Here are the Top 5 articles read by MDM subscribers in the first quarter 2013:
- The Impact of the MSC Industrial Supply-Barnes Deal
Taking a look at one of the biggest deals in industrial distribution so far this year, this article examines the impact of the deal both on the individual companies and on the industrial distribution landscape. The planned acquisition will give MSC an established presence in Canada and expand its VMI capabilities.
- The State of E-Commerce in Distribution
The second annual MDM Distribution E-Commerce Survey with Real Results Marketing found that e-commerce revenue as a percent of overall revenue is rising relative to 2012, and that the primary focus for distributors is acquiring new customers, growing wallet share and improving the usability of their websites. Get the details in this article.This was an update to the 2012 survey and article on the state of e-commerce in distribution.
- Beyond Amazon: E-Commerce’s Impact on Distribution
A companion piece to the State of E-Commerce in Distribution, this article analyzed the impact of e-commerce on the wholesale distribution landscape overall. E-commerce is no longer a “nice to have” in distribution; it’s a need to have. What does this mean for your business? This article was part of MDM’s ongoing Shifting Competitive Landscape series.
- How to Get Customers to Fight for You
Given the shifting competitive landscape MDM has been analyzing in the past couple of quarters, distributors are constantly struggling to define and communicate the value they provide for customers. This article looked at this challenge and provided some advice and best practices on how to truly differentiate in an increasingly busy market. Read what Tim Underhill had to say on the topic.
- Global Competition on a Local Level
Another article in our shifting competitive landscape series, Global Competition on a Local Level provides a look at why European distributors and other large companies are investing in U.S. markets. Cross-border M&A continues to grow in wholesale distribution; what does this mean for distributors both large and small?
Also popular in the first quarter: 12 Trends in Distribution for 2013
MDM’s annual Distribution Trends Report will be released in June. The report is only available to MDM Premium subscribers. Access the 2012 report here.
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