Page 176 – Electrical Trends

Industrial Market / Industry News / Lighting / Lighting2 / Logistics / Renewables / Supplier / Products

The Next Big Electrical Gizmo?

David Gordon Posted On April 1, 2013

Solar, Wind, and LEDsWe’ve all watched as the promise of solar offered many so little return. Soylandra comes to mind as a Government hand out that went astray. Many question just exactly what is in the low cost panels that […]

Profitability

Make Sure Your Customer Can Pay … Even If He Wins Business

David Gordon Posted On March 25, 2013

Throughout pockets of the country distributors are seeking signs of an improving economy, helping improve revenues and hopefully profitability, presuming that they can be paid.We recently received George Hedley’s e-newsletter. George is a consultant to contractors in the construction trade. […]

Distributors

Graybar Prospers in 2012 and Other Interesting Graybar Tidbits

David Gordon Posted On March 19, 2013

Last week Graybar issued it’s 2012 annual results and their annual report provides some interesting insights into the company.While 2012 was the tale of two halves for most distributors, with many ending the year essentially flat, Graybar’s electrical business outperformed […]

Pricing / Productivity / Profitability / Technology

Rebates and Chargebacks = Making More $

David Gordon Posted On March 17, 2013

Everyone wants to make more money. After all, distribution is a “pennies, and maybe nickels” business. And when someone is willing to share how they’ve succeeded in pushing the needle forward, it can pay to listen (even if sometimes there […]

Associations / Marketing Groups

Interstate Electrical Joins AD

David Gordon Posted On March 16, 2013

Recently we saw AD’s press release in www.tedmag.com announcing Interstate Electrical Supply as a new member, which, as you could surmise knowing us, generated some thoughts … We started thinking about other marketing group announcements that we’ve heard of recently […]

Advocacy

Pat Goes Bald for Cancer Research & St Baldrick’s

David Gordon Posted On March 9, 2013

It’s that time of the year here in Raleigh. Weather in the low 60’s, blue skies, birds chirping, St. Patrick’s Day around the corner and Pat Schrager (from Panduit) is getting ready to get a buzz! As you’ll recall, for […]

Distributors / Marketing

Poaching your Business

David Gordon Posted On March 6, 2013

As some markets gear back up with Multi-Family, Motels/Hotels, office buildings and including commercial jobs, some distributors are seeing Grainger appear on the same job sites that the distributor has a project order.Grainger Radio adsFor some two to three years, if you […]

Associations / Customer Segments / Distributors / eBusiness / Growth Strategies / Industrial Market / Industry Consolidation / Industry News / Lighting / Lighting2 / Marketing

NAED SouthCentral

David Gordon Posted On March 5, 2013

The NAED SouthCentral was held last week in Las Vegas at Caesar’s Palace. And while Caesar’s is a very nice hotel, especially if you like gambling, and it is perfect for large conventions (the AD North American Meeting was there […]

Advocacy / Associations / Productivity / Supplier / Products / Technology

We Buy From China, They “Source” Us?

David Gordon Posted On February 20, 2013

Every once in a while we receive information, insights and information from our ElectricalTrends readers that is worthy of sharing with our readership. We promise anonymity, however, ensure that the information is sourced vs. “grapevine” topics.Today we received the attached […]

Growth Strategies

Valentine’s Day and Developing (and Optimizing) Your Distributor / Dealer Network

David Gordon Posted On February 16, 2013

Lately we’ve been on a number of calls with one of our clients, working with their area management as they develop / define their dealer/distributor network and during the discussion we talked about the types of questions to ask a […]