We asked in the MDM Reader Survey recently what special topics you wanted to see covered by MDM in the next year. Here are some of those answers, with in some cases, links to recent premium content articles on the topic:
- Consolidation
- Enhancing distributor profitability (Pricing for Profitability)
- International Trends (Anixter Follows Customers Overseas)
- A closer look at whether distributors doing multiple acquisitions are successful
- Has private equity been good for distribution?
- The strength of manufacturing in the U.S.
- More public company performance and acquisition trends (Third Quarter Public Distributor Report)
- Private label (Mitigating the Risks of Private Label)
- Lean (Lessons Learned on Lean)
- Currency impacts
- The value of distributor buying groups
- Trends/impacts in Canada (Canada Faces a Rough First Half)
- Technology in distribution
- More interviews with specific distributors (Motion Industries’ Bill Stevens)
- Maintaining organic growth
- Succession planning (Succession Planning: What’s Next?)
- Marketing tips
- Strategies for small business (Take Strategy to the Front Lines)
- Economic forecasts (Construction Markets Outlook)
Plans are already in place to do more international coverage in our premium content newsletter in 2009 (subscribe), including a closer look at booming Latin American markets in the first quarter of the year. Of course, MDM will be focusing especially on how to thrive in a tough economy, including ways to help your customers thrive. Other topics on the schedule: Vendor Managed Inventory, private label, management succession planning, online marketing, top-level interviews with large distributors and manufacturers, as well as with business thought leaders, and more from more sectors in distribution.
What else do you want to see in the pages of MDM in 2009? Comment below.