 |
Lock in savings now before June 1 rate increase! |
 |
While the economy continues to slog its way out of the recession, confidence in recovery appears to be building, according to the latest results of the Robert W. Baird & Co./MDM Distribution Benchmarking Survey.
|
We Deliver Distribution News to Your Inbox Sign up below to receive MDM Update, your free weekly distribution news update by email. |
Expectations for reducing inventories fell to the lowest level in more than a year. And while levels are still well below the highs seen in 2008, 47 percent of respondents indicated they had increased their inventory levels in the first quarter – well above the expected 39 percent from the fourth-quarter 2010 survey.
Average revenue growth also surpassed expectations expressed in the fourth-quarter survey. Then respondents forecast first-quarter growth of 7.3 percent. The average growth experienced in the first quarter? 8.7 percent.
Certainly, challenges remain. Freight costs are rising, and distributors and manufacturers alike must find a way to offset those increases. Price increases are being seen across the board, and consolidation is beginning to pick up steam again, with large national companies looking for new strategic targets.
But confidence in recovery is key to succeeding in recovery, and the survey results seem to say we're on the right path. Read the full survey results by sector in the latest issue of MDM Premium.
Watch a summary of the findings in the video below:
 |
 Download
the Top 40 Industrial List -FREE |
| View the Top Distributors in 12 Sectors: | |
| 2011 Distribution Landscape Report: Access Now | |
Join MDM's Independent Distributor
Network 
Follow MDM on Twitter
 Critical Profit Driversin 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:Behind the Moderation MAPI Economist Cliff Waldman discusses some of the factors behind the slowing economic recovery. Watch now. |
 7 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: |
Think About It: |
|
Training Resources
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||
|
Featured Article: What AmazonSupply.com Means for Independent Distributors $34.95 |
Inventory Management Best Practices with Jon Schreibfeder: DVD + Book $119.00 |
The State of E-Commerce and Catalogs in Distribution $44.95 |
Benchmarks & Best Practices: The Answer Book for Growth-Minded CFOs & Controllers $249.00 |
| 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 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
Leave a Comment