Listen to your customers and invest in talent and technology.
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This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.
The B2C shopping concept, in which people can get anything they need anytime they want it, is clearly influencing B2B buying. But a distributors customer has certain needs from superior product knowledge to service and sales reps available to answer phone calls that the Amazon experience cant provide.
This article includes:
- Why a customer-focused experience is better than an “Amazon experience”
- How distributors are improving their customer experiences
- Tips for shifting your focus from products to customers
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.
This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.
It used to be that the largest distributors were the biggest threats to small ones. Their ability to outspend other players in technology and growth allowed them to eat up market share across geographies, but new technology and customer expectations have changed the competitive landscape.
This article includes:
- How technology is growing the reach of smaller distributors
- Innovative supply chain solutions that grow market share
- Other strategies distributors are using to gain competitive advantage
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.
This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.
For the next generation workforce, pay is still important, but the benefits that come with a position from health insurance to career development programs are just as important, if not more so. As a result of that and new or changing regulations, the cost of employment keeps rising.
This article includes:
- Why offering health insurance and other benefits is so important
- An overview of HR costs and challenges
- Ways to combat the cost of providing benefits
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.
This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.
While increased costs related to employment may seem inevitable, you can take steps to mitigate the impact to your company’s bottom line. Here are five tips from Nancye Combs, president and CEO of HR Enterprise, a human resources consulting firm in Louisville, KY, on how to manage the rising cost of employment.
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.
This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.
Companies that dont have the right technology in place or dont optimize their current capabilities are leaving dollars on the table. But a renewed focus on getting the most out of existing systems can yield numerous benefits.
This article includes:
- Ways to optimize existing technology
- Benefits of improving current systems
- The importance of viewing technology as an evolution
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.
This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.
The proliferation of mobility and growth in the use of sensors is driving connectivity in the consumer and business worlds. Distributors have increasingly embraced the role of mobile in purchasing, leading to more focus on creating mobile-friendly websites. But the practical role of these devices also continues to grow.
This article includes:
- How distributors are using new tech to improve the supply chain
- Why mobility and sensors are important
- What to expect from new tech in the future
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.
This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.
Although marketing has grown in importance for distributors over the last year, most dont realize the crucial role it plays in gaining a competitive advantage.
This article includes:
- How distributors are using strategic marketing to differentiate
- Key marketing investments to stay competitive
- Marketing challenges and tips to overcome them
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.
This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.
MDM identified a handful of other distribution trends to watch for the rest of 2016 and into next year. Look for stories on these and other topics relevant to the industry in future issues of MDM Premium and at mdm.com.
Other trends include:
- Mobile mania
- Cross training on the rise
- IT emerging from the shadows
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.
This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.
Bensenville, IL-based health care packaging distributor Action Health was selected as a 2016 MDM Market Mover for its innovative approach for adapting to the new low-margin reality of its market.
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This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.
Chicago, IL-based electrical and decorative lighting distributor Paramont EO recently reconfigured its warehouse to accommodate more products more efficiently. The company was selected as an MDM Market Mover for how it turned an operational efficiency exercise into a company-wide team-building strategy.
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.
This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.
Formed in 2008 at the height of the Great Recession, roofing distributor SRS Distribution Inc., McKinney, TX, reached $1 billion in revenue within six years. Last year SRS grew revenue 32 percent and in the past three years it has seen sales, EBITDA and locations double. Associate Editor Eric Smith spoke with Dan Tinker, president and COO, about the companys origins, its ability to grow organically and through acquisition no matter the economic conditions and its commitment to a strong culture.
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.
This article is part of MDM's 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue.
Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, Winsupply, Dayton, OH, is fresh off a name change (it was formerly WinWholesale) and poised to set another record for revenue. Associate Editor Eric Smith spoke with President and CFO Roland Gordon and CMO Steve Edwards about the companys past, present and future.
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. The full 2016 Distribution Trends Special Issue is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers.
Distributors must invest strategically in talent and technology to differentiate.
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. Subscribers also have access to the following related articles:
- Fostering a Culture of Innovation
- Industry 4.0: Technology-Driven Change
- 2016 Distribution Remodel: Deepen Talent Development
Also hold employees accountable for taking time for additional training.
Formal training paths encourage learning and increase retention.
Distributors, manufacturers must work together to achieve shared goal.
Be intentional and continually invest as generation gap grows.
Don't wait in the wings for someone to disrupt you.
After a string of unit sell-offs, HD Supply focusing streamlining efforts internally.
