Construction activity in key markets provides positive outlook.
Posts By Jenel Stelton-Holtmeier
In late February, Bloomfield, CT-based Kaman announced an agreement to acquire fluid power distributor B.W. Rogers, Akron, OH. Steve Smidler, president of the Kaman Distribution Group, recently spoke with MDM about the reasons for the acquisition and plans for integrating the distributor into Kaman’s business.
This article includes:
- How acquisition deepens the Parker relationship
- How acquisition will expand Kaman's end-market reach
- How Kaman will integrate B.W. Rogers
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- MDM Interview: Kaman's Expansion Strategy
- Applied Industrial: Fluid Power a Growth Area for Distributor
- Special Report: The Industrial Vending Boom
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Kaman's presence in energy and automotive currently "negligible."
Skills gap a rising concern for global economies.
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The desire to “delight your customers” is a noble one. But the effort involved may be better used elsewhere. Rick DeLisi, senior director of advisory services for CEB’s sales and services practice and co-author of The Effortless Experience: Conquering the New Battleground for Customer Loyalty, spoke with Associate Editor Jenel Stelton-Holtmeier about how distributors could better focus their efforts to provide a better customer service experience for all customers online and off.
This article includes:
- A strategy that works better than the strategy of delighting customers
- The worst question a customer service agent can ask
- New challenges to customer loyalty
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- MDM Interview: How to Stand in Your Employees’ Shoes
- Where Managers Blunder
- Yes, Customers Want to Hear from You
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Wojanis: 'As in any industry, one must prove that they can do the job.'
Successful private label initiatives require more than a label with your brand on it.
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Creating a successful private label strategy requires more than just putting the distributor’s name on the products. This article looks at key elements of building a private label strategy and the decisions distributors need to make to successfully implement that strategy.
This is the second in a series of articles from MDM on private label in the wholesale distribution industry.
This article includes:
- The role of branding and positioning in private label success
- The importance of having the right skills in place for implementing a private label strategy
- The question of control versus liability for distributors
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- The Drivers of Private Label in Distribution
- Profits in a Year of Strong Growth
- Special Report: The Industrial Vending Boom
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Are you a market leader in your sector? Did you innovate in 2013? Nominate your company today!
Author Rick DeLisi on creating an effortless customer experience.
Founder: 'Bright spots' for 2014 include oil & gas and energy infrastructure.
Distributors cite several reasons for considering a private label strategy.
Most of the sporting (and betting) world expected the Denver Broncos to beat the Seattle Seahawks in this year’s Super Bowl. Seattle was expected to put up a good fight, with the end result a close game between the team with the best offense in the league and the team with the best defense.
None of that came to be.
This commentary looks at how businesses can learn from the Denver Broncos' loss in the Super Bowl.
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- The State of Analytics in Distribution: 2014
- The Shifting Competitive Landscape in Distribution
- Redefining Competitive Advantage
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McKinsey report says manufacturers should be more focused on proximity to demand and innovation.
Growth led by gains in residential construction during the quarter.
Robert W. Baird & Co., in partnership with Modern Distribution Management, conducted a survey of more than 500 distributors and manufacturers to gauge business trends and the outlook for the distribution industry in diverse sectors. This article provides a summary of fourth-quarter results and distributor and manufacturer expectations for 2014.
This article includes:
- Revenue, inventory and pricing expectations
- Sector breakdown
- Analysis of trends affecting sales and operating performance
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- 10 Distribution Trends to Watch in 2014
- Profits in a Year of Strong Growth
- Special Report: The Industrial Vending Boom
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From drones to 3D printing, new technologies may dramatically change distribution.
After years of uncertainty, has the global economy finally found its footing again?
Vending and e-commerce continue to be growth drivers for the distributor.
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Many distributors have struggled with where to invest limited dollars to meet the demands resulting from the rapidly growing role of technology in the industry. This article looks at distributors’ current technology challenges and plans, identified by respondents to the 2014 MDM Industry Outlook Survey, sponsored by NetSuite.
More details from the 2014 MDM Industry Outlook will be provided in the upcoming Jan. 16, 2014, webcast, the 2014 Distribution Industry Outlook.
This article includes:
- Distributors’ plans for technology investments in 2014
- Key challenges related to new technologies
- How to overcome some of those key challenges
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- Beyond Amazon: E-Commerce’s Impact on Wholesale Distribution Markets
- Grainger’s E-Commerce Evolution
- MDM Interview: Breaking Down the Barriers for CRM
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