The trend for construction markets is positive, with the exception of the public sector.
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Posts By Angela Poulson
3M is building a new laboratory to house 700 scientists, to open in early 2015.
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In the recent 2013 Economic Outlook webcast, Andrew Duguay provides advice on how to respond to the forecast.
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From something as large as a hurricane to something as small as a water main break, all businesses should plan for potential disruptions.
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Concerns around the recent federal elections and the looming fiscal cliff have been front of mind as 2012 draws to a close, and Superstorm Sandy has only added to concerns. But, as Institute for Trend Research senior economist Andrew Duguay pointed out in the recent MDM Webcast 2013 Economic Outlook, “we do have quite a lot of good news.” Duguay argues that 2013 will not be a year of recession, but a year of slow growth, and distributors who play their cards right can still find areas of opportunity.
If you missed the webcast, access it here or call 888-742-5060 to order a copy of it on DVD.
Of the leading economic indicators economist Andrew Duguay follows, not one is pointing to an actual recession in 2013, he said during MDM’s recent webcast, the 2013 Economic Outlook.
However, many point to slower growth.
Duguay, a senior economist with the Institute for Trend Research, forecasts …
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Distributors should frame their decisions with an eye toward growth, economist says in recent MDM Webcast.
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Construction will no longer hold back the U.S. economy going into 2013.
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This article is part of the MDM series: The Shifting Competitive Landscape.
To expand the products it could sell without the expense of carrying inventory, San Antonio-based Labatt Food Service collaborated with Ace Mart, a restaurant equipment and supplies distributor. This case study looks at how the two approached the collaboration and the challenges that have gone with it. It also looks at a second collaboration Labatt has built with other distributors to serve customers that have moved to geographic areas it does not serve.
Restaurant equipment and supplies distributor Ace Mart’s original relationship with San Antonio, TX-based Labatt Food Service was as a traditional supplier and an occasional provider of special-order items. About six years ago, Ace Mart, which is based primarily online, proposed a way to simplify how customers can order Ace Mart products through Labatt.
Labatt’s customers are now able to
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The way leaders view their employees has strategic implications for the business.
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Good forecasting requires more than just software, Jon Schreibfeder says in latest episode of Executive Briefing.
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In Producing Prosperity: Why America Needs a Manufacturing Renaissance, Harvard Business School professors Gary Pisano and Willy Shih explain their view that when U.S. companies outsource their manufacturing operations, much of the country’s ability to innovate and compete goes overseas, as well. Shih, a professor of management practice, spoke with MDM staff writer Angela Poulson on why a manufacturing renaissance would bolster the U.S. economy. He also discusses the importance of building and maintaining “industrial commons” to fuel this revival.
MDM: Why did you write this book?
Willy C. Shih: Our main purpose was to elevate the discussion in this country on what we think is a very important topic. There is a lot of high-level, circumstantial discussion about manufacturing and jobs, and what we really wanted to do is get a more detailed discussion going so that policy makers and leaders in the industry and the public sector can have a more intelligent discussion about core issues.
MDM: Your book’s subtitle is Why America Needs a Manufacturing Renaissance. Broadly speaking, why does the U.S. need a manufacturing renaissance, and how in this case do you define one?
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Actively recruiting vets is a growing trend in manufacturing.
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One of the biggest impacts is to the oil refining industry.
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In fact, according to one economist, the impact of rebuilding may not be a net positive on the sector.
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Wolseley talks program that supports strategy of going from ‘loose confederation of branches’ to more centrally managed business model.
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Undeployed capital, attractive financing and lessened desire to go public contributing to the pickup in activity.
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Don’t try to please everyone. Instead, segment, target and position your company for better margins.
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Brent Grover outlines what distributors should avoid when embarking on a planning process.
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Uncertainty around future federal incentives is contributing to the ups and downs in the market.
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In the recent MDM Webcast, Managing for Profit: Five Building Blocks of Success, Jonathan Byrnes, senior MIT lecturer and author of Islands of Profit in a Sea of Red Ink, offers strategies in five key areas that can, when applied together, help managers lead companies to a better bottom line. The webcast, the final in a four-part series on managing for profitability, is available on DVD at www.mdm.com/islands.
Even in leading companies, 30 percent to 40 percent of the business is unprofitable. At the same time, 20 percent to 30 percent is highly profitable, enough to subsidize the loss, according to Jonathan Byrnes, senior MIT lecturer and author of Islands of Profit in a Sea of Red Ink. While many business leaders tend to focus on the unprofitable aspects of their businesses in an attempt to fix what’s broken, Byrnes says companies would do well to focus more on those products and initiatives that contribute to the bottom line.
“If you don’t secure that business, you’re really in trouble,” he says.
In the recent MDM Webcast, Managing for Profit, Byrnes recommends leaders focus on five building blocks that, when executed effectively and simultaneously, can …
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