Recently we’ve been talking to distributors and manufacturers about the impact of eCommerce on their business as well as assisting on their 2018 planning. While growth is a recurring theme (as expected) as is the goal of improved profitability, an […]
As electrical distributors launch, or prepare to launch, their eCommerce sites, they need to be aware of a key customer dynamic that is changing…the expectation of accuracy. While many have talked about Amazon Business being a key competitor (or threat), […]
There are two ways to make money. Either you sell more material / services for a profit or you need to reduce your loss (operating costs) in your warehouse (support services). The only ways to make your warehouse a profit […]
In talking with senior management and HR managers of distributors, a continual challenge is personnel. While frequently these discussions relate to qualified (industry or skilled) personnel for sales, branch management and/or specialists, a frequent comment is the “churn” that they […]
General Motors (GM) historically has been known as a “staid” company and the prototypical “old boys” company. And its had its share of “challenges” ranging from uninspiring design to consumers feeling there was “built in obsolescence”; from being extremely difficult […]
Since the beginning of the year, Wendell Strong from Innovative Lighting has penned an exclusive series for ElectricalTrends titled ““Insights into the World of PoE Lighting Technology.” Wendell has been in the lighting industry for “many” years and has used […]
Much is talked about “innovation”. It’s a term that is loosely tossed around and requires a commitment, or perhaps a better term is “mentality”, that is infused into individuals and a culture. It’s a desire to “excel” and, perhaps more […]
Graybar becomes first major distributor to endorse the NEMRA POS / POT Minimum Reporting Standards and explicitly express report for rep initiative. Last year NEMRA and its NMG (NEMRA Manufacturer Group) took a leadership role in promoting POS / POT […]
Vendor Managed Inventory, VMI, a service of Datalliance, is touted by many as a tool to improve their inventory management, improve purchasing productivity, ensure quick access to new products and as a vehicle to improve the profitability of specific lines. […]
For the past couple of years the industrial segment has been “challenged”. Much of this was driven by the decline in the oil & gas market which had a significant ripple effect. Concurrently, a strong dollar hurt exports for many […]
