This article outlines and analyzes six trends MDM has identified as driving change in independent distribution channels over the past year and what that means for distributors going into 2011.

No question, the weak economic recovery has defined the past year in independent distribution channels. This has been nothing like the much stronger bounce-backs of yesteryear.

One of my favorite quotes from this year's articles in MDM was this: "The light at the end of the tunnel right now is not the proverbial oncoming train. We business owners are sleeping better these days." That was from Charles Gray, owner of industrial distributor Machinery and Factory Industrial Supply, Racine, WI.

Slow growth will define the next couple of years, according to the economists in MDM's recent 2011 economic forecast webcast. Still, many distributors did feel a …