Last week we had the opportunity to speak with a couple of manufacturers and a number of reps. The conversations turned to how companies are reacting to the economic environment. Some companies proactively restructure to manage expenses and ensure profitability; […]
On Monday we shared recent attitudinal research of electrical distributors’ thoughts regarding marketing funding and co-op funding in particular. As you would expect, we also reached out to a number of manufacturers to gain their perspective. The manufacturer feedback was […]
Last month Channel Marketing Group conducted a brief electrical distributor attitudinal survey regarding marketing co-op funds and wanted to share the results. By no means are they scientific as we had about 100 responses. The questions we asked, and the […]
What do Arlington, Leviton, Thomas & Betts, Cerro Wire, Philips, Schneider Electric, Home Depot and Lutron have in common? (and three of them were sponsors of the Home Depot ad!) They all were either advertisers, sponsors of others’ ads or […]
A couple of tidbits ran across the desk today that shows the industry continues to seek ways to streamline processes to improve profitability. With manufacturers, distributors and contractors seeking to improve their productivity, technology will take the place of many […]
In talking to distributors as they plan for 2010 we’ve noticed that distributors are following into two camps The first is a large group of distributors that seem paralyzed by the marketplace. They either don’t have confidence in themselves, their […]
We’re starting to see, and hear, rumblings in the M&A market. Many have wondered when this would start in the distribution industries. With credit tight, it has been a challenge. And banks loath the word “construction” (must be that they […]
And like they say “c’est la vie” (or, according to a definition on Urban Dictionary, “Oh well, h_t happens). While the company can spin its third quarter worldwide performance, we’re only focused here in the States. Some observations: Q2 was […]
We were at the NAED Eastern Regional Conference in New Orleans last week. While attendance was on the light side, which people attribute to the economy and that the IMARK and A-D meetings immediately preceeded it, conversations with distributors and […]
We wanted to title this “Looking Forward to 2010”, however, we debated on the word “forward” given the forecasts that we’re seeing. Consider: “There is so much uncertainty about the first half of next year that until you have a […]
