Report: What Industrial Buyers Really Want
Survey of industrial-sector decision makers examines factors effecting purchasing decisions.
November 2013
Ferguson Sales Climb 10% in Fiscal First Quarter
Global sales for parent company Wolseley grew 7.4 percent.
Tip: Build Flexibility into Your Succession Plan
Author Lawrence Gold says plans require constant monitoring and review.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index Down in October
Three of four broad categories of indicators decreased from September.
Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index Up 0.4% in October
The index increased 0.3 percent in September.
MAPI Asian Manufacturing Outlook: Indicators Mixed
The outlook reports on Japan, South Korea and developing Asia.
Conference Board Leading Economic Index Rises in October
Director: U.S. economy "poised to grow somewhat fast" in 2014.
Durable Goods New Orders Down 2% in October
Transportation equipment led the decrease, falling 5.9 percent for the month.
Beacon Roofing Supply FY2013 Sales Up 9.6%
Fourth-quarter sales jumped 14 percent.
Report: Six Private Equity Groups Compete for ITW’s Packaging Segment
Illinois Tool Works announced it was selling the industrial packaging segment earlier this year.
Building Permits in October Up 13.9% YOY
Housing starts data will be released Dec. 18.
Rexel Makes Acquisitions in Thailand, Singapore & France
Rexel is acquiring Quality Trading, Esabora and Lenn International.
Why Scale Matters to Grainger
Grainger CEO talks about the benefits of scale at Annual Analyst Meeting.
MDM News Digest 4322
News briefs from Nov. 11 - Nov. 25, 2013.
Distribution Financial Metrics & Trading Multiples: November 2013
This table highlights key financial metrics and trading multiples for 26 publicly traded distributors in the industrial and building products industries as of Nov. 12, 2013. The pdf also includes a graphic illustrating median EBIDTA multiples for the same distribution companies.
Monthly Wholesale Trade Data: September 2013
Sales and inventories data for wholesaler-distributors in September 2013.
This article includes:
- Wholesale trade revenues for durable and nondurable goods in September 2013
- Monthly inventories/sales ratio for the industry
- Sales & inventory trends for durable and nondurable goods
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. Subscribers also have access to the following articles:
- The Extended Value Index
- Distribution Profitability Case Study
- Support a Differentiation Strategy
MDM Industrial Inflation Index: October 2013
Modern Distribution Management's monthly Industrial Inflation Index measures a cross-section of industrial supplies.
This index includes:
- Abrasives Products
- Cutting Tools
- Power Transmission Equipment
- Fasteners
- Valves, etc.
- Power Tools
- Material Handling Equipment
- Belting
- Hand Tools
- Misc. Metal
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- MDM 3Q13 Pricing Trends Report
- MDM-Baird Distribution Survey: Slow but Steady Growth in Third Quarter
- Data Security Risks Grow
Auto Industry’s Return from Collapse
The U.S. automotive industry hit bottom in 2009, with total light-vehicle sales falling to 10.4 million units the lowest level since 1982. Chrysler and GM filed for bankruptcy that year; Ford, while avoiding the courts, had to make its own cuts.
Today, the industry is nearing full recovery, albeit with some significant changes. This article examines the current state of the automotive industry in North America, how the recovery has affected suppliers and distributors serving the market and the outlook.
This article includes:
- Distributors' perspectives on the auto industry collapse and recovery
- Lessons learned
- Outlook for the auto industry in North America
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- Wallet Share, Demands Drive Acceleration in Channel Convergence
- Third Quarter MDM-Baird Survey: Slow But Steady Growth
- Wind Market Grows; Challenges Remain
Commentary: The 20/80 Paradigm for Sales Today
The norm is now people who walk around with two or three devices - phone, tablet, laptop. So why are so many salespeople still selling as though the Internet doesn't exist?
Publisher Tom Gale's perspective looks at why distributors need to think differently about the fact that most people have already does their research before they reach out to a supplier. How can that supplier fill in the information gaps and add value?
MDM Interview: Giving Up Control of Your Business
Business owners procrastinate when it comes to succession planning for many reasons, including uncertainty over potential successors and concerns about how affected family members and key employees will react. But these obstacles aren’t insurmountable, according to Lawrence Gold, corporate attorney for law firm Carlton Fields and author of Passing the Torch Without Getting Scorched: Preserving Your Legacy With Smart Succession Planning.
This interview includes Gold's take on:
- Why management and ownership succession are different
- Why it's hard for owners to prioritize succession planning
- How to decide whether to pass the company to family
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. Subscribers also have access to the following related articles:
- MDM Interview: Avnet's Roy Vallee Reflects on Changes in the Industry
- Succession Planning: What's Next?
- Strategic Planning for Distributors
