| April 10, 2008 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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- Corporate Express reports slower sales growth in Europe
Analysts say Staples Inc. is unlikely to increase its $3.9 billion bid for Corporate Express after the Dutch office goods distributor reported disappointing Q1 organic sales growth for its European operations. Sales in Europe rose 3%, versus 6% in the year-ago period. Despite the weaker numbers, CEO Peter Ventress reiterated that Staples' offer "significantly undervalues the business." Reuters
(4/8)
    
| Best Practices | | |
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- Ten clues for spotting a liar
Lying is part of human nature, and although most of the time we're just trying to be nice, other times the intent is more dubious. A list of 10 ways liars reveal themselves includes adopting a stilted posture; using imprecise pronouns such as "you" or "we"; and giving evasive answers. Forbes
(4/2)
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| Small Business Manager | | |
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- How to create a formal customer-complaint strategy
Small businesses could benefit by developing a plan for handling customer complaints and following it consistently. A complaint policy should include a way for people to complain; methods for keeping track of the complaints and analyzing them; identifying who is responsible; procedures for responding; and follow-up. NewsFactor Network
(4/7)
| Executive Life | | |
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- Markets where home sellers are still faring well
Despite the housing slump, there are still U.S. cities where the outlook is good for home sellers, including San Jose and San Francisco in California, Charlotte, N.C., Providence, R.I., and Seattle, Wash., among others, according to Forbes. Forbes
(4/7)
- Mobile mice take on new looks, styles
As consumers increasingly switch from desktop PCs to laptops, companies are designing wireless mobile mice
specifically for those on the go. Companies like Logitech, Microsoft and Kensington Computer Products Group are developing small, sleek devices for about $30 that are aimed at mixing style with substance as detailed in this column. The Wall Street Journal
(4/9)
| NAW Insider | | |
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NAW's 2008 Wholesale Distribution Manager's Course
Join dozens of distribution managers June 9 to 13, on the beautiful campus of The Ohio State University, for five intensive days focused on elevating your distribution skills to the next level. You'll learn specific ways to improve your company's profitability, and you'll improve your personal performance, too! Get details and register at the early bird discount rate.
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Invest your training dollars wisely and develop top performers
The NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence publication Smart Investments addresses the long-ignored aspect of industry training and development. Let it help you identify a strategy for employee development, engage your staff to move forward with common vision and purpose, ensure that your training dollars are invested wisely and think about how to use training and development activity to reach your strategic business objectives.
| Weekly Poll | | |
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How will your company adjust to an economic downturn?
After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.
 | Reduce travel spending |
| Minimize spending for training |
| Cut back on advertising and marketing |
| Decrease the technology budget |
| We have no planned cuts |
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen but understanding it for the first time."
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| | Recent NAW SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, April 09, 2008
- Monday, April 07, 2008
- Friday, April 04, 2008
- Thursday, April 03, 2008
- Wednesday, April 02, 2008
| | | Lead Editor: Ashley McMaster
Contributing Editor: Nancy Melville | Robert Jones
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