| June 4, 2008 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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- U.S. economy has yet to turn corner, Wolseley CEO says
Calling the current economic situation "as complex as any time I can remember," Chip Hornsby, CEO of British building supply distributor Wolseley plc, said the industry's outlook in the U.S. remains grim. "The enormous amount of inventory that we have today in housing, particularly in markets like Florida, or Arizona, or California and Nevada, are of a huge concern," he said. Industrial Distribution
(5/30)
     
| Best Practices |  | |
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- Focusing on what customers want is essential
Companies should focus on delivering outcomes that customers desire, and something is wrong with the company approach if its process doesn't allow for the sustaining of customers. A golden rule is to focus on what customers want, and not what is the easiest sell. CustomerThink
(6/2)
- Five steps for boosting Web site subscribers
It's surprisingly easy to build a system of subscribers to your Web site. A list of five factors to keep in mind includes making sure your sign-up form is easy to locate; providing benefits for people to sign up; and not asking for too much information. MarketingProfs (free registration)
(5/27)
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- Salespeople can help with collections -- sometimes
Generally speaking, the job of collecting accounts receivables should stay strictly with the credit department and not the people handling the account's sales. In some cases, however, it may be appropriate for the salesperson to help if an account is slow in paying. DaveKahle.com
(5/27)
| Distribution Trends Blog | | |
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Catching up on private label trends
In this blog post, Pembroke Consulting President and NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence Fellow Adam J. Fein, Ph.D., breaks down several recent news articles regarding the growth and trends of private labels in wholesale distribution. He also invites readers to share stories of their own companies' experiences with private labels. Distribution Trends
(6/2)
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| Small Business Manager | | |
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- Entrepreneurs need to plan retirement exit, funding
Financial experts say entrepreneurs are not investing enough in retirement plans. "What we've found, and what I've found, is they're not spending a lot of time on a personal financial plan to see how their business fits into their long-range plans," said Eric Sheerin of Barber Financial Group in Kansas. "They don't have a clear exit strategy and, many times, they don't have the necessary insurance in case something happens to them." El Paso Times (Texas)
(6/2)
| Executive Life | | |
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- Airline fares based on weigh-in?
When it comes to cutting corners amid skyrocketing fuel prices, airline CEOs may not be ruling out any countermeasures. Singapore Airlines is trying to eliminate unnecessary quantities of on-board water supplies to keep its planes lighter, and at least one industry consultant has discussed the feasibility of airlines setting fares based on the body weight of their passengers. Bloomberg
(6/3)
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| The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
Take the risk out of your next sales hire! Use our pre-hire aptitude assessments specifically designed for wholesale distributor salespeople. Limited time discount on initial order. Learn more.
Interested in learning more about advertising in NAW SmartBrief? Contact Henry Murphey at (202) 737-5500 ext. 245 or hmurphey@smartbrief.com
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| NAW Insider | | |
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Don't make wrong decisions about profitability
Al Bates, founder and president of Profit Planning Group, has spent 30 years analyzing distributor financial statements. His findings in Profit Myths in Wholesale Distribution boil down to this conclusion: Much, and possibly even most, of what managers in distribution companies know about improving profitability is wrong. Good economic times mask this fact, while challenging times make this fact absolutely dangerous!
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Brand new: Make Your Operations Lean in Challenging Times
Becoming lean in distribution is more important than ever in today's challenging economic market. Applying lean concepts makes sense because becoming lean means becoming a more effective distributor. And becoming lean will lead to higher profitability. Lean Operations in Wholesale Distribution focuses on the lucrative operations area and discusses steps distributors must take to design and manage a lean culture.
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Use acclaimed industry trends report in your strategic planning
There's no better resource to help with strategic planning during an economic downturn than Facing the Forces of Change®: Lead the Way in the Supply Chain This report provides practical insights into key trends impacting the distribution supply chain and is packed with specific action ideas and planning tools that you can use today to plan for growth and profitability.
| Weekly Poll | | |
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Does your office allow flextime scheduling?
After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.
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| No, it is not allowed. |
| It used to be offered but not anymore. |
| Not yet, but I would like to look into it. |
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through."
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| | Recent NAW SmartBrief Issues:
- Monday, June 02, 2008
- Friday, May 30, 2008
- Thursday, May 29, 2008
- Wednesday, May 28, 2008
- Tuesday, May 27, 2008
| | | Lead Editor: Ashley McMaster
Contributing Editor: Nancy Melville | Robert Jones
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