Featured Archives

At 70, Texas A&M’s Industrial Distribution Program Prepares Talent for a Changing Industry

A blend of technical education, industry partnerships and applied projects is helping Texas A&M connect students with distribution careers while adapting to employers’ changing expectations. We take a look at what the program looks like today and how it's evolving.

September 18, 2026

Sales & Marketing

What to Fix Before Investing in CRM

More quotes doesn't always mean more sales. This piece details why the biggest leak in your sales pipeline happens before the quote, and how a back-to-basics approach will best position you to get the most value out of CRM, AI and whatever technology comes next.

September 17, 2026

Fastenal Quietly Acquired an AI Startup as Distribution Races to Scale

This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).

September 16, 2026

Economic Trends

MDM Forecast: September Update

This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).

September 15, 2026

Strategy

ADI Global Distribution is Finally on Its Own. Now Comes the Hard Part

This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).

September 14, 2026

Economic Trends

July U.S. Wholesale Sales Rebound Broadly as Inventories Jump

This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).

September 10, 2026

Management

The Quote Writes Itself Now. But That Won’t Be Your Advantage.

AI can now turn quotes and orders around in minutes, but speed alone won’t create a competitive advantage. This article explains how distributors can convert newly freed capacity into proactive selling — directing reps toward the accounts, products and conversations most likely to generate growth.

September 8, 2026

Legal & Regulatory Issues

More Distributors Named in PVC Price-Fixing Case as Settlements Top $415M

Three more distributors have been identified as alleged co-conspirators in the sprawling PVC pipe antitrust litigation, doubling the distributor list since MDM’s initial coverage. Meanwhile, settlements involving manufacturers and a pricing data provider have climbed above $415 million.

September 3, 2026

Pricing

Three Clocks Started When Your Supplier Raised Costs. Your Team is Watching Only One

This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).

September 2, 2026

MDM Blog

MDM’s August Premium Monthly Intelligence Brief is Here

Our newly-revamped Premium Monthly report — formerly a PDF often spanning 30-40 pages — provides a consise, synthesized eight-page briefing that extracts the biggest takeaways and themes from the articles published each month. It's perfect for busy executives. Premium members can get our August Intelligence Brief here or from their Premium Dashboard.

September 2, 2026

Mergers & Acquisitions

August M&A Roundup: Busy Month Led by Parts Authority, Hillman, SRS and Grainger

This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).

September 1, 2026

Pricing

Your Supplier Costs Went Up. How Long Did Your Pricing Lag Behind?

This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).

August 31, 2026

Legal & Regulatory Issues

Court Upholds Oregon EPR Law in NAW Challenge

A federal judge ruled that Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act does not violate the dormant Commerce Clause or Due Process Clause involved. However, the ruling is not the final word on the matter as NAW weighs next steps and continues EPR challenges in California and Colorado.

August 28, 2026

Sales & Marketing

Sales Deals Stall. Here’s How to Tell Which Ones Were Never Funded.

Every distributor loses deals to money that was never really there. This piece analyzes what happens when a rep does everything right and still can't book the revenue.

August 26, 2026

Finance

Research: Your Costs Changed in 3 Places During 2Q26. Your Pricing Changed Once.

New NAW survey data show that sub-$100M distributors respond to cost pressure with a single blunt instrument, even as that pressure arrives through at least three different channels at once.

August 25, 2026

Sales & Marketing

5 Steps to Transform Your Distribution Sales Model

August 25, 2026

The Hidden Cost of AI Agents: Why Model Routing Is the Real Advantage

This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).

August 24, 2026

Mergers & Acquisitions

What Buyers Want in a More Selective Distribution M&A Market

This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).

August 21, 2026

Legal & Regulatory Issues

NAW-Backed Coalition Moves to Block California’s EPR Law

A 17-state coalition filed a motion for preliminary injunction and amended complaint, arguing SB 54 is unconstitutional.

August 20, 2026

CRM

Outside Sales is Still Retyping the Day

Outside sales reps spend hours each week reconstructing customer visits in CRM systems built around reporting rather than field work. This piece examines the hidden data-entry tax — and where rep-approved AI could help close the gap between what happens on the road and what makes it into the pipeline.

August 19, 2026

Latest In Featured

Register for full access

Learn More about Custom Reports

Request a Market Prospector Demo

Get the MDM Update Newsletter