Feedback

Subscriber Login

MDM Premium Content  What's this?
Subscribe today to access MDM's premium content with two issues a month of timely and to-the-point content for the busy wholesale distribution executive. Here's what you get:
  • Analysis of distribution trends
  • Interviews with industry leaders
  • Quarterly Public Distributor Report
  • Quarterly Inflation by Commodity Group Report
  • Market and economic data analysis
  • Access to the best online research tool in distribution

And much more! Learn more

Forgot Your Password?
For more precise results try using quotation marks ("") around your search terms. See more search tips.
subscribe_yellow Lock in savings now before June 1 rate increase!
renew_blue


 

Regain Pricing Control

Magnify value, minimize price wars

By    Lindsay  Young 
May 10, 2007 Comment (1)

As customer bases shift, competition intensifies and commodity prices seesaw, it's more crucial than ever for distributors to maximize profitability by magnifying the value they provide for their customers and not competing on price alone. Increasing prices by 1 percent without hurting volume can improve profits as much as 11 percent, according to one pricing consultant.

Distributors looking to boost profitability and refocus on value should analyze and redesign their pricing strategy.

"If a sales force is out negotiating deals, there's very little control. They come back and say, 'I've got a deal at $90. I know our price is $100, but if we don't give them $90 we won't get the deal.' And everyone feels as if they are being held for ransom, says ...

Text Size
Email ShareShare/Bookmark

As customer bases shift, competition intensifies and commodity prices seesaw, it's more crucial than ever for distributors to maximize profitability by magnifying the value they provide for their customers and not competing on price alone. Increasing prices by 1 percent without hurting volume can improve profits as much as 11 percent, according to one pricing consultant.

Distributors looking to boost profitability and refocus on value should analyze and redesign their pricing strategy.

"If a sales force is out negotiating deals, there's very little control. They come back and say, 'I've got a deal at $90. I know our price is $100, but if we don't give them $90 we won't get the deal.' And everyone feels as if they are being held for ransom, says ...



Print Email ShareShare/Bookmark
  • Pricing is moving beyond margin percent comparatives to pricing with fulfillment costs in the analysis. This approach, if done correctly, assures contribution to operating profit and increase in value. Too, the pricing is fair and based on the customer's transaction cost. Most distributors use the margin percent approach for analytics and this rolls into pricing. Unfortunately, it is an old and antiquated dynamic that too often overprices customers who contribute to operating profit and underprices those who destroy value. The internet, auction pricing, and cost-to-serve models that estimate labor are changing this but it will take time. Too, it is important to know that pricing does not add value--it only captures it and hence pricing is not a long term strategy to right poor performance.
Use the form below to leave a comment

MDM Digital

Executive Briefing:
                  May 2012Critical Profit Drivers
in Distribution

Al Bates, Profit Planning Group, speaks frankly about the most important factors to driving profit. Watch now.
iPad users: click here to view.
Economic Update April 2012 Economic Update:
Behind the Moderation

MAPI Economist Cliff Waldman discusses some of the factors behind the slowing economic recovery. Watch now.
7 Minutes With7 Minutes With ...
Bell Electrical Supply

CEO Burt Schraga discusses the importance of building a strong culture in his organization. Watch now.
More Audio and Video Features from MDM:
  • MDM Podcast

Think About It:
Back to the Basics

We all forget the basics sometimes. Todd Youngblood shares his recent reminder of that fact.

Listen now.

Learn more or subscribe to the Think About It podcast.

  • Featured

USAbrasives-100-for-trifecta

U.S. Abrasives Market Demand Report

This report provides a three-dimensional view into estimated market size, customer segment potential and customer size demographics for the U.S. Abrasives Market.

These three data slices give you deep insight into total market potential and your market share by both customer type and size for the U.S. and all 50 states.

Learn more about the U.S. Abrasives Market Demand Report

Training Resources

Current Issue   Inventory Management   MDM_Special_Report_ecommerce   Benchmarks and Best Practices

Featured Article: What AmazonSupply.com Means for Independent Distributors

$34.95

Buy now >>

Inventory Management Best Practices with Jon Schreibfeder: DVD + Book

$119.00

Buy now >>

The State of E-Commerce and Catalogs in Distribution

$44.95

Buy now >>

Benchmarks & Best Practices: The Answer Book for Growth-Minded CFOs & Controllers

$249.00

Buy now >>

Job Board
Title Company Location
Digital Strategy Manager Border States Electric Fargo North Dakota
Risk Manager Border States Electric Fargo ND
Purchasing Manager PCA SKIN Scottsdale, AZ
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Graybar Electric Company Denver, CO
INDUSTRIAL OUTSIDE SALES REPRESENTATIVE Graybar Electric Company Phoenix, AZ
General Manager Applied Industrial Technologies Norfolk, VA
Rubber Specialist Applied Industrial Technologies Baltimore, MD
View ALL Wholesale Distribution Job Listings

Industry Topics

Distribution Trends RSS

Economic Trends RSS

Distribution Management & Strategy RSS

Distribution Interviews RSS

Distribution Operations Strategy RSS

Distribution Technology RSS

Distribution & Manufacturing Acquisitions RSS

Distribution Case Studies RSS

Distribution Sales & Marketing RSS

Subscribe to MDM

Already an MDM Premium Subscriber?
Log in now.

Premium Subscription benefits

Testimonials

"Trends and writing always on the mark. It’s concise, well-written and keeps me a step ahead." - Julia Klein, CEO, CH Briggs Hardware Co.

"MDM is a concise publication that has better content than any of the glossy trade magazines."
- Matt Onofrio, President, GT Midwest

Learn more or subscribe now.

Buy this issue now: Only $34.95

Only $34.95. You can apply the full pay-per-view cost toward an annual subscription.