| May 1, 2008 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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- Bernanke credited with helping stabilize markets
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke appears to be getting the financial markets back on an even keel, this article says. "In the near term, if he's a triage nurse, you have to say he's definitely stabilized the patient," said James Swanson, chief investment strategist at MFS Investment Management in Boston. Swanson suggested Bernanke has taken "radical" steps, "but they worked." Still, he added, "Whether they'll be proven right in the long run, I don't know." Bloomberg
(4/29)
    
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- Five tips for protecting your online reputation
The Internet represents a powerful medium for discussion about companies, for better or worse, but companies can get proactive in protecting their brand's reputation. Five tips for combating negative buzz include monitoring the conversational space, using tools to measure the volume of buzz and joining the conversation. MarketingProfs/Daily Fix blog (free registration)
(4/28)
- Online mentor program allows for just-right matches
An employee group at Xerox is advancing the mentoring concept by launching a program that matches its members with just the right mentor. The self-service program uses Web-based software that allows prospective mentors and mentees to maintain profiles of their areas of expertise and desired areas of development and then search for matches. Manage Smarter
(4/23)
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- Luxury chains get more stylish to compete with boutiques
Deluxe hotel chains are going the extra yard to lure business travelers away from artsy boutique hotels. Starwood's Le Meridien brand, for instance, is transforming from a five-star fuddy-duddy to a more stylish chain, with amenities such as a breakfast menu by a celebrity chef, specialty Illy coffee drinks and even a signature Meridien scent by a French perfume company. The New York Times
(4/30)
- Citrus vodkas go under the microscope
New York Times reviewers tasted 25 types of citrus-flavored vodkas, finding only six that they liked. The lower ranking vodkas tasted too syrupy or sweet, while the winners were more well-balanced and had a "pure" flavor. The New York Times
(4/30)
| NAW Insider | | |
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Register now for Manager's Course: Discount expires May 23
Register today for the Wholesale Distribution Manager's Course, June 9 to 13, on the beautiful campus of The Ohio State University. Join other distribution managers and elevate 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! The early bird discount expires May 23. Register now!
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Transform your sales force for the 21st century
Distribution companies, by their nature, should be sales-oriented companies. However, many distributors don't do sales very well. That's the premise behind Transforming Your Sales Force for the 21st Century, Second Edition. Written by Dave Kahle for distribution sales managers and executives, this new second edition provides a blueprint to transform sales forces into highly directable, effective and focused performers.
| Weekly Poll | | |
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How much do you prepare before a sales meeting?
After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.
 | I like to do all the research I can -- sales figures, clients' names, business history, etc. |
| I like to do a brief run-through of recent data, but that is about it. |
| I do not do much preparation; I like the conversation to flow naturally. |
| I do not participate in sales meetings. |
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | He who refuses to embrace a unique opportunity loses the prize as surely as if he had tried and failed."
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Read more at SmartBrief.com |
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| | Recent NAW SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, April 30, 2008
- Monday, April 28, 2008
- Friday, April 25, 2008
- Thursday, April 24, 2008
- Wednesday, April 23, 2008
| | | Lead Editor: Ashley McMaster
Contributing Editor: Nancy Melville | Robert Jones
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