Most Clicked NAW SmartBrief Stories
1. Emerson CEO slams U.S. government policies as inhospitable to industry
NAW SmartBrief | Nov 18, 2009
David Farr, CEO of Emerson Electric Co., said federal governmental policies are hurting U.S. manufacturing. He cited cap and trade, health-care reform and labor rules as undermining the industry and its ability to expand and grow jobs domestically. "I'm not going to hire anybody in the United States," Farr said. "I'm moving." Bloomberg (11/11)
2. Obama cancels union construction contract in N.H.
NAW SmartBrief | Nov 18, 2009
The Obama administration was forced to cancel the first federal construction contract in more than a decade requiring union labor. General contractors formally challenged the union mandate in the $35 million contract for a jobs center in New Hampshire, a state in which only 8.7% of construction workers are unionized. The U.S. Labor Department said there is a need to "evaluate the issues" concerning the bidding process. Washington Times, The (11/12)
3. Don't succumb to seven deadly sins of leadership
NAW SmartBrief | Nov 18, 2009
Thoughts from Peter Drucker's 40 books offer a comprehensive picture of leadership. A list of the "seven deadly sins of leadership," according to those thoughts, includes pride, lust -- or a feeling of being entitled -- greed, wrath, envy and gluttony -- defined by executive hypercompensation. Leadership Now (11/12)
4. ProBuild CEO offers predictions on housing starts
NAW SmartBrief | Nov 18, 2009
Paul Hylbert Jr., the chief executive officer of ProBuild, spoke to members of the North American Building Material Distribution Association. Speaking on market trends, Hylbert forecast that housing starts will rebound to the range of 1.5 million to 1.7 million over the next 10 years. Modern Distribution Management (11/05)
5. Wolseley fiscal Q1 revenue drops 13% on weak sales
NAW SmartBrief | Nov 23, 2009
Google (11/18)
6. Understand the 4 types of buyers and sell accordingly
NAW SmartBrief | Nov 23, 2009
To sell in a way that is compatible with the methods in which customers buy, it's important to understand the four basic buying styles. This article explores those styles, as described in "Buying Styles: Simple Lessons in Selling the Way Your Customer Buys," a book by Leadership Strategies CEO Michael Wilkinson. Selling Power (free registration) (11/16)
7. The solid strategy behind the Stanley-Black & Decker planned merger
NAW SmartBrief | Nov 18, 2009
A Stanley Works and Black & Decker deal to merge to form an $8.4 billion tool manufacturer appears to have been well planned, this article says. "These companies know what they're doing," said consultant Dan Perry of D.R. Perry and Associates. "They have a great post-acquisition strategy." John Lundgren, the chief executive officer of The Stanley Works, will helm the new company, to be called Stanley Black & Decker. Modern Distribution Management (11/10)
8. Forecast: U.S. economy to rebound slowly in 2010
NAW SmartBrief | Nov 23, 2009
The U.S. economy may recover soon, albeit at a slower pace than past recessions, according to the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI Quarterly Economic Forecast. The report predicts the gross domestic product will rebound 2.4% in 2010, after a 2.5% decline this year. "Manufacturing production growth, at 4.6%, will grow faster than the general economy, at 2.4%, in 2010," said Daniel J. Meckstroth, Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI chief economist. Modern Distribution Management (11/18)
9. What is your plan for Thanksgiving dinner this year?
NAW SmartBrief | Nov 23, 2009
After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.
10. Survey: 83% of companies to give raises in 2010
NAW SmartBrief | Nov 23, 2009
According to a survey by Hewitt Associates Inc., 83% of U.S. companies plan to pay merit increases in 2010. Companies plan to raise salaries by an average of 2.5% next year, compared to average raises of 1.8% in 2009. "Since there wasn't much money to go around in 2009, in 2010, you can expect employers to focus on delivering larger pay increases to their top performers," said Laura Sejen, practice director, strategic awards for Watson Wyatt. Wall Street Journal, The (11/19)
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