February 11, 2009 - Modern Distribution Management

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February 11, 2009

Grainger to Cut 300-400 Jobs

Chicago, IL-based Grainger, in its January sales results, reported that it would be cutting costs through a combination of reduced employee travel, eliminating merit increases for executives and salaried employees, not paying incentive bonuses for 2009 unless the company meets "aggressive sales targets," and not filling open positions.
 
The company is also reducing hours for part-time employees and eliminating 300-400 jobs across the company. Part of the job elimination is due to the merger of Lab Safety Supply and Grainger Industrial Supply, according to the distributor.
 
The announcement comes after the distributor reported that daily sales fell 9% in January from the January 2008, due to weakened demand across all customer end-markets and ...

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Rexel Sales Down 0.8% in 2008

Paris-based electrical distributor Rexel reported sales for 2008 were down 0.8% on a constant and same-day basis. Actual sales growth, including acquisitions, was up 20.2%. Including acquisitions, profits for the year was up 61%.
 
The distributor reported that sales in the fourth quarter fell 6.7%; the drop in copper-based cables prices accounted for about one-third of the decline.
 
In the fourth quarter, Rexel recorded a net loss.
 
In 2008, Rexel completed its acquisition of Hagemeyer's European business.
 
Outlook
Rexel said it expects a "marked drop" in 2009 sales, due to volume declines and the lower copper price.
 
The distributor says it has started a "cost-saving plan" of at least €110 ...

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Barnes Distribution Launches Green Catalog

MRO distributor Barnes Distribution, a business of Barnes Group Inc., is launching a green products catalog.
 
Many of our customers are trying to reduce toxicity levels within their facilities while others have embraced ‘greener' initiatives to be more environmentally responsible, said David Nagle, president, Barnes Distribution, North America. "We developed this catalog to centralize all of our environmentally friendly products to respond to customer needs."
 
The 270 products sold in the catalog have low or no volatile organic compounds (VOC), no hazardous air pollutants or ozone-depleting chemicals, and no SARA reportable ingredients. Products in the catalog include Barnes Distribution High Solid Paints, which emit less VOCs ...

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United Stationers 4Q Sales Up 2.3%

United Stationers Inc., Deerfield, IL, reported sales of $1.1 billion for the fourth quarter 2008, an increase of 2.3% over the same period 2007. Profit declined 20.5% to $22.6 million.
 
Sales for 2008 grew by 7.3% to $4.99 billion. Year-end profit totaled $98.4 million, down 8.2% from 2007.
 
ORS Nasco, acquired in December 2007, contributed approximately 6% to the fourth quarter growth. Sales per workday in the janitorial/breakroom product category were up approximately 9%, while the traditional office products, technology products and office furniture categories were down 3%, 8% and 20%, respectively.
 
 Business customers are reacting to the recessionary environment by reducing spending and employment, and we are seeing the effects in ...

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