Three Factors Contributing to Strong M&A Activity
Strategic and financial buyers are eager to acquire quality distributors.
Day: April 25, 2011
MDM/Baird Survey: Distributor Sales Beating Expectations
Challenges remain, but confidence is building in latest distributor benchmarking survey.
Owens & Minor 1Q Sales Increase 7.8%
Profit for the distributor of medical and surgical supplies increased 3.2 percent.
Download this Issue in pdf: April 25, 2011
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Commentary: Opportunity from Uncertainty in Today’s Roller Coaster Markets
Keep perspective on the impact of recent global events.
Grainger Returns to Acquisitions
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One of the largest MRO distributors, Chicago, IL-based Grainger, has returned to acquisitions as a growth vehicle after several years of building and refining its branch network and sales strategy. Now, Grainger is using acquisitions to fuel growth overseas, as well as to build out key parts of its portfolio, including services and specialty brands.
On the Specialty Brands side, Grainger has been refining …
1Q MDM/Baird Survey: Competitive Pressures Grow
Robert W. Baird & Co., in partnership with Modern Distribution Management, conducted a survey of more than 600 distributors and manufacturers to gauge business trends and the outlook for the distribution industry in diverse sectors. Here is a summary of first-quarter results.
On average, respondents to the latest quarterly MDM/Baird survey said first-quarter revenues were up 8.7 percent year-over-year. In the fourth-quarter survey, respondents indicated sales were up 10.3 percent.
Respondents expect the positive trend to...
Manufacturers Rethink Rebate Structure
Long-time industry expert Mike Workman says that many distributors have "bought their bottom lines" through rebates for decades. But some manufacturers are changing their approach to rebates to better align their growth goals with distributors.
In many sectors of wholesale distribution, rebates have been a foundation for how the manufacturer-distributor relationship is defined. But those relationships are shifting and the demands manufacturers are placing on their distributor partners are shifting, as well.
Since the end of the recession, manufacturers are …
Monthly Wholesale Trade Data: February 2011
Sales and inventories data for wholesaler-distributors in Feb. 2011.
Industrial Inflation Index: February 2011
Modern Distribution Management's Industrial Inflation Index measures a cross-section of industrial supplies.
MDM News Digest 4108
News briefs from April 11 - 25, 2011.
Position Your Manufacturing or Distribution Company to Grow Post-Recession
Distributors need to do critical and careful market research plus some hard-nosed competitive analysis.
