Online distributor Zoro Tools shares its concerns about SaaS platform and lessons learned from implementation.
Over the past year, MDM Editor Lindsay Konzak and Associate Editor Jenel Stelton-Holtmeier spoke with several distribution executives to find out what keeps them awake at night. The question was part of “7 Minutes With …” executive interviews, a regular feature on MDM’s free monthly Executive Briefing webcast available at www.mdm.com/executivebriefing. The first year of programming is now available on DVD at www.mdm.com/ExecutiveBriefingDVD.
This article provides a summary of how distribution executives at large and small companies including HD Supply, MSC Industrial Supply, Airgas and Lawson Products answered.
Over the past year, the economy has dominated headlines, and uncertainty continues to be the main message. But for most of the 12 distribution executives who participated in MDM’s 7 Minutes With… audio interview feature in the past year, the top issue wasn’t the economy; it was …
This is the third article in MDM’s Emerging Technologies Series. This article examines the growing role of mobile technologies in how distributors do business.
Full Emerging Technologies Series is available here.
Over the past two years, a significant shift has taken place in technology, away from the traditional home- or office-based tools to technology that offers portability and accessibility. And while the development of new technologies often takes place at the speed of light, the adoption rate of mobile technologies such as smartphones and tablets has risen at a nearly unheard-of pace.
Even in industries such as wholesale distribution where investment in the newest technologies is often approached conservatively, mobile devices have already …
Associations are increasingly focused on ensuring relevance in an ever-changing industry landscape marked by an aging workforce, consolidation and more groups than ever vying for members’ time. This article looks at how associations across distribution sectors are tackling the challenge to grow value by adding and refining services that cater to member needs.
During an annual association meeting earlier this year, an attendee wondered on Twitter whether that association could “survive as more than a social club.” It’s a question of shifting value and one that all associations today have to answer.
Networking remains a key selling point of associations, according to David Gordon, president of Channel Marketing Group. But …
Among young people, just over a third saw manufacturing as ‘interesting & rewarding.’
McGladrey recently released the results of its Summer 2011 Manufacturer & Distribution Monitor survey. The survey looked at trends in productivity, trends, pricing and green practices.
While executives are maintaining a positive outlook for their own companies, their perception of the overall economy is less positive, according to the Summer 2011 Manufacturing & Distribution Monitor released by McGladrey. Productivity increases and improved expectations for sales have more companies looking to increase …
Employers reach tipping point, need to ‘start adding bodies.’
Demand for environmentally friendly products has continued to grow over the past couple years, even as the general economy has remained stagnant. But in some sectors there is still hesitation when it comes to making the “philosophical change” necessary to take advantage of the opportunity and to build out the capability to profit from it.
The focus on using more environmentally friendly products – particularly chemicals – has become more pronounced in recent years. While consumer interest drove much of the development early on, commercial and industrial interest has also risen …
Businesses stay positive even as the stock market retrenches for recession.
Uncertainty is keeping businesses from spending, which could result in further economic challenges.
Kevin Roach, executive vice president and general manager of Epicor, talks with MDM about the merger of software companies Activant and Epicor and how the new organization is working to get the most out of its combined capabilities. Here’s how the integration will affect distributors.
The merger of Activant and Epicor in April was just one of the latest developments in the continuing consolidation of the distribution software industry. Kevin Roach, executive vice president and general manager of the new combined Epicor, recently spoke with MDM about the merger and what it means for distribution companies currently on Epicor platforms …
MSC Industrial Direct Co. Inc., Melville, NY, is accelerating its approach to acquisitions, according to COO Erik Gershwind. “Historically, I would categorize MSC as opportunistic when it came to acquisitions,” Gershwind says. “But now we’re getting more proactive, making it a bigger part of our plan.”
And National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors urges House to support Speaker John Boehner’s bill.
Robert W. Baird & Co., in partnership with Modern Distribution Management, conducted a survey of nearly 600 distributors and manufacturers to gauge business trends and the outlook for the distribution industry in diverse sectors. Here is a summary of second-quarter results.
On average, respondents to the latest quarterly MDM/Baird survey said second-quarter revenues were up 9.7 percent year-over-year. In the first-quarter survey, respondents indicated …
Airgas CEO Peter McCausland talks to MDM about the acquisition attempt.
MDM attended the recent Canadian Power Transmission Distributors Association conference in Ottawa, Ontario. Topics discussed at the conference and summarized in this article include the Canadian economic outlook, business opportunities and talent management.
From the economy to recruitment and retention concerns to new opportunities, the topics front of mind for power transmission and bearing distributors in Canada aren’t all that different from those of their U.S. counterparts. How they approach these topics, however, may be.
Speakers addressed these topics at the annual Canadian Conference of the Power Transmission Distributors Association in Ottawa, Ontario, which MDM attended at the beginning of June.
Radnor, PA-based Airgas, No. 4 on MDMs Top 40 Industrial Distributors list, spent most of 2010 fending off a hostile takeover bid from manufacturer Air Products, Lehigh Valley, PA. Airgas President and CEO Peter McCausland recently spoke with Associate Editor Jenel Stelton-Holtmeier about the key drivers of growth in 2010, goals for the company now that Air Products has withdrawn its bid, and the growing role of technology in sales.
MDM: Last year seems to have been a pretty good year for Airgas, even with the need to fend off the bid from Air Products. What were the key drivers for growth in 2010?
Peter McCausland: I suppose you’re talking about our fiscal year 2011 that ended this past March 31, since that’s mostly calendar 2010. And it was a pretty good year.
I think the real driver was a resurgence in the U.S. economy, especially among manufacturers. It started with large manufacturers, and toward the end of our fiscal year we saw the recovery begin to spread.
Energy companies and energy markets were showing…
How financial problems overseas can ripple to American shores.
In 2011, MDM is recognizing distributors that are innovative in their approach to their markets. These Market Movers will be featured in this space. Johnson Air Products is the final distributor featured.
When the idea of green building began to take off a few years ago, several people believed it was “just a fad” or that it would blow over in a couple years. If it was just a fad, learning about topics such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) wasn’t worth the time or energy.
But when LEED for New Construction became an everyday topic at Portland, OR-based Johnson Air Products, Executive Vice President Brent James knew something had to change.
Keep your brand’s promise by focusing your marketing efforts.
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