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Three independent distributors
have opened a branch together. The three-in-one approach gives their
customers more products in one location and makes the niche distributors
more competitive and attractive to vendors. Use the email and password
provided in the ISA Advisor welcome email to access this article. Tap
into other articles like this at Modern Distribution Management's ISA
Research Center.
The 2008 Employee Compensation
Study will provide a detailed review of compensation and benefit
programs for approximately 2,500 distributors from over 35 distribution
organizations. Participate here.
The University of Industrial
Distribution is set to sell out long before the early bird registration
special expires Feb. 2, so register today! ISA members receive a $470
discount. The University of Industrial Distribution is the industry's
premiere distribution-specific education program. Information and register
here.
Is your company interested in
learning more about how to leverage technology to lower costs, gain
efficiencies and earn greater profits, but you don’t know where to
begin? Then check out these presentations from the ISA eBusiness Summit,
available now at the ISA Web site.
The ISA eBusiness Committee announces availability of the ISA
eBusiness Implementation Guideline. Click here for more information.
Send name, title, email address and company
name of each colleague to info@mdm.com. Only employees of ISA member companies
will be added to the list to receive this weekly association update.
Top Gun Survival School for Distributor Salespeople – Up to
Nov. 19 Details
One-on-One Sales Management Seminars: Dave Unplugged Details
For more information on upcoming ISA events, go to isapartners.org.
KEEP READING! Breaking industry news and articles on
distribution trends follow your association news each week in ISA
Advisor. Articles six months and older are available free of charge
to ISA members. Subscription or pay-per-view required for newer content.
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MDM NEWS UPDATE: November 1, 2007
Hagemeyer NV met with
French-based Rexel this week and reiterated its rejection of Rexel's
unsolicited bid, saying it undervalues the company and expects its
future potential growth to warrant a higher valuation. Past MDM Coverage
Though there is currently
"downward momentum" in the housing market right now, the downswing is
poised to move back up again in 2008, economists at a recent National
Association of Home Builders forecast conference said. The economists
gave these reasons:
- The overall economy and job growth continue to move ahead at a
decent pace;
- Core inflation is under control;
- The late-summer credit crunch in mortage markets is easing; and
- The supply-demand equation will balance out as builders "whittle
down" excess inventory.
Economists differ in their view as to when exactly in 2008 the
housing market will hit its bottom, but most say that the upswing will
start sometime in the next year.
More...
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In a
recent NAM/IndustryWeek survey, 63% of large and 76% of small
manufacturing companies responding had a positive outlook for their firm
in the third quarter 2007. Still, the level of optimism is at the lowest
point in four years. Since first quarter 2006, the outlook has gone
steadily downward, coinciding with slowdowns in production and GDP
growth. "Sluggish growth" will likely continue into 2008, according to
IndustryWeek.
More...
These 44 select product groups (including industrial,
construction, janitorial & foods) provide a snapshot of inflation
trends. Third quarter 2006 is compared with third quarter 2007, and the
second quarter 2007 with the third quarter 2007. Graphs depict trends
from January 2006. Click here to see the full list of products included
in this report.
More...
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Multiple wage-hour lawsuits have reared their heads in
the past few years. This month, two former Fastenal employees have filed
suit, saying they were misclassified as assistant managers and, as a
result, denied overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The federal
law requires employers to pay employees 1.5 times their regularly hourly
rate for all time worked over 40 hours, unless they are exempt as
defined by the law. This is the sticking point for the former Fastenal
employees filing suit, who allege the "assistant manager" classification
was given to them so that the national distributor did not have to pay
them overtime wages.
Exemptions to the overtime rule can be tricky. They depend in part on
what kind of work the employee actually performs rather than whether the
employee is well-paid or high skilled. Also whether the employee has a
“high-sounding” job title or is in a position with an
“impressive-looking” job description, according to Fisher &
Phillips LLP.
More...
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As this IndustryWeek article
points out, there is no magic formula for forecasting, but you can take
steps to mitigate uncertainty and improve your demand planning. First
and foremost: Define your forecasting problems. Then, look at which
factors are affecting your ability to forecast accurately, including
demand consistency, supply chain visibility and transport reliability.
Keeping it simple is key, the author says – you may not need a
complex tool to do better demand planning. Many options exist. Also, to
succeed, ensure your company has the core competencies for demand
planning, including training programs, sales and operations planning and
performance-measuring.
Expect the unexpected. Have a flexible supply chain so you can obtain
alternate supplies if needed and have the service capability to deliver.
To that end, work with vendors with flexible business models.
More...
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Distributor Allied Building
Products, East Rutherford, NJ, has launched a free gas promotion to
drive traffic to its Web site, according to Home Channel News. Five
winners in the construction industry will be chosen to receive gas for a
year. Allied, a subsidiary of Oldcastle, had sales of nearly $2 billion
in 2006.
More...
If you have the attitude of the
CEO described in this article, it may be time to hang your hat and move
on. The CEO said of his $1 billion company: "There's little that we do
that no one else can do." The Motley Fool columnist had it right when he
responded to this counterproductive attitude: "Geesh – talk about
creating your own destiny." Other than being "big," distributors must
prioritize a strong brand and value offering so their customers cannot
survive without them.
More...
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New anti-dumping investigations
with the World Trade Organization fell by nearly half in the first six
months of the year, Reuters reports. Member countries can initiate
anti-dumping investigations against other member countries. In the first
six months of the year, 13 of the WTO's 151 members had filed 49 new
investigations. WTO rules allow member states to charge duties on
imports that are being sold, or dumped, in their market at below the
cost of production in the home country. China has been the most frequent
target of new investigations.
In the first half 2007, the products most frequently subjected to
investigations were chemicals, pulp and paper, and plastics.
More...
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Most Popular Stories at mdm.com:
MDM Blog: Economic Halloween?
MSC Sales Grow 28% to $1.7 billion in Fiscal 2007
Teaming Up for Hagemeyer
Hagemeyer Sales Down in North America
Private Equity Firm to Buy HVAC Supplier Goodman for
$2.6B
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