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| NAW SmartBrief |
| March 13, 2008 |
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Wholesalers proceed with caution, keep inventories lean
With recession concerns mounting, wholesalers are keeping inventories lean even as sales are increasing. On Monday, the U.S. Commerce Department said January sales rose 2.7%, the biggest gain in almost four years, yet stockpiles on hand hit a record low of 1.07 months. Overall inventories grew by 0.8% in January compared to December's 1.1% increase. The New York Times/Bloomberg (3/11)
Distributors add value with private labels
Driven by globalization and currency fluctuations, distributors are selling more private-label products, a trend analysts say will become increasingly widespread. W.W. Grainger Inc.'s director of private labeling says the idea behind the practice is to give customers more choices. Industrial Distribution (3/1)
United Rentals agrees to settle lawsuits
United Rentals Inc. agreed Monday to settle three lawsuits for a cash payment of $27.5 million but with no admission of fault or liability on the company's part. The lawsuits stemmed from an ongoing SEC investigation into the company's accounting practices. United Rentals said the cash settlement should have no effect on its financial results. Forbes/AFX News Limited (3/10)
A&P combines supply agreements with C&S Wholesale
A&P and C&S Wholesale Grocers have entered a 10-year deal to combine their A&P and Pathmark supply agreements into one partnership. The deal is expected to align distribution operations, purchasing practices and warehousing goals to help optimize efficiency, cut costs and enhance customer service in A&P stores. Forbes/AFX News Limited (3/10)
Other News
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Online billing tools not perfect for all
Online billing services may represent an ideal way for some companies to save money as well as paper, but the process isn't ideal for all. For some companies, the switch could mean asking other clients to also switch, which can get complicated. Forbes (3/4)
Key steps important in branch planning
Five key steps are essential in defining operation/branch planning. They are making sure the services to be provided are well defined; determining the branch goals; examining applicable synergies; committing to a time frame and schedule; and measuring criteria targets. CEO Strategist (3/10)
Dos and don'ts for keeping Gen-X salespeople engaged
Certain strategies are necessary in sales meetings to address the preferences of Generation X salespeople. They include making sure the event is full of information that cannot be found on the Internet or through reading books; scheduling meetings in interesting towns; making sure the venue is technologically advanced; and keeping social events entertaining. Selling Power (free registration) (3/10)
Small businesses need education in brand marketing
Small businesses could take a lesson in branding from behemoth Procter & Gamble's Head & Shoulders line, which has launched several specialty products over the years without losing focus on its central marketing message. A new Hewlett-Packard Canada survey indicates many small companies do not understand what branding is: 55% of the respondents said their "brand" was their product or company name while 29% said it was their logo. Canada.com/Financial Post (3/10)
Column: Changes will improve international airline service
New service concepts, aviation treaties and airport terminals should improve service for international travelers by the end of the spring, writes Joe Brancatelli. "At least in the giddy early days, service should improve, and there will be more flight options. Whether that good news will last, however, is anybody's guess," Brancatelli writes. The Washington Post/Portfolio.com (3/11)
Commentary: Identity theft bigger problem in U.S. than Europe
Network World blogger M.E. Kabay discusses why identity-theft rates may be higher in the U.S. than Austria. The problem stems from the use of Social Security numbers as catch-all identifiers. "The U.S. is still behind Europe in its privacy regulations," Kabay said. Network World (3/11)
New downloadable Wholesale Distribution Economic Reports
Download individual economic analysis reports that are most relevant to your business from the 19 major wholesale distribution sectors in the 2008 Wholesale Distribution Economic Reports. These reports supply a wealth of channel benchmarking data, including revenue and employment growth trends, the number and size distribution of companies, gross margins, wages and many other operating statistics. Quantity discounts apply.
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