News and Trends

• Employee-owned Graybar remains family-friendly
  Electrical and telecommunications components distributor Graybar is a Fortune 500 company with 8,400 employees, but the company still has "a real family feel," says company CEO, chairman and president Bob Reynolds. Reynolds has led the company through major technological changes and upgrades, including the implementation of its internal PACE system to streamline and speed up in-house operations. St. Louis Commerce Magazine (8/1)

• Gexpro's mission remains the same despite name change
  Gexpro, formerly GE Supply, has a new name, but its electrical distribution business remains the same and may even grow more robust, said Jeff Schaper, president and CEO of Gexpro. Paris-based Rexel Group acquired GE Supply in August 2006, changing the name. Industrial Distribution (8/16)

• Parts supply company owner to be sentenced for defrauding Pentagon
  A South Carolina parts supply company collected approximately $20.5 million from the Pentagon in fraudulent shipping charges over a period of six years, according to this article. The owner of C&D Distributors in Lexington has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to launder money. Bloomberg (8/16)

• Other News

• Paulson says financial markets will adjust
  CNNMoney.com/Fortune (8/16)

• School Specialty posts higher first-quarter profit
  American City Business Journals/Milwaukee (8/15)

Best Practices

• Ask key questions to get best shipping deals
  Businesses should ask some key questions to get the best value when shopping for a good, cost-effective shipping company. Among the questions: does the company add surcharges (which are usually negotiable); what would make your freight easier for them to ship; and what the contingency plans are in case of a crisis. Inc.com (8/1)

• Strategize, research before quitting job
  It's not uncommon to wind up in a job for which you may not be well-suited, but before you decide to leave, make sure to research other occupations, one expert says. Several unhappy work experiences offer lessons in knowing when to leave and how to strategically resign without causing an unnecessary fallout. Fast Company (8/2007)

More than 60% of back orders are cancelled. How can you ensure that you have product available to avoid back orders in the first place? Learn what other distributors are doing to upgrade their supply chain in this free whitepaper.

Sales

• In a slump? Shift thoughts, actions to optimism
  A challenge many sales reps face is managing the emotional highs and lows that are inherent and unique to the job. Some suggestions for picking yourself up when you're down include changing your thinking to be more optimistic and acting optimistic -- even if you don't feel that way -- because the action can lead to the positive feeling. DaveKahle.com (8/7)

Hot Topics

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

• Home Depot discusses restructuring of HD sale (Industrial Distribution)

• Home Depot's HD Supply sale in jeopardy (Industrial Distribution)

• Five "little things" to boost customer relationships (CustomerThink)

• Buyout craze may see slowdown (The Washington Post)

• Rexel reports on first half of 2007 (TED Magazine)

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

Small Business Manager

• Being proactive key to marketing home-based business
  In marketing a home-based business, getting involved in the networking groups you join is essential. Sending out press kits can also help, and use testimonials to back up your product or service, among other tips, says one home-based business owner. WomenEntrepreneur.com (8/10)

	The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS) Don't Miss the Industry's Premier eBusiness Event-Sept. 18-20 IDEA teams up with NEMA, NAED, EFC and NEMRA to provide you with top notch speakers and insightful business ideas at the Electro E-Biz Forum 2007. Don't let your company fall behind. Discover The Power of Information and the latest trends that are reshaping the industry on the E-Biz Agenda Page. Interested in learning more about advertising in NAW SmartBrief? Contact Henry Murphey at (202) 737-5500 ext. 245 or hmurphey@smartbrief.com

Executive Life

• Seacrest to host Super Bowl pregame, halftime shows
  "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest has been named the "entertainment host" for Fox NFL Sunday's airing of Super Bowl XLII. Seacrest's duties will include hosting the pregame and halftime shows and chatting with celebrities in attendance. Broadcasting & Cable (8/16)

• Fed cuts discount rate half a percentage point
  The Federal Reserve cut the discount rate to 5.75% from 6.25% in an unscheduled meeting this morning. The central bank noted that market conditions had deteriorated since its last meeting Aug. 7. "Financial market conditions have deteriorated, and tighter credit conditions and increased uncertainty have the potential to restrain economic growth going forward," the Federal Open Market Committee said in a statement. "The downside risks have increased appreciably." Bloomberg (8/17)

NAW Insider

• Learn, apply the essentials of profitable inside sales
  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!

• Order best-selling Facing the Forces of Change report
  Facing the Forces of Change®: Lead the Way in the Supply Chain by the NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence is a best seller! This all-new study provides practical insights into key trends impacting the wholesale distribution supply chain and is packed with specific action ideas and planning tools that executives can use today to lead the way in their supply chains.

Weekly Poll

• How long would you stay at an unsatisfying job?
  After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.

	Three months or fewer
	Until I could find a new job
	Who cares about satisfaction? I need a paycheck

Sales/Customer Service Regal Plastic Supply Company Kansas City, Missouri Office/ Midwest Locations

SmartQuote

We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend." --Robert Louis Stevenson, Scottish novelist and poet