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MDM Blog
Distribution Sales Training: 7 Most Critical Selling Skills
The role of the distribution salesperson has changed. With pricing and product availability now transparent online, sales teams can no longer win by simply taking orders. This MDM blog breaks down seven critical selling skills distributors should build now — from value-based selling and needs discovery to AI-enabled prospecting, negotiation and trust-building.
Singer blog
MDM Blog
MDM’s Singer Industrial Case Study Report Now Available
How has Singer Industrial grown into a 55-plus-company platform while preserving local leadership and culture? This MDM Case Study explores the industrial rubber, fluid power and automation distributor's coordinated autonomy model, acquisition strategy and technology investments that are helping drive scale, efficiency and long-term growth.
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MDM Blog
MDM’s May Premium Monthly Issue Now Available
Our May issue is packed with articles that cover the margin pressure gap between large and small distributors; a deep dive into Grainger’s impressive 1Q; parts 2 and 3 of Tom Gale’s data analytics series; updates on DNOW’s MRC Global integration and ERP headaches; our monthly MDM Forecast and M&A Roundup; a Safety/PPE Market Profile; and more.
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Mergers & Acquisitions
MDM’s 1Q26 M&A Report is Here
See our breakdown of M&A activity by product category, the latest EBITDA trading multiples for 27 publicly traded industrial distributors; our latest Premium articles, which take deep dives into the M&A strategies of two prominent companies; and our detailed recap of dealmaking activity during January-March, which was the busiest three-month stretch since May-July 2024.
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Economic Trends
Now Available: MDM’s 2Q26 Forecast Report
This comprehensive MDM 2Q26 Forecast Report is a guide to the U.S. wholesale distribution economy, providing a historical, current and future snapshot of numerous key economic indicators in one convenient place along with our exclusive sector-specific forecasts for 19 different product categories.
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Research
MDM’s 1Q26 MarketPulse Report is Here, Showing Market-Specific Revenue Performance, Pricing & Expectations
MDM’s 1Q26 MarketPulse Report consists of the quarterly results, analysis and commentary from the latest Baird-MDM Industrial Distribution Survey — conducted early April — that explored revenue performance, pricing and business expectations for the current quarter and rest-of-year. It includes a wealth of market-specific data and commentary from survey respondents.
MDM-Ludwig Meister Case Study 2026_Page_01
MDM Blog
MDM’s Ludwig Meister Case Study Report Now Available
Ludwig Meister shows how disciplined sequencing — not flashy tech — drives real innovation. Authored by former longtime MDM CEO and Editor Tom Gale, this case study details how the German distributor built a data-driven, AI-enabled operation by prioritizing internal processes, clean data and execution before transforming sales and customer experience.
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MDM Blog
MDM’s February Premium Monthly Issue Now Available
Our February issue is packed with articles covering special pricing agreement management; our exclusive research on workforce challenges, distributors' share of digital sales and tariff-driven sourcing adjustments; DNOW's ERP transition headaches; inside Singer Industrial's "coordinated autonomy" operating model; a Grainger financials deep dive; our February M&A roundup; a hose products market snapshot; and more.
MDM Premium
MDM Blog
MDM’s January Premium Monthly Issue Now Available
January's issue contains articles that cover how to manage inventory like a retirement portfolio; our research on data center market opportunities and distributors' 2026 tech investment plans; MSC Industrial's new chapter marked by sales efficiency; analysis of Fastenal's financials; a market profile on packaging supplies; and more.

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