| August 28, 2008 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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| News and Trends |  |  |
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- Companies must be proactive to avoid supply chain interruptions
In a survey by the Aberdeen Group, working capital optimization was listed as a high priority by 71% of companies. A portion of the businesses surveyed that were without sufficient working capital saw disruptions in their supply chain while companies that are forward-looking in viewing their physical and financial supply chains holistically can achieve cost savings and reap process efficiencies, per Aberdeen's research. Supply & Demand Chain Executive
(8/25)
    
| Best Practices | | |
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- Avoid common mistakes when picking a new CEO
Corporate boards often make similar mistakes in approaching the transition to a new CEO. Among them are failing to coach an internal succession candidate to make sure they are fully prepared; starting too late in implementing an outside hiring process; and using cookie-cutter criteria in picking a CEO. BusinessWeek
(8/21)
- Three missteps can put a crimp in design outsourcing
Outsourcing the design of platform-based products may seem like a logical solution, but a study of around 100 outsourced design projects found that only a third went off without a hitch while the other two-thirds foundered. Three reasons for the problems in the latter case were misaligned goals between the company and the designers, unexpected rivalries among partners and poor control over the process by brand owners which can lead to unexpected changes to the original design. Harvard Business Review
(9/2008)
| Sales | | |
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- Align strategies with core competencies, boost sales productivity
One of the primary reasons companies fall short in meeting revenue and profit goals is because their salespeople must spend an ample portion of their working hours doing things other than selling, such as e-mail management or explaining contracts to customers. Critical steps for restoring productivity include analyzing where and how money is spent in an organization and distinguishing how best to tackle "core" sales operations versus "context" operations. Manage Smarter
(8/25)
| Small Business Manager | | |
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| Executive Life | | |
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- Passengers choosing intimate X-rays over pat-downs, TSA says
The backscatter X-ray machines now installed at three major U.S. airports are proving popular with passengers, despite some privacy concerns. Although they reveal intimate details of the body, 90% of passengers are choosing the X-rays for secondary screening rather than a physical pat-down. The machines are currently used in Phoenix, Los Angeles and New York's Kennedy airport. MSNBC/Aviation
(8/26)
- Panasonic's blast from the past: Blu-ray-VHS combo
Panasonic's new Blu-ray player has all of the latest high-tech connections with a twist: The DMR-BR630V also lets users convert their old VHS tapes into the HD format. The unit, which is due to hit Japan on Oct. 1, includes a 320GB hard drive, Panasonic's Viera link technology and the ability to write BDRs at six times speed. No U.S. release date has been revealed. Gizmodo
(8/25)
, ElectronicHouse.com
(8/25)
| NAW Insider | | |
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Payment paradigm has shifted
From NAW and Solveras Inc. comes the first all-in-one invoicing, check imaging, ACH and credit card processing solution with your business in mind. Web-based, bank neutral with faster funding -- ParadigmSM delivers major savings to your bottom line. Get more information.
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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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What do you expect your businesses operating costs to do in the next few months?
After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.
 | Continue to increase. |
| Increase for the first time. |
| Stay the same. |
| Decrease for the first time. |
| Continue to decrease. |
| SmartQuote | | |
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- Wednesday, August 27, 2008
- Monday, August 25, 2008
- Friday, August 22, 2008
- Thursday, August 21, 2008
- Wednesday, August 20, 2008
| | | Lead Editor: Ashley McMaster
Contributing Editor: Nancy Melville | Robert Jones
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The backbone of neighborhoods, small businesses matter to state and national economies. Because small businesses do not have the resources that large businesses have to cope with rising health care costs, policy changes should not be forced on employers without regard for their size. 
