Current conditions are straining traditional manufacturer-rep-distributor relationships. Here’s a prescription for change by an industry veteran.
Latest In Strategy
Improving BOPIS experiences, experimenting with light manufacturing and remembering that content is still king are ways companies can excel.
While supply issues have eased in some areas, a shortage of incoming talent in the U.S. and fears of COVID variants are forcing distributors to keep adapting.
The pandemic and subsequent economic swings have created intense competition for talent, and the labor market is going to get even tighter.
To adapt and stand out during market consolidation, expect more distributors to find niches and develop specializations.
In MDM's first 2022 podcast, we explore three factors for how smaller distributors can gain competitive advantage against larger competitors.
Whether ready to sell or not, distribution executives in forward-thinking companies can effectively harness innovations while aligning their organization to increase the value of the company.
The deal strengthens Motion's ability to compete – particularly for wallet share – against other broadline industrial product distributors.
Analytics on transactional data, sales force input and customer input via surveys and interviews can all inform customer buying criteria.
What seems to endure is customers’ desire to work with partners they can rely on, with people they can trust.
Bill Mansfield, Graybar’s SVP of strategy and business development, reflects on the company’s acquisition strategy, as well as the long- and short-term ways COVID-19 has affected business operations.
Economic forecasts are firming up for the final quarter of 2021 and for 2022. Here’s a summary of the leading forecast resources.
Mixed signals mark third-quarter financial and economic indicators impacting distribution, such as LEI, industrial production and PPI.
Core & Main CEO Steve LeClair talks about company training efforts, its technology roadmap and areas he sees as 'ripe for expansion.'
Rexel USA CEO Jeff Baker shares details behind Rexel's acquisition of Mayer Electric and plans for continued growth.
The lingering pandemic can’t be ignored, but live gatherings will again feel familiar.
What does it take to build successful habits and keep them going for the long term? Consider setting micro goals for yourself and your business.
With increasing threats by digital giants and other channel disruptors, value-creating distributor-manufacturer partnerships are more important than ever. This article is the third of a three-part series on the benefits, critical value and keys to success of distributor advisory councils (DACs), based on interviews with 300 distributor principals.
Distributors that have successfully transformed over the past several years are the ones that have quickly pivoted to change management programs.
With increasing threats by digital giants and other channel disruptors, value-creating distributor-manufacturer partnerships are more important than ever. This is the second of a three-part series on the benefits, critical value and keys to success of distributor advisory councils (DACs), based on interviews with 300 distributor principals.Â