January 2020 - Page 3 of 5 - Modern Distribution Management

Log In

Search

January 2020

Optimas OE Solutions Names Three Executives to its Leadership Team

Leave a Comment / Human Resources in Wholesale Distribution, News, Operations /

Optimas OE Solutions LLC, Glenview, Illinois, has named three industry executives to the company’s leadership team, including Marc Strandquist as president of the Americas, Mike Tuffy as president of International and Kate Daly as senior vice president of Global Human Resources. These industry veterans will focus on business growth and organizational strategy while strengthening operations and […]

Optimas OE Solutions Names Three Executives to its Leadership Team Read More »

Fastenal 2021 net sales 4Q

Fastenal Quarterly Report Reinforces How Customer Dynamics are Changing

Leave a Comment / Blog, Earnings, Operations /

Not long ago, the B2B distribution business presented a fairly simple equation: The more calls your skilled account managers could make on customers, the more those customers would buy. You built your sales process on this foundation of face-to-face interactions. You won by having the best team, with the right inventory in branches near the

Fastenal Quarterly Report Reinforces How Customer Dynamics are Changing Read More »

EMUGE Appoints Kennametal Veteran as National Account Manager

Leave a Comment / Human Resources in Wholesale Distribution, News, Operations /

Emuge Corp., West Boylston, Massachusetts, has named Scott Lowe as national accounts manager for the U.S. and Canada. In his new position, Lowe is responsible for developing and managing channel partner relations with key customers, distributors and integrated suppliers of Emuge products. “I am very pleased to welcome Scott to Emuge to further strengthen our sales organization

EMUGE Appoints Kennametal Veteran as National Account Manager Read More »

Manufacturing Production Increased 0.2% in December

Leave a Comment / Economic Trends, News, Research & Analytics /

Industrial production declined 0.3% in December, as a decrease of 5.6% for utilities outweighed increases of 0.2% for manufacturing and 1.3% for mining, according to the latest data from the Federal Reserve. For the fourth quarter as a whole, total industrial production moved down at an annual rate of 0.5%. At 109.4% of its 2012 average,

Manufacturing Production Increased 0.2% in December Read More »

Robot Hand on Laptop

5 Ways You Can Use AI to Win the 2020s

Leave a Comment / Blog, Technology /

In the coming years, major disruptive forces are aligning that will potentially restructure the wholesale distribution industry, McKinsey analysts recently predicted. However, the report notes, “while the overall picture may look bleak, we see opportunities across sectors. A handful of industry leaders are growing share and margin.” In other words, distributors can win the next decade

5 Ways You Can Use AI to Win the 2020s Read More »

office workers analyzing graph on laptop

State of Distributor Marketing, Pt. 1: Combine Digital with Traditional Marketing to Grow the Revenue Pie

Uncategorized /

The race to embrace digital marketing can put you in a strong position with clients, the MDM/Real Results Marketing 2019 State of Distributor Marketing survey shows, but don’t elevate online efforts at the expense of traditionally profitable opportunities. Distributors are focusing more on digital marketing vehicles — email, search and social media — and less

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

State of Distributor Marketing, Pt. 1: Combine Digital with Traditional Marketing to Grow the Revenue Pie Read More »

AgoNow Joins IBC Buying Group

Leave a Comment / News /

AgoNow, Tulsa, Oklahoma, an industrial wholesaler and channel solutions provider, has joined the IBC industrial buying group.  AgoNow partners with distributors and manufacturers of industrial MRO, commercial construction, welding and safety products. As a wholesaler, AgoNow does not sell directly to end-users. “The addition of AgoNow enhances our members’ fulfillment and logistics capabilities with end users,” said Mark

AgoNow Joins IBC Buying Group Read More »

AD Names President of Plumbing, PVF-US Divisions

Leave a Comment / Human Resources in Wholesale Distribution, News, Operations /

AD, Wayne, Pennsylvania, the largest contractor and industrial products wholesale buying group in North America, has promoted Justin Dunscomb to president of the Plumbing and Pipe, Valves and Fittings-U.S. Divisions within the Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Pipe Business Unit. The two divisions will continue to operate separately for the purposes of governance, boards, networks and committees. Most recently,

AD Names President of Plumbing, PVF-US Divisions Read More »

How to Overcome Barriers to Delivering Integrated Supply Solutions

Leave a Comment / Blog, Management, Strategy /

Your customers seek innovative, cost-effective integrated supply solutions. But a commitment to integrated supply requires substantial resources dedicated to sourcing, logistics, identification, multi-shift staffing, KPI reporting and more. How do you get into this space with such high barriers to entry? Consider a hybrid integrated supply model that can mitigate your risk and resource investment

