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As we near the end of 2020, this issue of Premium brings a chance to reflect on many categories of business performance. From the traditional building blocks of growth bound to set 2021 off on the right start, to more 'soft' elements of emotional intelligence and the importance of being allies in the workplace, you will find key takeaways to improve your quality of work.
Our last quarterly data issue of 2020 includes promising stats on the future state of the economy, with some work left to do to get the industry back to where it was pre-pandemic. Dive into the latest MDM-Baird Distribution Survey results, as well as a preview of our MDM Analytics market forecast and wholesale revenues, sales and inventory trends data.
If we were to assign a theme to this issue of MDM Premium, it would be new beginnings. The articles you will find in the October 10 issue address keys to sales team transformation, including how to look differently at the function and job requirements of your sales department. We also speak with the new president of EPDA on his vision for distribution in Europe and how the industry will reshape itself in the wake of COVID-19.
This issue of MDM Premium features our annual Market Leaders listings of the top distributors in the U.S. See the rankings in key categories, and learn how several of the ranked companies put themselves in a strong market position in 2019 that has fared them well throughout the disruption of 2020.

This is the PDF of this issue of Modern Distribution Management.

MDM's quarterly Data Issue for the second quarter of 2020 features both our regular MDM-Baird Distribution survey of more than 550 distributors, manufacturers and service providers, as well as a new quarterly report, MDM's Distribution Markets Forecast in association with the University of Colorado Boulder's Leeds School of Business.

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This is the PDF of this issue of Modern Distribution Management.

In this issue of MDM Premium, we provide a variety of ways for distributors to improve business practices — starting with a look at the altered M&A landscape and which companies are most likely to have an advantage in today's marketplace. Then, you'll read how remote sales management often requires sales leaders to focus on soft-selling skills. And finally, pick up some tips on how to adjust inventory management planning when demand is anything but typical.

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Arrows being launched, success and growth concepts, original 3d

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In this issue of Premium, you'll find content centered around tools to take your business into its next phase. You will learn about Global Industrial's new R3 campaign that positions its products for customers' return-to-work needs, find out how to improve your long-term company performance in any climate, and discover how Vallen is using its new VICKIE program to strengthen its talent and leadership pipeline. 

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This is the PDF of this issue of Modern Distribution Management.

Today's environment may be full of factors outside of our control, but distributors also have an opportunity to re-examine long entrenched practices and explore new, more efficient ways of doing business. In this issue of Premium you'll find data-focused features that provide a roadmap for how to examine your market position, determine your level of exposure to risk and find a methodical path forward that avoids key mistakes of the past. 

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3d illustration of hundreds of cardboard parcels lying on a heap

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The anecdote to uncertainty is information. In this issue of MDM Premium, our quarterly MDM-Baird data issue, you’ll find the latest information on how hundreds of distributors and manufacturers are responding to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as their projections for the second quarter and full year. We bring you analysis from Baird’s David Manthey, who breaks down market conditions and how the industry is planning to come out of the downturn. You’ll also find the first quarter pricing trends report as well as sales and inventory trends and distribution financial metrics and trading multiples from Houlihan Lokey.

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This is the PDF of this issue of Modern Distribution Management.

The anecdote to uncertainty is information. In this issue of MDM Premium, our quarterly MDM-Baird data issue, you’ll find the latest information on how hundreds of distributors and manufacturers are responding to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as their projections for the second quarter and full year. We bring you analysis from Baird’s David Manthey, who breaks down market conditions and how the industry is planning to come out of the downturn. You’ll also find the first quarter pricing trends report as well as sales and inventory trends and distribution financial metrics and trading multiples from Houlihan Lokey.

Are you a subscriber? Simply log-in to view this issue.

This is the PDF of this issue of Modern Distribution Management.

We all have an impossible task on our plates, to manage through a crisis the global scale of which has never been seen before. The COVID-19 coronavirus may be novel, but distributors deal with disruption on a daily basis. In this issue of Premium, we provide several tools to help you through the upheaval. For example, you’ll read about how to keep your network safe with so many employees working remotely and how to make the most of reconfigured work environments in the wake of COVID-19. Additionally, Zoro President Kevin Weadick provides a behind-the-scenes look at how Zoro works with other distributors to run its e-commerce marketplace, and shares how his company is equipped to operate during the pandemic.

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COVID variants and supply chain pressures continue to challenge the industry across many levels. Distribution leaders, however, have used the ebbs and flows of nothing-like-normal to not only adapt to market disruptions, but to leverage emerging technology upgrades more aggressively to head off future headaches.

This is the PDF of this issue of Modern Distribution Management.

What poses the greatest threat to the master distributor model? Ask two of the master distributors featured in the latest issue of MDM Premium and they will share a similar response. Driven by factors such as increasing consolidation and the emergence of e-commerce marketplaces, homogenization and commoditization threaten to strip away the uniqueness of individual master distributors, disrupting their ability to invest in customer service and brand differentiation. Of course, master distributors don’t operate in a vacuum. The same issues they face are felt by the distributors they serve. That theme is reflected throughout this issue of MDM Premium. Our other two features — a Q&A with Cook & Boardman CEO Darrin Anderson and a feature on five emerging job roles in distribution — provide insight on specific actions distributors are taking to keep up with the pace of overall industry transformation.

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Future factory plant and energy industry concept in creative gra

This is the PDF of this issue of Modern Distribution Management.

What poses the greatest threat to the master distributor model? Ask two of the master distributors featured in the latest issue of MDM Premium and they will share a similar response. Driven by factors such as increasing consolidation and the emergence of e-commerce marketplaces, homogenization and commoditization threaten to strip away the uniqueness of individual master distributors, disrupting their ability to invest in customer service and brand differentiation. Of course, master distributors don’t operate in a vacuum. The same issues they face are felt by the distributors they serve. That theme is reflected throughout this issue of MDM Premium. Our other two features — a Q&A with Cook & Boardman CEO Darrin Anderson and a feature on five emerging job roles in distribution — provide insight on specific actions distributors are taking to keep up with the pace of overall industry transformation.

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MAster-Dis-2

This is the PDF of this issue of Modern Distribution Management.

What poses the greatest threat to the master distributor model? Ask two of the master distributors featured in the latest issue of MDM Premium and they will share a similar response. Driven by factors such as increasing consolidation and the emergence of e-commerce marketplaces, homogenization and commoditization threaten to strip away the uniqueness of individual master distributors, disrupting their ability to invest in customer service and brand differentiation. Of course, master distributors don’t operate in a vacuum. The same issues they face are felt by the distributors they serve. That theme is reflected throughout this issue of MDM Premium. Our other two features — a Q&A with Cook & Boardman CEO Darrin Anderson and a feature on five emerging job roles in distribution — provide insight on specific actions distributors are taking to keep up with the pace of overall industry transformation.

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Global business and communication concept

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The global e-commerce marketplace is maturing. With distributors exploring more opportunities to invest in online platforms and digital capabilities, MDM spoke with Alibaba Groups John Caplan about Alibaba.coms recent U.S. expansion and how the China-based B2B platform seeks to differentiate its relationship with distributors. Also impacting the international market is President Trumps signing of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Once ratified, distribution leaders are optimistic the trade deal will improve regulatory alignment, reduce redundancies, increase transparency and overall advance and expand on trade between the North American countries.

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