The US economy added 336,000 jobs in September, nearly twice as many as the 170,000 economists had expected. The unemployment rate stayed unchanged at 3.8%. The hot jobs report could fuel further consternation on Wall Street as the labor market remains resilient to the high-interest-rates environment.

Performance Food Group's new 332,000-square-foot facility in Hanover County, Va., has begun operations, making it the second sales and distribution center in the state alongside one in nearby Henrico County. "Having two facilities in the Richmond region allows us to put processes and procedures in place ... that cater to the unique needs of certain customers," said spokesman Scott Golden.

A study by SPARXiQ and Objective Management Group assessed 21 core sales competencies and found that distribution sales reps align closely with their counterparts in drive and motivation but lag in key selling competencies such as hunting, reaching decision-makers and selling value. Reps can master aligned processes and methodologies through training and coaching that provides common competencies and language, writes Mike Kunkle, vice president at SPARXiQ.

Studies have shown that as much as 70% of consumers are influenced by responsible sourcing and sustainable packaging, and those numbers continue to grow. Etosha Thurman, the chief marketing and solutions officer of Intelligent Spend and Business Network at SAP, says technology can also help companies in this process.

Nearly 90% of retailers and brands surveyed by Creditsafe say they're hoping holiday sales boost annual sales by 40%, but 46% either don't have enough cash to finance the orders or are unsure whether they can cover the costs. Nearly 80% have half of last year's holiday stock leftover, that's added storage costs and decreased profit margins for many and 22% are worried they won't be able to get ample stock from suppliers to meet demand.

Business-to-business marketers should adopt visuals, varied content, personalization and emotional connection, marketing director Alison Osborne writes. These long-established techniques, common in consumer marketing, can "push the boundaries on creativity and content" for B2B, Osborne notes.

Meta's Ad Manager now includes generative AI tools that resize image aspect ratios required for its Reels and other formats, produce up to six versions of ad copy based on original text and generate multiple backgrounds that complement products and can be used for multiple audience segments. Half of the agencies and brands experimenting with Meta's AI Sandbox say the tools will reduce their weekly workload by at least five hours, per a Meta survey.

In a time when many employees say they feel "overworked" and under-appreciated, companies can reduce attrition by thanking workers "by name" for their individual efforts, and providing cash rewards or regular company gifts, writes Heather Wilde, chief technology officer for consulting firm TheDifference. "Let them know you've seen the difference they've made for your business, and reward them accordingly," Wilde says.

A company's first step toward managing and reducing their environmental impact is to measure greenhouse gas emissions, writes Trish Kenlon, a career coach specializing in sustainability roles. Kenlon lists 12 programs that teach how to measure emissions based on the global standard Greenhouse Gas Protocol from the World Resources Institute.

Attending the Innovators Summit lets you stay updated with the latest industry developments and remain ahead of your competitors. By being aware of emerging trends and disruptive technologies, you can proactively adapt your business strategies, identify new revenue streams, and gain a competitive edge in the market. Learn more.

Join us in Washington, D.C., Jan. 30 - Feb. 1, 2024 for the wholesale distribution industry's premiere annual event! Learn more.

Interested in membership with NAW? Reach out and let us know how we can help you.