MDM News Digest 4804
News briefs from February 11 - February 25, 2018
February 23, 2018
When Good Distributors Do Bad Branding
This three-part series examines why distributors struggle with branding. In this, the first article in the series, MDM President & COO Ian Heller contrasts the difference between what branding agencies promise and what they actually deliver. He outlines why such agencies have objectives that conflict with yours, and why you should consider pure B2B advertising agencies that do more than just branding.
This article includes:
- Convincing distributors to rebrand
- The myth of branding
- The reality of branding
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. Subscribers also have access to the following related articles:
- MDM-Baird Distribution Survey: Storms Stunt Distributor Growth
- Distributors Up Search Marketing Efforts
- Amazon Business: The Burning E-Platform
Commentary: Apply Your Analytics Strategically
If not managed properly, too much of a good thing can backfire.
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. Subscribers also have access to the following related articles:
- MDM-Baird Distribution Survey: Storms Stunt Distributor Growth
- Distributors Up Search Marketing Efforts
- Amazon Business: The Burning E-Platform
Managing Pricing Algorithms
With advances in tools and technologies to help mine larger and larger available datasets, algorithms are increasingly used across many business functions. However, if not managed appropriately, too much of a good thing can backfire. This was the message of a recent Wall Street Journal report by Deloitte, On the Boards Agenda: Board Oversight of Algorithmic Risk. This article, the first of a two-part series by Lee Nyari, examines the dangers that Deloitte outlines in its report and offers distributors some solutions for reducing algorithmic risk in price management.
This article includes:
- Pricing as a useful and powerful business lever in distribution
- Why pricing algorithms may be insufficiently market-informed
- Updating approaches for developing pricing algorithms
Subscribers should log in below to read this article.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. Subscribers also have access to the following related articles:
- MDM-Baird Distribution Survey: Storms Stunt Distributor Growth
- Distributors Up Search Marketing Efforts
- Amazon Business: The Burning E-Platform
Monthly Wholesale Trade Data: December 2017
Sales and inventories data for wholesaler-distributors in December 2017
MDM Industrial Inflation Index: January 2018
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:
- Distribution M&A Playbook, pt. 3: Integration Best Practices
- Grainger’s Pricing Initiative, pt 2: The Quest for Optimization
- Commentary: Harvey’s Stark Reminder on Disaster Planning
Download this Issue in PDF: February 25, 2018
This is the PDF of this issue of Modern Distribution Management.
Table of Contents:
- When Good Distributors Do Bad Branding
- Commentary: Apply Your Analytics Strategically
- Managing Pricing Algorithms
- Monthly Wholesale Trade Data: December 2017
- MDM Industrial Inflation Index: January 2018
- MDM News Digest 4804
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