| October 17, 2008 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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- Grainger boosts net earnings on record third-quarter sales
W.W. Grainger Inc. posted net earnings of $140 million for the third quarter, an increase of 28% from the same period last year, as sales rose 11% from 2007's third quarter. Grainger has been aggressively expanding its product line, adding about 150,000 new products in the past three years. "Despite what is happening in the economy, these customers still have to maintain and repair their buildings and Grainger is well positioned to help them," Director of Investor Relations William Chapman said. Industrial Distribution
(10/14)
, Forbes/The Associated Press
(10/14)
, Medill Reports (Chicago)
(10/14)
     
- Cummins makes "standby commitment" to buy $25M in IFC stock
Cummins Inc. has made a "standby commitment" to buy $25 million of Irwin Financial Corp. stock to help the struggling bank holding company restructure financially. Both entities are located in Columbus, Ind. If Cummins buys the shares, Irwin Financial Chairman William I. Miller will resign from the Cummins board, where he has served since February 1989, Cummins said. "IFC is the largest financial institution in our home community and the second largest in our home state," said Cummins chairman-CEO Tim Solso. "Given all of the chaos in the financial markets, Cummins wants to help ensure that IFC's restructuring plan works." The Indianapolis Star
(10/14)
, American City Business Journals/Louisville, Ky.
(10/14)
- Ingram Micro lands distribution deal with Siemens Home and Office
Ingram Micro has struck a new distribution accord with Siemens Home and Office under which the retail presence of Siemens telecommunications products will be boosted across Australia. Siemens manufactures cordless telephones, as well as Voice over IP handsets and broadband Internet devices. CRN
(10/14)
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| | 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. | |
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(10/7)
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| Small Business Manager | | |
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- Letting an outsider run a family company can be stressful
Hiring professional outside management usually is a turning point, often taken during a crisis or when anticipating retirement, for family-owned businesses. Such hiring practices are expected to increase in the next few years as baby boomers retire from the companies they started and the Sarbanes-Oxley law requires more awareness of corporate governance rules. CNNMoney.com/Fortune Small Business
(10/14)
| Executive Life | | |
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- Airlines offer international passengers a bit of relief
As the price of oil drops, airlines are starting to reduce fuel surcharges on most international routes, a move that indicates carriers may be getting concerned about demand. "Are these price cuts enough to lure passengers back onto planes to Europe as we all fight the current economic crisis?" asked Tom Parsons, CEO of Bestfares.com. "That's the big question." Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas)
(10/13)
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| The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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Interested in learning more about advertising in NAW SmartBrief? Contact Henry Murphey at (202) 737-5500 ext. 245 or hmurphey@smartbrief.com
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| NAW Insider | | |
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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.
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Don't make wrong decisions about profitability
Al Bates, founder and president of Profit Planning Group, has spent 30 years analyzing distributor financial statements. His findings in Profit Myths in Wholesale Distribution boil down to this conclusion: Much, and possibly even most, of what managers in distribution companies know about improving profitability is wrong. Good economic times mask this fact, while challenging times make this fact absolutely dangerous!
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What is your company doing to recruit Generation Y candidates?
After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.
 | We attend college career fairs, have a Facebook page, offer flex scheduling |
| We recruit all employee prospects the same way: competitive wages, benefits, etc. |
| We are not actively recruiting Gen Y candidates. |
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- Monday, October 13, 2008
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- Thursday, October 09, 2008
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