| October 31, 2007 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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- Ashland says Q4 earnings fell 84%
The 84% decrease in its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings vs. the same period a year ago owes to challenging conditions in the trucking and housing markets in the U.S., Ashland said. "Weak conditions in the North American building and construction markets and a difficult environment in the transportation markets have challenged Ashland Performance Materials and Ashland Distribution all year and especially in the fourth quarter," CEO James O'Brien said. CNNMoney.com/Dow Jones Newswires
(10/29)
    
- ScanSource announces Q1 results
ScanSource said its fiscal first quarter's net sales jumped 12% compared to the results from the year-ago period. "The first quarter record sales results reflect excellent execution, year over year, in all AIDC/POS, Security and Communications business units," ScanSource CEO Mike Baur said. eChannelLine Canada
(10/26)
- McJunkin, Red Man leave name of merged company to chance
When the time came to choose the new name for the company that resulted from the merger of McJunkin Corp. and Red Man Pipe and Supply Co., the companies' executives decided to leave it up to the market. If the last digit of the Dow Jones Industrial Average on July 13 was an odd number, the new company would be called McJunkin Red Man Inc., and if even, the new name would be Red Man McJunkin Inc. At the end of the day, the company's new name was McJunkin Red Man, with the Dow closing at 134,907.25. Charleston Daily Mail (W.Va.)
(10/25)
| Best Practices | | |
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- Look beyond surface to expand job search
The unemployment rate may be low, but many workers have trouble finding new jobs once they find themselves out of work. Some tips for putting a good job search in order include keeping track of how long the job search is taking; attending networking meetings; deepening the search to include third-generation contacts; and looking at other industries to which your skills could apply. Manage Smarter
(10/26)
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- Ten steps to bolster search engine profile
Ten tips to boost your search engine fitness include searching your site on the top search engines; listing your site in a directory; making sure to choose relevant search terms; and using search-friendly terms in page file names. MarketingProfs (free registration)
(10/23)
| Distribution Trends Blog | | |
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Private equity still likes distribution
Pembroke Consulting President and NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence Fellow Adam J. Fein Ph.D., in his most recent blog post, says he believes McKesson Corp. not only is a good takeover target, but is the most viable buyout target among the Big 3 drug wholesalers, owing to its "business mix, current operating platform, and age of [its] management team." Distribution Trends
(10/30)
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| Small Business Manager | | |
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- Cubicle alternatives explored
Companies are taking a fresh look at cubicle culture -- and whether the beehive setup for office space is really the most productive and efficient layout for employees. These companies are looking into more flexible environments that include armchairs where workers can get cozy with their laptops. SmartBIZ
(10/18)
| Executive Life | | |
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- Annuities provide lifetime income, but shop carefully
Investors should deal only with top-rated companies and be sure to consult with professionals when shopping for annuities, which are tax-deferred investment contracts sold by insurers that guarantee lifetime income. Some experts say monthly annuity payments are much easier for retirees to manage than lump-sum retirement plan distributions. The New York Times
(10/23)
- More boomers head to the gym
The number of gym members over age 55 has soared 314% since 1990, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association. Experts note that maintaining muscle strength becomes vital as people age. Boomers should be sure to stretch before each workout and focus on core muscle groups during their workout, experts say. Forbes
(10/22)
| NAW Insider | | |
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Billion Dollar Company CIO Roundtable Metrics Survey ends Nov. 15
NAW's Billion Dollar Company CIO Roundtable and Deloitte are conducting a metrics survey that ends Nov. 15. Survey results will be presented at NAW's Dec. 10 to 11 Billion Dollar Company CIO Roundtable. For questions about who can participate, contact Carl Farr or John Peter at (202) 872-0885. View the survey here.
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Get more from your Virtual Terminal through Solveras
NAW teams with Solveras to provide wholesaler-distributors with the latest processing technology. Virtual Terminal allows processing from any computer with Internet access. It provides businesses lower-cost card-not-present transactions. Mail, telephone orders can be processed through secure Web-based application that's easy to use. Get a FREE savings analysis to see the program savings. For information, visit http://www.solveras.com/naw.html, or call (800) 613-0148.
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NAW and The Hartford
NAW has partnered with The Hartford to offer insurance expertise and comprehensive coverage tailored to the specific needs of wholesaler-distributors. The Hartford also offers expedited claims-handling services and a countrywide network of loss control and risk management experts to help wholesaler-distributors protect their businesses and minimize loss costs. More information available here.
| Weekly Poll | | |
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Do you fire high-maintenance clients?
After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.
 | Yes, I have got enough to worry about. |
| It depends on their demands and the state of the business. |
| No, it is our business to make clients happy. |
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | The day I'm laid out dead with an apple in my mouth is the day we'll pay commissions. If you pay commissions, you imply that the small customer isn't worth anything."
--Bernard Marcus,
co-founder of The Home Depot
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- Monday, October 29, 2007
- Friday, October 26, 2007
- Wednesday, October 24, 2007
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- Friday, October 19, 2007
| | | Lead Editor: Ashley McMaster
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