholesale Distribution, Management, MDM Market Leaders, Online Marketing, Operations, Research & Analytics, Sales & Marketing, Strategy, Technology / MDM Staff

This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.

MDM identified a handful of other distribution trends to watch for the rest of 2016 and into next year. Look for stories on these and other topics relevant to the industry in future issues of MDM Premium and at mdm.com.

Other trends include:

Mobile mania
Cross training on the rise
IT emerging from the shadows

Subscribers should log in below to read this article.

Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.

To access this page, you must purchase MDM Premium Subscription, MDM Premium Subscription – Monthly or MDM Premium Subscription – Annually.