News and Trends

• Fed chairman warns of threat to economy from aging population
  An aging baby boomer generation poses a severe threat to the U.S. economy, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told the Senate Budget Committee on Thursday. Speaking in blunt terms, Bernanke said the rising costs of entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid could lead to a "fiscal crisis," and that time to avert a catastrophe was running out. "The longer we wait, the more severe, the more draconian, the more difficult the adjustments are going to be," he said. Bloomberg/ClipSyndicate (1/19) , Chicago Tribune/Bloomberg (1/19) , CNNMoney.com (1/19) , Financial Times (free content) (1/18) , The New York Sun (1/19)

• SKF takes control of PMCI
  Maintenance products manufacturer and supplier SKF USA Inc. announced it acquired Preventive Maintenance Co. Inc., which provides industrial businesses with predictive maintenance solutions. The purchase should expand SKF's geographic sales coverage, one SKF USA executive said. Industrial Distribution (1/17)

• How to benefit from 2008 capital-gains tax change
  Starting next year, the tax rate on long-term capital gains from sales of stocks, mutual funds and other securities is scheduled to drop to zero for taxpayers in the two lowest ordinary-income brackets. Financial planners say that additional taxpayers can gain from the change by reducing their taxable income through deductions, such as charitable donations or mortgage interest, or by investing more money in 401(k) plans and other tax-advantaged accounts. The Wall Street Journal (1/17)

• Applied Industrial Technologies sees record Q2
  Applied Industrial Technologies's fiscal 2007 second quarter saw record sales and earnings of $472.4 million, up 4% from the same period the year before. "We are pleased with our overall performance this quarter, particularly the improvement in our operating margins," said the chairman and CEO of the parts wholesaler-distributor. Progressive Distributor (1/19)

Best Practices

• Get more done with a dual monitor system
  Adding a second monitor to your current computer system might be all you need to boost your productivity. Studies have shown that adopting a dual-monitor system can increase productivity by as much as 30% and for a relatively low cost. Getting through the setup process is usually the toughest part, but once it's up and running, it couldn't be easier. CNNMoney.com/Fortune Small Business (1/18)

• Show customers their value by valuing customer service
  Being insistent about quality customer service is just as important as marketing and advertising. Good customer service means creating a loyal customer base that will not only come back to your business but will encourage others to do the same. Forbes (12/6)

Sales

• Make ads worth their weight in customers
  Focus on a core audience, create a clear, concise and believable message and stand up to promises made in advertisements to impress customers and get the most of your marketing budget. Entrepreneur (1/2007)

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by NAW SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Wolseley adds four more companies to list of acquisitions (Industrial Distribution)

• Ferguson lines up several acquisitions (Modern Distribution Management)

• Exceptional salespeople swim against the rapids (Inc.com)

• Wolseley calls for cost-cutting measures: (Industrial Distribution)

• RFID solves shipping issues, creates opportunities (DC Velocity)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Small Business Manager

• If expansion is key, make globalization a priority from day one
  Entrepreneurs who want to see tremendous growth should think about globalization during the start-up phase. Thinking big in the beginning will make goals clear, defined and more attainable. BusinessWeek (1/8)

Executive Life

• Nearly half of Americans have an IRA, survey shows
  About 46% of Americans are using an Individual Retirement Account as part of their savings strategy, according to research by Fidelity Investments and National Financial. But only 7% of Americans who don't already have an IRA plan to open one by the April 16 deadline. InvestmentNews (1/17)

• Tips for a nutritious breakfast
  Any food isn't necessarily better than no food when it comes to breakfast. It's important for the morning meal to be nutritious, especially for children, so writer Jean Prescott offers ideas for convenient, healthy breakfast meals. The Sun Herald (Biloxi-Gulfport, Miss.) (1/17)

NAW Insider

• Save on overnight shipping with DHL ShipReady
  NAW and DHL have partnered to offer a unique delivery service from DHL Express. Members can ship anywhere in the continental U.S. for one flat rate with no weight limits, extra fees or fuel surcharges. Receive two FREE envelopes with your first order by visiting the ShipReady site and entering the promo code NAWSR07.

• Order NEW Facing the Forces of Change report now!
  Facing the Forces of Change: Lead the Way in the Supply Chain, eighth edition in acclaimed series by NAW's Distribution Research and Education Foundation, is ready for ordering. This all-new report is packed with trends, action ideas and thought-provoking questions for your management team. Every distribution executive should read this book. Order now!

Weekly Poll

• Would you adopt a dual-monitor system on your work computer?
  After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.

	I use dual monitors now and love it
	I'd think about it
	Seems too complicated
	I used two monitors in the past but didn't like it

National Sales Manager W&O Supply, Inc. Jacksonville, FL

SmartQuote

It is our responsibilities, not ourselves, that we should take seriously." --Peter Ustinov, British actor and writer