News and Trends

• BlueLinx tightens its budgetary belt amid market downturn
  The building products distribution firm will suspend its shareholder dividend, sell off some underperforming inventory and consolidate its headquarters and sales center within a single facility in an effort to adjust to the housing market downturn that's affecting many homebuilding-related companies. The developments come a month after BlueLinx posted a steep drop-off in Q3 profit and sales. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (free registration) (12/5)

• W.W. Grainger to expand three Pittsburgh-area showrooms
  Building maintenance supplier W.W. Grainger plans to more than double the size of three showrooms in the Pittsburgh-area as part of an $80 million expansion in the U.S., the company said. American City Business Journals/Pittsburgh (12/5)

• A new Pennsylvania distribution site for baked goods company
  A building in Ebensburg, Pa., will serve as a distribution point for Wonder, Hostess and other brands from Kansas City, Mo.-based Interstate Bakeries, which joins current tenant Fastenal, a Minnesota-based construction and industrial supplies distribution firm. The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) (12/5)

• Other News

• Distributor Westcon teams with De Lage Landen to offer financing to VARs
  CRN (U.K.) (12/4)

• Some Ace Hardware store owners try for spots on co-op board
  ChicagoBusiness.com (12/5)

Best Practices

• Ten important considerations in planning for 2008
  As companies plan for the upcoming year, an expert offers a list of 10 important business and marketing ideas. They include analyzing and updating Web sites; considering new media possibilities; creating a company newsletter; and enhancing your team's client communications and relationships. Manage Smarter (12/5)

• Establishing good credit record vital to growth
  Establishing a credit score separate from a personal credit rating is important to entrepreneurs looking for loans to grow their businesses. And, at this time of year, it is important for businesses to avoid spending more than they can afford to keep their credit score attractive. Los Angeles Times (12/6)

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Sales

• In building Web relations, make navigation on site easy
  It isn't enough for companies just to shift additional marketing dollars online, according to one expert, who says firms also need "to eliminate any 'friction' in the communication with customers" by making sure their Web sites are easy to understand and navigate. destinationCRM (12/4)

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by NAW SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Pro-Build to acquire HD Supply division (Industrial Distribution)

• Seven traits of successful people include goals, vision (DaveKahle.com)

• Ryerson to eliminate 600 Chicago-area jobs amid restructuring (Chicago Sun-Times)

• Plasma vs. LCD TVs depends on buyers' needs (New York Daily News)

• Corporate earnings enter recession; economy could follow (Bloomberg)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Small Business Manager

• Businesses reduce gift-giving, merry-making this year
  Fewer businesses will give staff parties and give employee gifts this holiday season, according to new surveys of the business owners and resource managers. Among the small-business owners who said they would still give gifts to employees this year, the most popular choices were cards, calendars, gift cards, food baskets, company-branded items, charitable donations, flowers, and wine or liquor. BusinessWeek (12/5)

Executive Life

• JetBlue to launch free in-flight e-mail
  JetBlue Airways on Tuesday will become the first U.S. carrier to offer travelers in-flight access to the Web when it launches the service. The airline will offer free e-mail service and instant messaging. Meanwhile, several airlines will start testing in-flight Internet service over the next few months. The New York Times (12/7) , The Washington Post/Associated Press (12/7) , USA TODAY (12/6) , The Wall Street Journal (12/7)

• Forbes presents the most expensive U.S. restaurants
  New York City is the priciest dining city in the U.S., with an average tab of $39.46 compared to the national average of $33.29, the most recent Zagat Survey of America's Top Restaurants revealed. Forbes' list of the priciest U.S. eateries includes L'Espalier in Boston, French Laundry in the San Francisco Bay Area and Masa in New York City. Forbes (12/6)

NAW Insider

• A note about the 2007 Economic Census
  This month, you may receive a 2007 Economic Census form from the federal government. Census forms are sent every five years to a sampling of businesses in most industries, including wholesale distribution. If you receive a form, the U.S. Census Bureau encourages you to complete and return it promptly. It's an important step in the creation of accurate data about the wholesale distribution industry and the American economy. Get more information here.

• Brand-new Official Guide to Wholesaler-Distributor Financial Success
  The three-volume Official Guide to Wholesaler-Distributor Financial Success shows you and your staff at all levels how to transition to financial management thinking. Use these volumes with your employees so that together you can help your company consistently perform in the top quartile of your line of trade. Buy these three volumes individually, or save when you buy them as a set.

Weekly Poll

• Is your company holding a holiday celebration or party?
  After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.

	Yes, we have one every year.
	We are having one for the first time this year.
	We have in the past, but we do not have one planned this year.
	We never have a year-end party.

Distribution Center Manager - San Jose Market GRAINGER San Jose, CA

SmartQuote

Apply yourself. Get all the education you can, but then, by God, do something. Don't just stand there, make it happen." --Lee Iacocca, industrialist