| March 20, 2008 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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- Weyerhaeuser to sell packaging division to International Paper
International Paper will be North America's largest maker of corrugated boxes with the purchase of Weyerhaeuser Co.'s packaging division for $6 billion. The acquisition, announced Monday, is the latest in a wave of deals as paper companies face higher material costs and lower demand due to the growth of the Internet. "This is an acquisition that is being made not for next quarter's earnings, but to position International Paper for 2010," said company CEO John Faraci. Reuters
(3/17)
     
- Corporate Express shares drop, shareholders fear losing Staples bid
Within about a month of rejecting a buyout offer as too low, shares of Corporate Express NV have dropped below rival Staples Inc.'s bidding price. Shareholders are now urging the Dutch office-supplies distributor to begin talks with Staples, fearing the offer will be withdrawn. "It is unlikely Corporate Express' stock will see the levels Staples offers at any time in their near future," said an analyst at FTN Midwest Securities Corp. Bloomberg
(3/17)
 | New Order to Cash Benchmarking Study: Participate in this survey and learn how your order to cash operations compare to other organizations. Submit your survey by April 16 and receive a customized, confidential Free Industry Benchmarking Report. Visit the ASUG Order to Cash Benchmarking Webpage to register and get started now! |
- No news not always good news in business
Just because customers are not complaining does not mean businesses can afford to relax: Most unsatisfied customers will not say anything but, instead, simply will not return if they are unhappy with service. Companies should view complaints as opportunities to identify weaknesses and create long-term loyalty with customers. CRM Daily
(3/17)
- Outsourcing customer service not always the best move
Before outsourcing customer service, a business should consider the benefits of keeping the function in-house, focusing among other things on whether the potential long-term advantages of making the switch will outnumber the near-term costs of the transition. Manage Smarter
(3/17)
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| | Inventory Management: The Key to Maximizing Profitability
Improving the way you control and manage your inventory can directly affect the advancement of your company's bottom line. Click Here for a free White Paper on how to better your warehouse efficiency and in turn, increase profitability. | |
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- Monthly business plan puts vitality in sales
Taking 30 to 90 minutes at the beginning of each month to create a strategy for investing your time, identifying target accounts and writing a plan of action can make a sales person more proactive. The discipline of writing the plan avoids the temptation to fall into a low-yielding routine. DaveKahle.com
(3/11)
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| | Has your company met its Q1 hiring goals yet?
If not, advertise your positions in NAW SmartBrief and reach 49,000 passive and active job seekers in the wholesale distribution industry. There is no more cost-effective way to find qualified candidates quickly. NAW SmartBrief: where smart companies find smart people. | |
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| Small Business Manager | | |
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- Small business's credit policy should be comprehensive
The best way to deal with late payments is to create a comprehensive credit plan, says Robert Kolich of the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Johnson County Community College. The plan begins with a credit application from customers, includes standard operating procedures for consistent follow-up, timely billing, late charges and when to turn the account over to a collections agency. The Kansas City Star (Mo.)
(3/17)
| Executive Life | | |
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- Identity thieves increasingly target younger victims
The Federal Trade Commission says the number of underage identity theft victims has nearly doubled, with persons under the age of 18 the targets in 5% of all cases investigated by the agency. Experts say stealing the identity of a minor is especially dangerous to the victim because the crime can go undetected for years. Forbes
(3/6)
| NAW Insider | | |
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Brand-new book: Profit Myths in Wholesale Distribution
This NAW Institute book has one overall goal -- to change the way distribution managers think about their businesses. Author Albert Bates says that both decision quality and decision consistency are influenced by some very bad information. He promises an eye-opening experience if you accept that much, if not most, of what you have been told about distribution finance issues is wrong.
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Essentials of Profitable Inside Sales in Distribution
This NAW Institute book provides a real-world, in-depth understanding of the expanded role of inside sales. Inside sales personnel are responsible for generating sales and making sure those sales are profitable. This book shows inside sales reps how they contribute to your company's health and well being. Make it as an essential component in your company's training program. Order today!
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Does your company rely on workers who require H-2B visas?
After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.
 | Yes, and we still do despite the cap. |
| No, we never have. |
| We did, but we have had to find another source of workers. |
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 | Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking."
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- Wednesday, March 19, 2008
- Monday, March 17, 2008
- Friday, March 14, 2008
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- Wednesday, March 12, 2008
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