| December 20, 2007 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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- HD Supply in negotiations to shed its HVAC operations
HVAC distributor Watsco has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire HD Supply's HVAC operations. If the transaction is finalized, it will be the second such divestiture for HD Supply since it was acquired by a group of private equity firms in August, with the company in November already having agreed to sell its lumber and building materials division to Pro-Build Holdings. When they took possession, HD Supply's new owners indicated they were planning acquisitions, but the home-building market downturn probably has them rethinking that strategy, said Jonathan Skelly of PCE Investment Bankers. Industrial Distribution
(12/17)
     
- ABC Supply plans $3M expansion of riverfront headquarters
Building supply firm ABC Supply Co. is planning a $3 million expansion and renovation of its headquarters in Beloit, Wis., increasing the size of the riverfront facility by about 25%. The addition will include 34,000 square feet of new space and a redesign of conference and technical spaces. Company officials say the existing 139,000-square-foot national service center has become too crowded amid the company's rapid expansion. Rockford Register Star (Ill.)
(12/17)
- Builders FirstSource closes on new $350M revolving credit facility
Builders FirstSource has entered into a new $350 million revolving credit facility, jointly arranged by Wachovia Capital Markets and UBS Investment Bank, with participation by General Electric Capital Corp., as well. The new five-year facility replaces the company's existing $110 million long-term facility that was scheduled to mature in February 2010, and a $15 million pre-funded letter of credit facility that was slated to mature in August 2011. RTT News
(12/17)
 | Wholesale Distribution Benchmarking Studies: Complete any of these benchmarking surveys and receive Free Industry Benchmarking Reports comparing your company to overall metrics of the entire surveyed group. Register for the Benchmarking Study to receive an e-mail and get started now! |
| Best Practices |  | |
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- Entrepreneurs bring specialized knowledge to radio, talk shows
Entrepreneurs, with their unique expertise and skill in communicating, increasingly are being tapped by radio and TV outlets to host shows that satisfy audiences' growing demand for programming that appeals to their specialized interests. In addition to boosting the ego and also the visibility of the host's business enterprise, such gigs can be a rewarding alternative to footing the bill for a commercial or other marketing effort. Inc.com
(12/1)
- Guide: Getting to know your computer network
Small-business operators need to know the basics of operating a computer network -- if for no other reason than to understand what their computer experts are saying they need. This article from Small Business Computing explains the basic parts of a typical network. Small Business Computing
(12/17)
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- New marketing approach focuses on engagement
Saying metrics that test for brand awareness and perception of value are no longer sufficient in terms of measuring customer satisfaction and loyalty, the Chief Marketing Officer Council is pushing for a new marketing measure: the Customer Affinity Index, which gauges the extent to which a campaign interacts with consumers and incorporates their ideas. destinationCRM
(12/17)
| Small Business Manager | | |
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- What's on your business-reading list?
SmartBiz.com lists some helpful tomes for the small-business owner, including "The Four-Hour Work Week," by Tim Ferris; "One Person/Multiple Careers," by Marci Alboher; and "Rule the Web," by Mark Frauenfelder. SmartBIZ
(12/13)
| Executive Life | | |
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- Column: Tips for easier business travel
Joe Brancatelli spent the year compiling a list of tips for business travelers. He urges travelers to always carry printed proof of their ticket, even if they booked an e-ticket. Brancatelli also notes that travelers may make it through screening checkpoints faster if they travel with travel-size toiletries packaged and labeled by commercial suppliers. The Washington Post
(12/18)
- Studies: Feasting then fasting offers some health benefits
Several studies have found that alternate-day fasting or irregular and unpredictable food intake may offer health benefits, such as increased insulin sensitivity and a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes. However, some researchers question whether people would be able to maintain the eating pattern for a long time. Chicago Tribune
(12/18)
| NAW Insider | | |
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NAW Insurance Trust: Comprehensive benefits, lower costs for members
NAW, Trustmark Affinity Markets, and Flexible Benefit Service Corporation have partnered to offer a health insurance plan that leverages the combined buying power of member companies, rewards healthy companies with lower premiums, and provides the added benefit of a pooled reserve fund. Learn more about this health insurance program available exclusively to NAW direct members or members of NAW member associations.
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Transform your sales force for the 21st century
Distribution companies, by their nature, should be sales-oriented companies. However, many distributors don't do sales very well. That's the premise behind Transforming Your Sales Force for the 21st Century, Second Edition. Written by Dave Kahle for distribution sales managers and executives, this new second edition provides a blueprint to transform sales forces into highly directable, effective and focused performers.
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