NetPlus Alliance, a North American industrial and contractor supplies buying group, reports continued optimism among its members for 2018 in its quarterly industry outlook, based on second-quarter results. Thirty-nine percent of distributor members expect sales growth of more than 8 percent for the rest of 2018, and another third expect growth of at least 3 percent.
Members’ optimism for the year is reflected in NetPlus’s growth in purchases between distributors and suppliers in the first half of the year of 31 percent, with particular strength in the second quarter, when purchases growth was 37 percent. This surge in growth comes after a strong year in 2017, where the group saw a year-over-year increase of 10.7 percent.
“Distributors cited several recurring themes,” says Dan Judge, NetPlus Alliance founder and author of the quarterly NetPlus Industry Outlook Report, “including taking on a new product line, adding a new salesperson, increased activity with nearly all customers, strength of the oil, manufacturing and construction segments, and landing new accounts.”
About a third of NetPlus members cited product diversification as the reason for their optimism in 2018. NetPlus continues to add new suppliers to help distributor members diversify their offering to sell more to existing customers and expand into new markets. In addition, at NetPlus’s Annual Meeting in Arizona in October, distributors will strengthen these channel relationships and uncover new opportunities by meeting face to face with NetPlus preferred suppliers.
About NetPlus Alliance
With more than 100 years of combined industrial distribution experience, NetPlus Alliance negotiates improved pricing, rebates and terms with 171 manufacturers on behalf of more than 380 industrial and contractor supplies distributor members.