How to Overcome Barriers to Delivering Integrated Supply Solutions Read More »

MSC’s Sales Down 1% in Fiscal First Quarter

Leave a Comment / Earnings, News, Operations /

Industrial distributor MSC Industrial Direct Co. Inc. (NYSE: MSM), Melville, New York, reported fiscal 2020 first quarter sales of $823.6 billion, a 1% decrease compared to fiscal 2019. Annual profit was $65.4 million, a 11.8% decrease compared with the first quarter last year. Ecommerce sales inched up barely in the quarter, which ended Nov. 30, but remained

MSC’s Sales Down 1% in Fiscal First Quarter Read More »

Builders FirstSource CEO to Retire in 2020

Leave a Comment / Human Resources in Wholesale Distribution, News, Operations /

Builders FirstSource Inc. (Nasdaq: BLDR), Dallas, has announced that CEO Chad Crow will retire this year after 20 years with the company. Crow will leave after assisting the company’s board of directors in hiring his replacement. He will also continue to work with Builders FirstSource in a consulting capacity for a period of time following the appointment

Builders FirstSource CEO to Retire in 2020 Read More »

Fortive Names New Global Industrial Company

Leave a Comment / News /

Fortive Corp. (NYSE: FTV), Everett, Washington, has announced that the name of the new global industrial company which is expected to separate from Fortive later this year will be Vontier Corporation. Vontier will focus on transportation and mobility markets and will be comprised initially of a portfolio of leading retail and commercial fueling, fleet management, and

Fortive Names New Global Industrial Company Read More »

7 Ways for Distributors to Start the Year Off Strong

Leave a Comment / Blog /

As we all recognize, changes are coming faster, manufacturers are spreading out geographically, customers are expecting rapid response and technology continues to bypass the breakthrough visions of a just few years ago. Add to that the volatility in ownership patterns (mergers, private equity, public offerings, spin offs and more), and we often find that most

7 Ways for Distributors to Start the Year Off Strong Read More »

Grainger Announces Leadership Change in Online Business

Leave a Comment / Human Resources in Wholesale Distribution, News, Operations /

Grainger (NYSE: GWW), Chicago, has announced that David Rawlinson, senior vice president and president, Grainger Online Business, will be leaving the company effective February 1, 2020, to become the CEO of a newly formed public company. Rawlinson joined Grainger as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary in 2012, and progressively expanded his experiences, taking on leadership of

Grainger Announces Leadership Change in Online Business Read More »

WESCO International and Anixter International Announce Merger

Leave a Comment / Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Operations /

WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE: WCC), a leading provider of electrical, industrial, and communications MRO and OEM products, construction materials, advanced supply chain management and logistics services, and Anixter International Inc. (NYSE: AXE), a leading global distributor of Network & Security Solutions, Electrical & Electronic Solutions, and Utility Power Solutions, today announced that their boards of directors have unanimously

WESCO International and Anixter International Announce Merger Read More »

shopping cart - e-commerce

Why Distributors are Revamping Their Sales Coverage Plans

Leave a Comment / Uncategorized /

B2B distribution sales managers generally believe that driving sales is all about hiring, retaining and managing the best account managers. You hire the most skilled outside account managers you can, and then pair them up with excellent inside sales support. Then, the more calls your skilled account managers can make on customers, the more the

Why Distributors are Revamping Their Sales Coverage Plans Read More »

Manufacturing Employment Fell by 12,000 in December

Leave a Comment / Economic Trends, News, Research & Analytics /

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 145,000 in December, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.5%,according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Notable job gains occurred in retail trade and health care, while mining lost jobs. Manufacturing employment was down by 12,000. Employment in the industry changed little in 2019, growing by 46,000, after increasing in 2018 by 264,000.

Manufacturing Employment Fell by 12,000 in December Read More »

Download this Issue as a PDF: January 10, 2020

Full Issue PDF /

This is the pdf of this issue of Modern Distribution Management. Click download pdf below to download this issue. iPad instructions: To save this issue to your iPad for viewing offline: Click on the “Download PDF” link below. Once the pdf appears in your browser, tap the screen near the top of the pdf image

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

Download this Issue as a PDF: January 10, 2020 Read More »

Register for full access

By providing your email, you agree to receive announcements from us and our partners for our newsletter, events, surveys, and partner resources per MDM Terms & Conditions. You can withdraw consent at any time.

Learn More about Custom Reports

Request a Market Prospector Demo

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Get the MDM Update Newsletter

Wholesale distribution news and trends delivered right to your inbox.

Sign-up for our free newsletter and get:

  • Up-to-date news in a quick-to-read format
  • Free access to webcasts, podcasts and live events
  • Exclusive whitepapers, research and reports
  • And more!