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| NAW SmartBrief |
| September 19, 2007 |
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Grainger's daily sales grew in August
Daily sales for the facilities maintenance products supplier increased 9% in August, as compared to the same period in 2006, while sales for Lab Safety Supply rose 7%. CNNMoney.com/Associated Press (9/14)
Airgas to cut jobs in Independence, Ohio
Airgas Packaged Gas Business will eliminate 96 of about 130 jobs at the Linde Gas USA specialty gas company, which was recently acquired by Airgas Packaged Gas' parent company, Airgas Inc. The company will transfer an unspecified number of the workers to its regional office in Cleveland and offer a severance package to others. Crain's Cleveland Business (9/14)
Industries change stance, push for regulations
After years of resisting more government involvement, many of the largest industries in the U.S. are now pushing for federal regulations. Major manufacturers and industry groups are seeking federal mandates on issues from safety to environmental awareness, although how it will affect consumers remains hazy. "There seems to be, at the moment, a fair amount of efforts under way by individual industries to put into statute what had either previously been voluntary consensus standards or industry goals," said a lobbyist with a leading industry association. The New York Times (9/15)
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Niche search engines offer targeted marketing
Vertical search engines such as SearchFinance.com and Yahoo! Local provide industry-specific search results that might otherwise take much longer to find if combing through the myriad results returned by traditional search sites, this article says. These search engines also offer a more targeted place for companies to spend marketing dollars. Entrepreneur.com (9/7)
Technology options broaden, but don't always improve
A run-down of new tech options looks at the appeal of text-messaging and the risks of signing up for technological products for more than one or two years. Other trends include the declining cost of T-1 phone and data services in recent years. American City Business Journals (9/10)
Engage customers to boost value of transaction
The number of customer service transactions that can be completed without a word is surprising. Many organizations think their job is just to process customers, but the author of the book "The DNA of Customer Experience: How Emotions Drive Value" says he found that emotions in a transaction drive or destroy value. CustomerThink (9/17)
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Are you a profitable channel partner?
Pembroke Consulting President and NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence Fellow Adam J. Fein, Ph.D. encourages wholesale distribution executives to analyze their companies and answer two key supplier questions, which may provide insight into their operations and sustainability. Distribution Trends (9/18)
Small-business owners work longer, happier hours
Small-business owners work longer hours and more holidays than the general population, but they also feel more in control of their lives, according to the latest index from Discover Small Business Watch. Another plus is small-business owners get more support from their spouses when they check their e-mail on their days off compared to those who work for other people, according to the report. Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)/Associated Press (9/17)
The Buzz (CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)The Changing Landscape of Invoicing: What Distributors Need To Know Interested in learning more about advertising in NAW SmartBrief? Contact Henry Murphey at (202) 737-5500 ext. 245 or hmurphey@smartbrief.com  |
Long waits at the airport puts focus on business lounges
Passengers are spending more time at airports nowadays, as they allow more time to get through security procedures and sometimes waiting for delayed flights. Access to business and first-class lounges no longer requires a first or business-class airline ticket, and more travelers are seeking access to the exclusive airline lounges for a quiet place to work and rest while waiting for flights. Financial Times (free content) (9/17)
Clinton focuses on small business in new health plan
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's new plan for universal health care would give a tax credit to small businesses offering insurance to their employees, a change from the plan she proposed during her husband's administration and one that could get support. "One of the standout features of this is it specifically looks to help small-business owners, and that's a good thing," a spokesman for the National Federation of Independent Business told The Wall Street Journal. 
ClipSyndicate (9/18) The Wall Street Journal (free content) (9/17)
Branch managers: Master the 5 fundamentals
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