Recovery Should Gain Steam Throughout 2021
During MDM’s Distribution Industry Outlook webcast, Baird analyst Dave Manthey outlined how economic momentum will pick up in the new year but especially in later quarters.
Type: Blog
3 Reasons Providing Employee Education Can Be Better Than a Pay Raise for Distribution Professionals
Employee education is a retention tool that leads to internal advancement and provides a direct benefit for the distributors who invest in it, says Texas A&M's Kourtney Gruner.
Expectations Hinge on a Better Second Half
Distributors, manufacturers and industry representatives alike are pinning their expectations for the year primarily on the speed of the vaccine rollout. With that in mind, they are largely bullish on the second half of the year.
Why Customer Experience Should Be a Priority Now
We’re in a Twilight Zone between a pandemic-induced recession and a predicted strong recovery. This is the time to recalibrate and upgrade how customers experience your company’s value.
6 Steps to Create a Portfolio Management Plan that Will Strengthen Customer Loyalty
Understand the market, get to know your customers and use appropriate benchmarks in creating a portfolio management approach to customer retention.
The Secret ‘Value-Add’ in Distribution: Portfolio Management
Portfolio reviews are more valued by core customers with greater breadth of spending across categories. These are exactly the clients you want to nurture (and conversely, can’t afford to lose).
Slashing Carrying Costs: An Untapped Opportunity for Saving Cash
Rock Rockwell, the CEO of eTurns, shows how distributors can overcome the sudden slowdown of incoming cash flow due to delays of projects, struggling customers, general economic distress or healthcare-related shutdowns.
Sneak Peek at 4Q Distribution Survey Results
MDM offers a preview of how distributors fared in the last quarter of 2020, along with a roundup of the latest economic reports showing that the recovery is happening, just slowly.
2021 Presents a Margin Challenge for B2B Distribution
Pricing strategy can take a hit when your sales team is desperate to get the sales funnel moving with orders and return to a sense of normal.
NAW Preps for ‘Hard-Hitting’ Digital Summit
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors plans to hold a highly interactive event, according to president and CEO Eric Hoplin.
Distribution Reboots in 2021: Buckle Up
After a year defined by uncertainty, survival and pivots to find growth, 2021 is already accelerating (first understatement of the year). It won’t be comfortable.
The Distribution Industry’s Hopes and Fears for 2021
Distributors know we are not out of the woods yet, and they are planning accordingly.
How Technology Can Help You Get Ahead in 2021
Four ways that investing in technology now can help your distribution business emerge from the recession stronger than before.
The 4 Phases Needed to Develop a Successful Business Plan
Develop a strategic plan that allows you to be intentional in your actions through introspection, idea generation, execution and ongoing evaluation, according to Channel Marketing Group's David Gordon.
December M&A Roundup: 2020 Closes with a Bang
The final month of a tumultuous year brought a flurry of activity to wholesale distribution with 34 deals reported in MDM. Our M&A Roundup has the details you need.
E-Commerce and the Economy: MDM’s Top Blogs of December
Three of MDM’s five most-read blogs published last month focused on e-commerce and digital, while the tenuous economic situation plus Ferguson’s 2021 forecast also grabbed readers’ attention.
Top 10 Most-Read News Articles of 2020
From executive appointments to mergers and acquisitions, these were the most-read news articles on mdm.com during the past year.
2020 M&A Roundup: Year to Forget Brings Memorable Trends and Deals
MDM looks at five themes that emerged across distribution M&A in 2020 and recaps some of the biggest deals of the year.
A Long-term Perspective Emphasizes the Positive
In general, taking a long-term perspective on challenging times in life yields more positive memories than negative ones. It brings us life lessons that we can apply to make our future brighter.
Why Digital Strategy is More Than Just a Fancy Website
Boost online engagement and bring prospective customers to you by creating the digital, content-rich journey that your customers are looking for.
