Cardinal, Medline exempted from Chinese import tariffs | Price gougers challenge Amazon to keep up | Amazon markets its Amazon Go technology to retailers
Twenty-seven companies, including Cardinal Health and Medline Industries, were given an import tariff exemption for medical products coming from China in an effort to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak. Selected items include hand wipes, protective masks, medical gloves and shoe covers.
Amazon removed or blocked tens of thousands of products last week on concerns about price gouging during the coronavirus outbreak, but third-party sellers are still listing items like a two-pack of Purell for $350. "They already took down 1 million items, but [it's a] constant cat-and-mouse game," said Buy Box Experts founder James Thomson, a former Amazon employee.
Amazon will debut a new business division designed to sell the technology that runs its checkout-free Amazon Go stores to other retailers. The e-commerce giant said it has already signed partners for its Just Walk Out technology, and it will launch a new website to market it to other potential partners, the company said.
State of the Wholesale Supply Chain Industry in 2020 The wholesale supply chain industry continues to look for ways to solve challenges around predicting shifting consumer preferences, volatility with suppliers and long lead times, and e-commerce growth that's increasing price transparency. Despite these obstacles, the industry collectively posted year-over-year sales growth of 8% in 2019, similar to the prior year. Get the key findings for Blue Ridge's wholesale supply chain industry 2020 survey.
North American and EMEA-based business-to-business chief marketing officers are prioritizing marketing strategy creation and customer experience, while Asia-Pacific CMOs are prioritizing business growth, per Forrester SiriusDecisions' latest global B2B report. The study also reveals B2B CMOs are focusing on purpose-driven marketing and personalization driven by artificial intelligence and automation.
This Media Update infographic points to the value of using emojis to boost engagement noting that 57% of Facebook posts get more likes when the characters are incorporated and Instagram engagement jumps 48%. The key to success is matching the emoji to the demographic, maintaining the brand voice and tone and using them only when they're relevant.
A new study suggests many leaders can reap interpersonal benefits and ultimately be viewed as more credible if they aren't afraid to ask questions. One key takeaway from the study is that wise leaders frame their lack of knowledge in ways that invite information, according to Natalia Karelaia.
Make your next presentation as engaging as a TED or TEDx talk by creating a memorable core message and using a conversational style that focuses on inspiring ideas instead of problems, writes Stephanie Scotti, who recently coached TEDx presenters. "The goal is to discover the real need and express it simply and in plain language so listeners can recall and repeat your idea worth sharing," she writes.
Discovering Your True Profitability Many companies think they know who their most important customers are, but when you consider the hidden costs of doing business between suppliers and retailers, you might be surprised. This paper provides guidance on discovering true profitability and boosting efficiency. Read the white paper.
Attendees from across many lines of trade will spend a few career-changing days focused on learning specific ways to improve their companies' profitability. Your leaders will return ready to impact your business now and for years to come. This is an exciting educational experience for anyone who wants to contribute to the success of his or her distribution company at an even higher level. Learn more and register.
This new groundbreaking research study was inspired by many distributors and manufacturers as they set out to discover and implement best practices in channel design and management. In it, Dr. Barry Lawrence and the world-class researchers at Texas A&M University present a comprehensive channel alignment framework that provides a common ground for distributors and manufacturers to align their financial goals in the context of meeting customer needs. Download a sample.Order copies for your team and your manufacturer partners.
