| October 2, 2008 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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- Durable goods orders dropped by 4.5% in August
New orders for durable goods fell $9.9 billion, or 4.5%, for the month of August. The drop marks the largest decrease since January and followed three consecutive months of increases. Also, inventories of manufactured durable goods climbed to their highest levels since 1992, to $338.5 billion for August. Modern Distribution Management
(9/26)
     
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| | Go from Delivering Goods to Greatness.
Hundreds of companies have maximized performance by revolutionizing distribution processes. Learn how optimized communication, improved efficiency and lower operational costs can help you exceed customer demands, develop a competitive edge and increase repeat business. Download your Free Guide Now. | |
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| Best Practices |  | |
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| Sales | | |
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- Consider audience when presenting a new idea
A specially tailored sales presentation may be called for when introducing a new idea. Ask yourself before the presentation whether the audience has heard the idea before, and if so, stress a fresh angle. Also, make sure the presentation is focused on the audience and is not just a generic sales pitch. Determine ahead of time how open your audience is to some degree of risk. Selling Power (free registration)
(9/22)
| Small Business Manager | | |
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- Win big-business contracts by treating "pain points"
When trying to land a big business as a client, USA TODAY columnist Steve Strauss recommends selling the idea that you are "solving a problem." Before making the pitch, Strauss says, research the corporation to determine what its "pain points" are. USA TODAY
(9/28)
| Executive Life | | |
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- Column: Advantages of using travel specialist include insider tips
Jane Larson, manager of Witte Travel and Tours in Grand Rapids, Mich., is a French destination specialist. More travel agents are becoming specialists in order to focus and provide their clients with a higher level of expertise and better advice. "It has been a trend over the past several years," said John Lovell, owner of Breton Village Travel and president of Great Lakes ASTA. "Agents are specializing in niches, such as adventure tourism, all-inclusives, cruises or certain countries." MLive.com (Michigan) (free registration)
(9/28)
- Balancing cocktails and wine
Wine-based cocktails are lower in alcohol content and more food-friendly. Winemakers and sommeliers are supporting the trend that draws vino lovers into the cocktail category. One mixologist has created the Napa Sour, a custom-blended Cab in a Bourbon-based drink. The Examiner/San Francisco
(9/28)
| NAW Insider | | |
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Distributor Success Stories: Profiting Despite the Difficult Economy
The 2009 NAW Executive Summit focuses on the most important issue facing you in the coming year: the economy. We know your time is valuable, so we won't tell you what you already know -- that "the economy is challenging." Instead, we'll tell you what other distributors are doing to succeed despite difficult economic conditions. Register at the early-bird discount.
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New Edition: Learn the Essentials of Profitable Wholesale Distribution
Making money in distribution gets tougher every year -- it's even harder during an economic slump! Running a successful company requires cooperative efforts from knowledgeable and motivated employees. Speed their learning and retention by giving them Essentials of Profitable Wholesale Distribution. Twice the size of the first edition, this second edition includes both brand-new and updated instructional text and all-new graphics!
| Weekly Poll | | |
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Would your company consider direct-to-consumer sales?
After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.
 | Yes. There are good opportunities in the direct-to-consumer market. |
| Maybe, depending on the way the markets change. |
| We already have a retail component. |
| No. We do not plan to change our business model. |
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | If you're not a risk taker, you should get the hell out of business."
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| | Recent NAW SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, October 01, 2008
- Monday, September 29, 2008
- Friday, September 26, 2008
- Thursday, September 25, 2008
- Wednesday, September 24, 2008
| | | Lead Editor: Ashley McMaster
Contributing Editor: Nancy Melville | Robert Jones
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