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August 8, 2008 News for the wholesale distribution industry     News and Trends    Quarterly profit nearly doubles at Henry Schein Medical and dental supplier Henry Schein Inc. said its second-quarter profit increased 93% from $33.8 million a year ago to $65.5 million, on revenue that rose 19% from $1.39 billion in the year-earlier period to $1.64 billion. Forbes/Associated Press (8/5) VWR International expands global footprint via Hungarian acquisition Lab supply distributor VWR International, headquartered in West Chester, Pa., has purchased Spektrum-3D Kft of Hungary. Spektrum-3D distributes laboratory chemicals, instruments and equipment throughout Hungary. VWR, with global sales of $3.5 billion, says the acquisition of Spektrum-3D is part of VWR's ongoing commitment to global expansion. Modern Distribution Management (8/4)   Supply Chain Innovations: Executive Kit Distribution industry expert, Dr. Adam Fein shares the four main topics of his acclaimed book Facing the Forces of Change®: Lead the Way in the Supply Chain in this compilation of articles. Click here to download IBM's executive kit for strategic insight and innovations for your supply chain.   ADVERTISEMENT   Best Practices  Turn to outside help for giving responsible financial statements Companies can reduce the risk of giving inaccurate statements on their financial performance by turning to appraisers, actuaries and evaluators who have experience in making sound estimates. The use of such help is increasingly being used in international real estate and is catching on in the oil industry. Harvard Business Review (7/2008) Three unconventional ideas for motivating customer-service staff Instead of giving staff the same tired old pep talk on friendliness in customer service, managers can try three unconventional suggestions for best practices: Stop helping the customer and instead be more collaborative; pretend that the customer is really the CEO in disguise; and get rid of the rule book to encourage creativity and boldness. MarketingProfs (free registration) (8/5)   Sales  Hold staff accountable -- assess their performance Good sales managers need to hold sales staff accountable for their performance, according to this article. That starts with making a truly honest assessment of personnel with a list of criteria by which to determine their effectiveness. CEO Strategist (7/31)   Small Business Manager  Small businesses should invest in advertising Rates, circulation, audience and coverage are all important factors to consider when choosing an advertising program, according to this columnist. Businesses should define their advertising goals, whether they are to increase foot traffic or achieve higher sales. The Sun (Baltimore) (8/3)   Executive Life  As dollar falls, price of Mexican vacation rises European vacations have become too pricey for many Americans because of the exchange rate, but now the dollar is dropping against the Mexican peso, making trips south of the border out of reach for some. The weakening dollar could have a substantial effect on tourism and trade between the U.S. and Mexico. USA TODAY (8/7) Champagne proves itself as the most social of drinks Bartenders are serving up cocktails that combine crisp, bubbly Champagne with everything from sweet fruits to bitter beers. One type, the Black Velvet, is an English salute to Prince Albert made with half Champagne and half Guinness. The New York Times (8/3)   NAW Insider  Preventability of motor-vehicle collisions A significant expense for almost any wholesaler-distributor is the cost of commercial automobile insurance. Here are some suggestions you can use to protect your business and avoid costly motor-vehicle accidents. Register for NAW's Large Company CEO/COO Networking Roundtable NAW's Large Company CEO/COO Networking Roundtable, Chicago, Sept. 24 to 25, brings together CEOs/COOs from distribution companies with sales of $100 million and above. Topics are based on CEO/COO responses and address specific needs of the group, including an Economic Overview; In a Difficult Economy: How Are You Adjusting Your Company to Fit the New Realities; Optimizing Profitability and more. Register now! Learn more about NAW -> Join NAW  |  Business Products  |  Publications  |  Meetings  |  Govt. Relations   Weekly Poll  What's your primary shipping method? After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like. Long-haul trucks Rail Boat/barge Parcel service (UPS, FedEx, etc) A combination of these Quality/Operations/Procurement Supervisor Bearing Service, Inc. Corporate office, Livonia, MI Inbound Operations Manager - Distribution Center GRAINGER Jacksonville, FL   SmartQuote  Support the strong, give courage to the timid, remind the indifferent and warn the opposed." --Whitney M. 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