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May 1, 2009 News for the wholesale distribution industry   News and Trends  GDP drop outpaces economists' predictions The U.S. economy contracted by 6.1% in the first quarter, the Commerce Department reported, indicating a sharper downturn than the 5% drop projected by many economists. The latest figure was nearly as bad as the 6.3% decline posted in the last quarter of 2008. New York Post/The Associated Press (4/29) Report: Manufacturing executives less pessimistic in first quarter Manufacturing executives are more optimistic about the future of the economy, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers survey conducted in the first quarter. The survey found 55% of executives were pessimistic about the economy compared with the 70% who were pessimistic last quarter. But the survey found only 16% of executives said they were optimistic about the economy's prospects in the next 12 months. Industrial Distribution online (4/28), Modern Distribution Management (4/28) Consumer confidence surges nationwide for April The Consumer Confidence Index rose to its highest level this year in April at 39.2 points, according to the Conference Board. The national index rose 12 points from March levels as consumers seem to view the economy more optimistically. Consumer confidence in Florida also rose to a high for the year, hitting 71 points in April. Purchasing.com (4/28), American City Business Journals/Tampa, Fla. (4/28) Cardinal Health to partner with Ohio, OSU on MRI Ohio State University will team with the state of Ohio to research and develop the world's most powerful MRI. The public-private partnership with Cardinal Health aims to develop an MRI powered by an 8-Tesla magnet for clearer scans. The Wright Center of Innovation in Biomedical Imaging currently boasts a 7-Tesla magnet MRI, which exerts a pull 140,000 greater than the Earth's gravity. American City Business Journals/Raleigh/Durham, N.C. (4/28) Other News Analyst downgrades Weyerhaeuser stock to "Hold" from "Buy" Forbes/The Associated Press (4/28) Anixter International posts first-quarter profit of $25.7 million RTT News (4/28) Bell Micro appoints Chuck Kostalnick as president of North American distribution ChannelWeb Network (4/28) Air Liquide discards 2009 profit goals Bloomberg (4/28)   Best Practices    Strengths-based approach builds hope when it's needed most When times get tough, a strengths-based approach to leadership is essential in boosting productivity and keeping employees engaged in the process of moving forward. The strengths-development approach involves three key components -- insight, application and meaningful impact. Its ultimate result is increased hope within an organization. Gallup Management Journal (subscription required) (4/27) P&G CEO: The CEO is most accountable for company's performance Procter & Gamble CEO A.G. Lafley's experiences in taking charge of the company during a time of crisis underscore the view of CEO Pete Drucker, who argued the role of the CEO is to serve as a link between the inside of an organization and the outside, which includes the markets, economy and customers. While on the inside there are only costs, results are on the outside, Drucker said. Harvard Business Review (5/2009)   Distributors: Go from Delivering Goods to Greatness. Put an end to backlogs, excess inventory, inaccurate reporting and unsatisfied customers. This Free Distribution Management Guide features Microsoft® solutions that can help you get orders out faster, lower costs and boost repeat business — and discover how automation and real-time data can help you achieve greater financial control and enhance the management of your supply chain.     Sales    Go the extra yard in exceeding customers' expectations Salespeople in the age of the Internet need to be able to provide value-driven service that is backed by testimonials, not sales presentations. The best salespeople will determine what the customer's problems are and strive to offer solutions that exceed the customer's expectations. Fort Worth Business Press (Texas) (4/21) Seize Advantage in a Downturn Everyone agrees that downturns offer opportunities to outmaneuver rivals. But how? This brief guide offers a comprehensive approach to the simultaneous challenges of both surviving and thriving in a recession. Order in PDF or hard copy. Also see "Taking Advantage of a Downturn" for concise lessons from the last recession.   Small Business Manager  Insurance is not a luxury item for small businesses Insurance may seem like a good place to cut costs in an effort to keep your small business afloat in rough financial waters, but Loretta Worters, vice president for communications at the Insurance Information Institute, advises thinking carefully before doing so. Should disaster, fire, theft or accident strike, being uninsured or underinsured could sink a small business, she warns. The Miami Herald/The Associated Press (free registration) (4/20)   Sponsored Content    Why Settle for a Blog When You Can Have a Blogsite Turn Friends Into Customers, and Customers Into Friends Is There a Recipe for Creating Jobs? 24 Ways to Change My Life: The Ultimate Twitter Client Learn to Tap Innovation, Motivate Employees and Grow Business in a Downturn   Executive Life  Discover Australia's natural beauty through an eco-trek Not every region of Australia is teeming with kangaroos, but for those interested, the iconic animals can be found in Cape Range National Park. Beyond the kangaroos, the cape offers sprawling scenery, Osprey Bay's turquoise waters and red limestone cliffs. The area is also home to hundreds of species of coral, mollusks and tropical fish. TravelAge West (4/25) Travel + Leisure tool offers weekend trip tips A new Weekend Getaway tool offered on Travel + Leisure's Web site allows travelers to plug in their destination and get suggestions on where to stay and eat and what to do. The site allows users to choose the nature of their trip, including romance, family, affordable or adventure, and even includes a Google map. Los Angeles Times (4/22)   NAW Insider  Train inside sales reps how to generate profitable sales In today's economic climate, inside sales personnel are responsible for generating sales and making sure those sales are profitable. Essentials of Profitable Inside Sales in Distribution provides a real-world, in-depth understanding of the expanded role of inside sales. Use this training workbook to show your inside sales staff exactly how they contribute to the health and well-being of your company. Material handling do's and don'ts Many employees in the wholesale distribution industry spend significant time loading and unloading items and lifting heavy materials. This manual handling, and the twisting and turning that occur when workers perform these tasks, can lead to injuries to the back, shoulder and neck. Learn more about effective material handling practices. Learn more about NAW -> Join NAW  |  Business Products  |  Publications  |  Meetings  |  Govt. Relations   Weekly Poll  When choosing a place to stay while traveling, do you pay attention to hotels' green practices and policies? After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like. Yes. No. Sales Manager Dental Health Products, Inc New Franken, WI Territory Manager Behler-Young Traverse City, Michigan Chief Financial Officer HIS Company Inc. 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