2017

The Institute for Supply Management provides a semiannual forecast that distributors can use to gauge the health and expectations of manufacturing and non-manufacturing industries. This article provides the highlights from the latest forecast, which was released in December.

This article includes:

Economic growth expectations for 2018
Manufacturing sector expectations
Non-manufacturing sector expectations

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MDM-Baird Distribution Survey: Storms Stunt Distributor Growth
Distributors Up Search Marketing Efforts
Amazon Business: The Burning E-Platform

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Commentary: An Industry at an Inflection Point

Free, Technology / Ian Heller

Innovation will alter competitive dynamics. Selling products that are highly technical is a pretty good strategy to keep Amazon Business at bay today. But for how long will that be good enough? Thats the type of question every distributor needs to ask right now.Subscribers should log in below to read this article.

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Download this Issue in PDF: December 25, 2017

Full Issue PDF / MDM Staff

This is the PDF of this issue of Modern Distribution Management.

Table of Contents:

How Should Distribution Respond to Amazon Business?
Commentary: An Industry at an Inflection Point
Top Trends for 2018
Forecast: Economy to Grow in 2018
Monthly Wholesale Trade Data: October 2017
MDM Industrial Inflation Index: November 2017
MDM News Digest 4724

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Top Trends for 2018

Economic Trends, Human Resources in Wholesale Distribution, Management, Operations, Research & Analytics, Strategy / MDM Staff

Distributor fortunes improved last year and are projected to continue through the first half of 2018 but the rest of the year remains uncertain, as economists project the economy to slow in the third and fourth quarters before enduring a more drastic decline in 2019.This article includes:

A mostly upbeat outlook will take a downward turn later in the year.
The Amazon Threat
Addressing the talent gao

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MDM-Baird Distribution Survey: Storms Stunt Distributor Growth
Distributors Up Search Marketing Efforts
Amazon Business: The Burning E-Platform

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How Should Distribution Respond to Amazon Business?

Free, Management, Strategy, Technology / Ian Heller

Amazon Business represents more than a new competitor its an entirely new business model. To address new rules Amazon continually rewrites for traditional channel competition, distributors need to develop new strategies. This article, part 4 in our series, outlines key response alternatives for distributors and the industry collectively to define value, keep customers engaged and avoid displacement.This article includes: