Technology Archives

Are you ready for the IoT?

David Gordon Posted On October 10, 2016

Whether it is IoT or IIoT, the Internet of Things is all the rage. You can’t pick up a trade publication without seeing an article on either topic. And in reality they are essentially the same with the only difference […]

Channel Strategies / Growth Strategies / Lighting / Lighting2 / Manufacturers / More Insights / Sales Channel / Technology

“Can you hear me now?” – Verizon

David Gordon Posted On September 19, 2016

Many may remember the Verizon commercials titled “Can you hear me now?” And while the spokesperson may have moved to Sprint and is focusing on price, the lighting industry may now be hearing Verizon calling. And electrical and lighting distributors […]

Advocacy / eBusiness / More Insights / Productivity / Technology

Epicor Joins ElectricalTrends

David Gordon Posted On September 19, 2016

ElectricalTrends would like to welcome Epicor as our latest advertiser. Epicor, as many in the electrical industry knows, is a prominent ERP system in the electrical industry. In fact, according to Electrical Wholesaling, more than 70 of the Top 200 […]

Channel Strategies / Customer Segments / eBusiness / eMarketing / Growth Strategies / Marketing Groups / More Insights / Technology

Is Amazon An Alternate Channel or Just Meeting Customer Needs?

David Gordon Posted On September 12, 2016

Yes, Amazon Business is a competitor to distributors. It is also an opportunity for manufacturers given that it represents an additional distribution channel to reach customers. Why? Because some customers desire to purchase through a different mode. Why are they […]

Channel Strategies / Customer Segments / eBusiness / eMarketing / Growth Strategies / Industry Consolidation / More Insights / People in the News / Technology

What can be learned from Crescent Electric and Walmart?

David Gordon Posted On August 10, 2016

What do Crescent Electric and Walmart have in common? They both have recently made eCommerce acquisitions … and probably for the same reasons. And both, probably, have been frustrated with the pace of their eCommerce initiative. Consider this: Walmart just […]

Branding / eBusiness / eMarketing / Marketing / More Insights / Research Reports / Technology

CMG Partners With ElectricSmarts for Free Research

David Gordon Posted On August 7, 2016

For years we’ve recommended ElectricSmarts to distributors and manufacturers. For distributors they offer free, robust, content to enhance websites along with an eSales capability that enables contractors to selectively determine which distributors they want to electronically connect to … from […]

Customer Service / Logistics / More Insights / Productivity / Purchasing / Technology

Customer Satisfaction vs Inventory Management

David Gordon Posted On July 22, 2016

There are three functional responsibilities that are critical to the survival, and growth, of all distributors. They are business development (need more sales!), effective inventory management and collections (inferring that credit is provided). To achieve this companies need to be […]

Branding / eBusiness / eMarketing / Marketing / More Insights / Technology

Getting Found Online…Site Optimization (SEO)

David Gordon Posted On July 10, 2016

Do you know if your website, including eCommerce engine is optimized? Is your company an SEO master? Whoever said “build it and they will come” never developed a website. Making the investment in a website (and eCommerce) is, as they […]

Industry Consolidation / Logistics / More Insights / Technology

Epicor for Sale … Again?

David Gordon Posted On June 27, 2016

According to today’s Wall Street Journal, it appears that Epicor, the provider of Eclipse to many electrical distributors, is up for sale again. Apax Partners, the private equity firm that purchased Epicor in 2011, and eventually Activant, reportedly is again […]

Channel Strategies / Customer Service / eBusiness / Growth Strategies / Industry News / More Insights / People in the News / Pricing / Productivity / Technology

NAED National Session: Predator or Prey?

David Gordon Posted On May 19, 2016

The first session of the NAED National was a session titled “Predator or Prey”. The challenge is that session attendees walked away asking “why was it titled that?” Perhaps the answer is in this quote. The “predators” were the panelists […]