Qualities that have built a successful distribution company can also take one down.
Tom Gale
Tom Gale has been an MDM researcher and industry analyst for 30+ years on independent distribution channel trends, consolidation, technology and competitive landscape. He is a frequent speaker and moderator on these topics at company, marketing group and association meetings in North America and Europe.
Posts By Tom Gale
If you build a strategy and leaner model from your core strengths, you can out-compete any type of competitor.
Theres a meme bouncing around the internet thats attributed to a Walmart banner that hung at its headquarters many years ago. It read something like this: You cant out-Amazon Amazon. Great advice! But if you build a strategy and leaner model from your core strengths, you can out-compete any type of competitor.
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Technology is just one aspect of a successful digital transformation process.
Just as important as technology and perhaps more so for distributors are building the right business processes and organizational structures to make sure you are creating the best value for your customers. Thats the core emerging theme of our Digital Distributor Summit in June, and why we felt so strongly about the timing for this event.
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MDM is kicking off our inaugural class of 2019 Digital Innovator Award winners with profiles from Ludwig Meister and Hisco.
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This Munich-based, third-generation distributor of bearings, power transmission, fluid power and tooling products took a non-traditional approach to transforming into a digital distribution business. It started by digitizing and strengthening the automation capabilities of its back-end systems purchasing, inventory management, logistics before focusing on the sales side of the business. And it accomplished this transformation by developing its internal technology and development expertise, thus being able to customize and enhance ERP and other critical platforms. One of MDMs 2019 Digital Innovator Award winners, heres Ludwig Meisters story on how the distributor has built a culture of digital innovation.
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Prime one-day shipping slated for $800-million investment in Q2.
Not surprisingly, our quarterly Baird cover story confirms both leading indicators as well as what were hearing anecdotally from distribution executives. The first quarter showed signs of weakness compared to the previous quarter for most distributors, but still good growth overall, and a continued optimistic outlook.
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Interview with President & CEO Michael DeCata.
Bezos outlines growth in annual shareholders letter
ISA emphasizes how member groups can optimize roles to stay relevant to customers.
Digital is driving a lot of change in distribution, but not everything. There are other factors at play. Its important to not fixate on Amazon (but dont ignore!). Its more important to maintain some perspective to figure out your best moves in 2019 to stay relevant to each part of the success formula your customers, employees and suppliers. Our lead article touches nicely on this.
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Oracle CEO shares thoughts on future of technology
Accepting nominations now through April 26.
As we wrap up the first quarter of 2019, MDM is hearing distributors confirm the recent warnings by business economists of a tapering economic cycle on the back side of a record 2018: leading indicators point in the same direction. No one can accurately predict if, when or how deep a market downturn might unfold.
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Most recently Bob was Controller for IM Supply, a Dallas-based national account solution provider for electrical and lighting MRO products to large multi-site industrial customers.
Derrow founded OTC with his business partner, Phil Carstens, in 1963.
If this isnt the year to prioritize pricing and profitability improvement, Im not sure when would be better! Do something before you have to.
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Do your sales and service employees give away value they should charge for and erode margins unnecessarily?
