| March 18, 2009 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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- Graybar reports $5.4B in sales for 2008
Graybar reported sales of $5.4 billion in 2008, an increase of 2.7% from the prior year. The St. Louis-Mo.-based electrical and communications products distributor also posted a 4.8% jump in profit for 2008. "We are well positioned for these uncertain times and believe we are equally well prepared for when the economy turns the corner," said Chairman, President and CEO Robert A. Reynolds Jr. Modern Distribution Management
(3/13), Industrial Distribution online
(3/12)     
- BlueLinx unveils PureBlue ecoproducts line
BlueLinx Corp. has launched a line of ecoproducts dubbed PureBlue. The building products distributor plans to showcase its portfolio of green products via an online "virtual show." Atlanta-based BlueLinx also plans to embrace energy efficiency in its offices by replacing lighting systems and minimizing power usage. Modern Distribution Management
(3/11)
 | How Efficient Is Your Chargeback Management? As chargebacks become more complex and sophisticated, the modern distributor must automate and streamline their process to cut unnecessary costs and improve efficiency. Click here for a free white paper to learn more about how your company can avoid losing potential revenue in the chargeback process. |
- Think carefully before slashing advertising budget
Knee-jerk budget slashing can cause harm to businesses during a downturn, and a study of business-to-business marketing over six recessions showed that sales and profit, as well as performance, waned when organizations made cutbacks to advertising aimed at bolstering their brand. MarketingProfs
(3/10)
 | Sears Trusts Motorola Radios For National Distribution Center — Demanding reliable communication devices, Sears uses Motorola's MOTOTRBO (TM) for their distribution center. Crisp audio and long-life batteries ensure shipments get out in record time, even in the noisiest of environments. To learn how Motorola can help your warehouse run more efficiently, download this whitepaper. |
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- Tips for starting a business in a recession
An increasing number of people who have lost jobs or contract work are starting their own businesses out of necessity, says Rich Sloan, chief of StartupNation.com. Getting started isn't easy because lending is tight so experts say it is important to be conservative with startup spending and aggressive with marketing. CNNMoney.com
(3/12)
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- Auto-makers put high-tech features in high gear
Today's cars can be equipped with an array of bells and whistles to suit the whims of just about any driver. High-tech systems include Ford's SYNC, which gives drivers voice-operated control over their vehicle's entertainment features. CNN/AOL Autos
(3/11)
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Visa/MC raising processing rates, even in current economy
Despite a continuing recession, Visa and MasterCard announced rate increases effective April 1, 2009. Card processing companies pass on these increases, often further marking them up. NAW partner Solveras is helping all NAW and affiliate members with a Lock Rates offer through April 15, 2009, guaranteeing 2008-level NAW discounted processing rates for a full year.
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Drive your sales beyond and outperform your competition
Brand new Driving Distributor Sales Beyond: Best Practices for Outselling Your Competitors provides a roadmap and best practices for how to take more from your market than it's prepared to give you by outstrategizing, outmanaging, and outselling your competitors! Based on industry research and in-depth interviews with high-performing distributors, this book shows what separates those distributors that consistently outperform their competitors.
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NAW Roundtables -- exclusive opportunities to network
NAW's Billion Dollar Company CIO and HR Roundtables are unique and valuable business tools that allow you to meet with executives from like-sized firms in a collegial setting that is conducive to sharing information and best practices. Relationships built during these events will become invaluable as you navigate your business through these difficult times. Register now!
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If your company has applied "lean" concepts in recent years, is it making things more difficult for you now that the economy is demanding that all businesses become lean?
After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.
 | Yes. |
| No. |
| My company has never used lean concepts. |
| My company has never used lean concepts, but we are beginning to now because of the economy. |
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 | Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."
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Read more at SmartBrief.com |
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A powerful website for SmartBrief readers including:
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| | Recent NAW SmartBrief Issues:
- Monday, March 16, 2009
- Friday, March 13, 2009
- Thursday, March 12, 2009
- Wednesday, March 11, 2009
- Monday, March 09, 2009
| | | Lead Editor: Brooke Howell
Contributing Editor: Nancy Melville | Nina Davidson
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