Slow but steady economic improvement raise expectations for more mergers and acquisitions for the rest of 2014.
Posts By April Nowicki
Sales personnel are adapting to changing customer demands.
Fear of disintermediation, or manufacturers bypassing distributors to sell directly to end customers, has grown in recent years, with increased adoption of e-commerce making such a move appear more feasible than in the past. As a result, distributors are faced with an increased need to prove their value to both manufacturers and customers or risk being viewed as simply an added cost in the chain.
This article examines the role distributors play in the supply chain and how they can approach the challenge of proving value to fight the threat of disintermediation, including results from MDMs survey on disintermediation, conducted in partnership with Grant Thornton.
This article includes:
- How distributors add value to the supply chain
- Areas with potential for differentiation
- The importance of a transparent supply chain relationship
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. Subscribers also have access to the following related articles:
- Cost-Effective Channel Alignment
- The Changing Role of the Distributor
- The Changing Role of Sales Personnel
Adaptable strategies can help steady the ship during unstable market conditions.
Robert W. Baird & Co., in partnership with Modern Distribution Management, conducted a survey of about 500 distributors and manufacturers to gauge business trends and the outlook for the distribution industry in diverse sectors. This article provides a summary of second-quarter results and distributor and manufacturer expectations for 2014.
This article includes:
- Revenue, inventory and pricing expectations
- Sector breakdown
- Analysis of trends affecting sales and operating performance
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Not a subscriber? Subscribe below or learn more. Subscribers also have access to the following related articles:
- MDM Industrial Inflation Index
- The State of Analytics in Distribution: 2014
- The 2014 State of E-Commerce in Distribution
Companies optimistic about second half of 2014, despite slow first half.
Three things point to continued growth for the remaining fiscal year.
The wholesale distribution industry continues to grow faster than the rest of the economy, and there are signs that this positive trend will continue, according to Economist Bridget Strand. Strand joined Tom Gale, president of Industrial Market Information, and Ranga Bodla, director of industry marketing for NetSuite, for the 2014 Mid-Year Economic Update.
This article includes:
- Why one sector is projected to help stabilize more economic growth in 2014
- Four things propelling the economy toward a more secure place
- How a never-before-seen competitive landscape is shaping M&A
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:
- The 2014 State of E-Commerce in Distribution, Part 2: The Multichannel Factor
- College Recruiting: Go Beyond Career Fairs
- How to Clear 2014's Economic Hurdles
Google fails to gain traction in the distribution space with e-commerce platform for suppliers.
Decision could draw objections to other laws.
2014 Distribution Trends Report now available.
This article is a part of MDM's 2014 Distribution Trends Report. The article analyzes the impact that e-commerce is having on the industry, and how companies are adapting to what online buyers want while improving their own online interfaces.
The annual report was researched and written by MDM editors based on interviews with dozens of wholesaler-distributors, as well as industry experts and manufacturers. MDM also conducted a survey of its readers to uncover the trends outlined in this report.
The full report is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers. Subscribe below for full access. Or log-in if you are already a subscriber.
Trends outlined in the 2014 report include:
- Leaving Economic Uncertainty Behind
- Connecting the Dots Online and Offline
- Need for Access Whenever, Wherever, However Drives Mobile Adoption
- Avoiding Information Overload Essential with Analytics
- Making the Case for Millennials in Distribution
- Training, Technology Take Front Seat in Employee Retention Strategies
- Better Inventory Management Through Data, Collaboration
- Distributors Seek More Complete Strategy for Vending
- Private Equity Consolidating Markets
- A More Practical Approach to Product Expansion
- Trend Snapshots for 13 Sectors
The report also includes the following case studies and interviews:
- 2014 MDM Market Movers
- Engman-Taylors Cost-Saving Teams
- Capitol Coffees Proactive Problem-Solving
- Redwood Plastics Online Success Story
- MDM Market Leader Profiles
- DGI Supply: Building on the Core
- F.W. Webb Takes Diverse View of Market
This article is a part of MDM's 2014 Distribution Trends Report. The article addresses how companies are implementing mobility efforts to streamline sales and service.
The annual report was researched and written by MDM editors based on interviews with dozens of wholesaler-distributors, as well as industry experts and manufacturers. MDM also conducted a survey of its readers to uncover the trends outlined in this report.
The full report is available to download in PDF format to MDM Premium subscribers. Subscribe below for full access. Or log-in if you are already a subscriber.
Trends outlined in the 2014 report include:
- Leaving Economic Uncertainty Behind
- Connecting the Dots – Online and Offline
- Need for Access ‘Whenever, Wherever, However’ Drives Mobile Adoption
- Avoiding Information Overload Essential with Analytics
- Making the Case for Millennials in Distribution
- Training, Technology Take Front Seat in Employee Retention Strategies
- Better Inventory Management Through Data, Collaboration
- Distributors Seek More Complete Strategy for Vending
- Private Equity Consolidating Markets
- A More Practical Approach to Product Expansion
- Trend Snapshots for 13 Sectors
The report also includes the following case studies and interviews:
- 2014 MDM Market Movers
- Engman-Taylor’s Cost-Saving Teams
- Capitol Coffee’s Proactive Problem-Solving
- Redwood Plastics’ Online Success Story
- MDM Market Leader Profiles
- DGI Supply: Building on the Core
- F.W. Webb Takes Diverse View of Market
Residential construction could be key to 2014 economic growth.
