| June 26, 2008 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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- Fuel surcharges become the norm
Feeling the pain of record high gas prices, more and more companies are passing along the costs to consumers in the form of fuel surcharges. "We're going to be paying higher costs across the board whether you pay it in the form of a surcharge or you pay it in the form of higher prices," noted Noreen Perrotta, finance editor at Consumer Reports. Still, consumer advocates point out there are no laws regulating how fuel surcharges are calculated or implemented and no way for customers to tell if the charges are fair. The Washington Post
(6/24)
     
- Corporate Express moves to eco-friendly building
Corporate Express, a business-essentials supplier, has moved its central office from New South Wales, Australia, to an environmentally friendly building in Mascot. The move is part of the company's $33 million effort to improve its distribution infrastructure, and Grant Harrod, CEO of Corporate Express Australia, called the relocation an opportunity to "incorporate the company's sustainability focus." Transport & Logistics News (Australia)
(6/24)
 | 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. |
| Best Practices |  | |
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- Managers often don't spend enough time developing staff
Some companies aren't any better at finding and recruiting the right talent than they were 10 years ago. A survey showed that while senior managers say talent-management is their first or second priority, 60% admit that they don't spend enough time developing employees. Entrepreneur
(7/2008)
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- Sales slumping? "Channel optimization" may be the answer
If sales are dipping, a business may need to rethink its strategy for getting its products to the widest possible audience and increasing market share. In reevaluating your sales channel strategy, consider three key elements: what your customers value most; how effectively your current channels meet customer needs; and what the actual cost is of serving your customers. Manage Smarter
(6/23)
| Small Business Manager | | |
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- When profits drop, consider firing your customer
Sometimes businesses need to fire their customers to become more profitable, says Doug Hall, author of the "Jumpstart Your Business Brain" series. Declining profit means customers don't value what a business offers or perhaps that hangers-on are taking advantage of the business owner. BusinessWeek
(6/20)
| Executive Life | | |
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- Burgers go beyond ketchup and mustard
Out-of-the-ordinary condiments can help you make tastier burgers. With chicken or turkey patties, pesto and mozzarella cheese are suitable garnishes. Executive chef Ron Korn tops his burgers with a savory relish made with green peppers, onions, cider vinegar, mustard seed and other spices. Canada.com/The Windsor Star
(6/25)
| NAW Insider | | |
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2008 Employee Compensation Report: Available for immediate download
As the U.S. economy continues to present challenges, distributors are reconsidering their staffing needs and how to attract and keep top performers. See how your compensation program compares to others. This report focuses on data from 1,704 distributors from across all lines of trade. It gives you the benchmarks and backup needed to budget employee pay and benefits with confidence.
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Enrollment in NAW Health Insurance Program is simple
Through a convenient and paperless telephone application process, member companies and their employees can easily apply for group coverage in the NAW Health Insurance Program. What are the advantages of enrolling in the Trust? Learn more about this unique group health insurance enrollment process.
| Weekly Poll | | |
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Do you travel on discount airlines?
After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.
 | Yes -- I travel on them nearly exclusively. |
| Sometimes. I travel on whichever airline gets me where I need to go. |
| No -- I prefer a particular airline, which is not a discounted one. |
| I have not in the past, but I most likely will now as the prices increase. |
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them."
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| | Recent NAW SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, June 25, 2008
- Monday, June 23, 2008
- Friday, June 20, 2008
- Thursday, June 19, 2008
- Wednesday, June 18, 2008
| | | Lead Editor: Ashley McMaster
Contributing Editor: Nancy Melville | Robert Jones
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