MDM News Digest 4406
News briefs from March 11-March 25, 2014
March 25, 2014
2014 State of E-Commerce in Distribution: The Maturing E-Commerce Channel
The third annual MDM distribution e-commerce survey conducted with Real Results Marketing revealed several key trends:
- E-commerce revenue as a percent of overall revenue is rising relative to last year’s survey.
- The primary objectives among distributors for e-commerce remain acquiring new customers, growing wallet share with existing customers and improving website usability.
- Mobile deployments are growing rapidly.
This article examines the results of the 2014 State of E-Commerce in Distribution Survey and how the industry’s e-commerce offerings are maturing. Part 2 will look at best practices for distributor e-commerce marketing, data management and operations.
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. Subscribers also have access to the following related articles:
- Strategies for Private Label Success
- Special Report: The Industrial Vending Boom
- Behind Grainger's E-Commerce Strategy
Distributor Groups Offer Private Label Brands
Some buying and marketing groups and distributor cooperatives have developed private brands to help members compete more effectively in a competitive landscape that includes more aggressive private brand marketing among larger distributors.
This is the final article in MDM’s series on private label in wholesale distribution. This article includes three groups and their approach to private label:
- National Distribution & Contracting Inc. (Heath care)
- IDC-USA (Industrial/Power Transmission)
- Pro-Link (Janitorial supplies)
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Or purchase this report in the MDM Store.
Subscribers also have access to the following related articles:
- The Drivers of Private Label in Distribution
- Strategies for Private Label Success
- Private Label & Channel Conflict
Behind the Deal: Kaman’s Plans for B.W. Rogers
In late February, Bloomfield, CT-based Kaman announced an agreement to acquire fluid power distributor B.W. Rogers, Akron, OH. Steve Smidler, president of the Kaman Distribution Group, recently spoke with MDM about the reasons for the acquisition and plans for integrating the distributor into Kaman’s business.
This article includes:
- How acquisition deepens the Parker relationship
- How acquisition will expand Kaman's end-market reach
- How Kaman will integrate B.W. Rogers
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. Subscribers also have access to the following related articles:
- MDM Interview: Kaman's Expansion Strategy
- Applied Industrial: Fluid Power a Growth Area for Distributor
- Special Report: The Industrial Vending Boom
Sidebar: Master Distributors & Private Label
Many master distributors – also known as wholesalers or redistributors in some sectors – offer a private label alongside national brands in their portfolios. This article provides a snapshot of master distributors that offer private brands.
This is a sidebar to the recent article on buying & marketing groups and cooperatives that offer their own brands for their members. To read the full series from MDM on private label in wholesale distribution, click here.
Not a subscriber? Purchase the full Private Label in Wholesale Distribution report in the MDM Store.
MDM Industrial Inflation Index: February 2014
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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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. Subscribers also have access to the following related articles:
- MDM 4Q13 & Annual Pricing Trends Report
- MDM Interview with Guy Blissett: Uncertainty + Change = Opportunity?
- The State of Analytics in Distribution
Commentary: What Makes Your Company Stand Out?
Nominate your company for the 2014 MDM Market Movers.
Monthly Wholesale Trade Data: January 2014
Sales and inventories data for wholesaler-distributors in January 2014.
This article includes:
- Wholesale trade revenues for durable and nondurable goods in January 2014
- Monthly inventories/sales ratio for the industry
- Sales & inventory trends for durable and nondurable goods
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. Subscribers also have access to the following articles:
- 4Q13 MDM-Baird Distribution Survey Results
- 4Q13 and Annual MDM Pricing Trends Report
- Building on Already Profitable Business
Download this Issue in PDF: March 25, 2014
This is the PDF of this issue of Modern Distribution Management.
Table of Contents:
- 2014 State of E-Commerce in Distribution: The Maturing E-Commerce Channel
- Commentary: What Makes Your Company Stand Out?
- Distributor Groups Offer Private Brands
- Behind the Deal: Kaman to Acquire B.W. Rogers
- Monthly Wholesale Trade Data: January 2014
- News Digest
Are you a subscriber? Simply log-in to view this issue.
HD Supply Sales Up 6.8% in 2013
Fourth-quarter sales down 2.3% year-over-year.
Wolseley Sales Up 5.2% in Fiscal First Half 2014
Wolseley U.S. sales grow 6.2 percent in the first half.
Recommended Reading: What’s a Distributor’s Brand Worth?
In new MDM Special Report, we present the pros and cons of private label.
AmerisourceBergen Agrees to Acquire Minority Stake in Profarma Distribuidora
AmerisourceBergen looks to expand into Brazilian market with acquisition.
