Declan Joyce, Author at Modern Distribution Management

NAW 2019 Board Projects Plan of Positivity and Growth

George Pattee wants his tenure as 2019 Chairman of the Board for the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors to be upbeat and positive. The chairman and former CEO of Parksite Inc., a wholesale distributor of building materials based in Batavia, IL, has spent his entire career with Parksite, beginning as a truck loader 47 years ago.

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February 25, 2019

Research & Analytics

Revenue Growth Well Above Expectations as Pricing Moderates

Since 2010, Robert W. Baird & Co., in partnership with Modern Distribution Management, has conducted quarterly surveys of distributors and manufacturers to gauge business trends and the outlook for the industry. This quarter’s survey polled approximately 500 industry leaders to determine the latest indicators on revenue and pricing based on fourth-quarter 2018 results and distributor and manufacturer expectations for first-quarter and full-year 2019.

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January 25, 2019

Research & Analytics

Outlook for 2019: a Soft Landing Ahead?

A year ago, at the beginning of 2018, all indicators suggested that the economic and stock market fundamentals were in place for a year of solid growth in the U.S. economy. And while that turned out to be the case for the first three quarters of the year, as 2018 ended the economic signals became more mixed, suggesting that the economy might be entering a period of slowdown. However, whether we are in for a soft landing or something more painful remains to be seen and depends on a number of moving parts.

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January 25, 2019

Sales & Marketing

Sales Strategy Imperative: Disrupt, Adapt, Transform

As customers change faster, sales teams have to keep pace.

January 22, 2019

Economic Trends

MDM’s 2019 Outlook: Boom or Bust Ahead?

Three key themes for distributors are shaping the year ahead.

January 16, 2019

Sales & Marketing

What an Integrated Sales Model Looks Like

This fastener distributor is planning a future with a new sales system.

January 15, 2019

Research & Analytics

MDM Editors’ Top Blogs of 2018

Here are five of the blogs we enjoyed most this year.

December 27, 2018

Sales & Marketing

If You Tell It, They Will Come

The lessons of a holiday classic, undimmed after 175 years.

December 19, 2018

Strategy

NetPlus Alliance and Texas A&M Conduct Big Research on Small Distributors

Venture aims to help small organizations thrive in changing markets.

December 17, 2018

Technology

Another Day, Another New Technology

Blockchain technology has broad application and disruptive potential across all economic sectors, distribution included. However, issues of cooperation, governance and standardization mean that adoption at scale is likely several years away. This article provides a brief history of blockchain technology and looks at some of its longer-term implications for the distribution industry.

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December 10, 2018

Technology

What is Blockchain, Anyway?

Some basic facts on a potentially explosive technology

December 3, 2018

Strategy

How Many Alligators Are in Your Moats?

These bad-tempered reptiles are the most effective way to scare off digital attackers

November 28, 2018

Companies

Deconstructing Amazon Business

Some industry analysts feel data transparency is inevitable, and that fear of the Amazon Business Marketplace is overblown; the real focus should be on how to survive in this new environment, not how to keep it at bay. Others see a threat to traditional distribution models. Some distributors are focusing on transitioning to new services-based revenue, away from traditional core product commodities. Justin King, Mark Dancer, Alex Moazed, David Sass and Ian Heller provide their takes on where they think distributors can best focus their resources.

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November 12, 2018

Companies

MDM’s Disrupting Distribution Podcast

An Insiders View on Working with Amazon.

November 8, 2018

Research & Analytics

MDM-Baird Distribution Survey: Broad Trends Persist in 3Q18

Robert W. Baird & Co., in partnership with Modern Distribution Management, conducted a survey of more than 500 distributors and manufacturers to gauge business trends and the outlook for the distribution industry in diverse sectors. Here are the latest indicators on revenue and pricing based on third-quarter results and distributor and manufacturer expectations for fourth-quarter 2018 and 2019.

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