Warehouse developments across the US face opposition from residents and community activists as ecommerce growth and consumer delivery expectations necessitate more warehousing and distribution centers. Prologis President Dan Letter recently highlighted the obstacles the company faces and advised industry professionals to attend local planning and zoning meetings to better understand the challenges and opposition. Resistance has led to proposed moratoriums on new warehouse construction and legislative interventions in some areas, with industry insiders calling for improved communication with local stakeholders to address community concerns.

Foodservice packaging and JanSan distributor Imperial Dade is acquiring Spokane, Wash.-based Insight Distributing, a foodservice and Jansan distributor with customers in Washington and Idaho. Imperial's first acquisition of 2024 after a busy 18-acquisition 2023, the deal will provide the firm with an expanded presence in the Northwest and boost product offerings for Insight customers. "The Insight partnership provides great value in the large and growing Western market which is key as Imperial Dade expands geographically and grows nationally," CEO Jason Tillis said.

The Institute for Supply Management's PMI edged up to 47.4 during December, exceeding analyst expectations but below the 50 threshold that signals expansion. The data suggests US manufacturing continued to contract during the month, albeit at a slower pace than previously, buoyed by a modest uptick in production and employment. Although this marks the 14th consecutive month of contraction, factory surveys have a track record of overstating any weakness in manufacturing output.

Attacks on ships in the Red Sea have pushed up freight costs leading to warnings of inflationary pressures and delayed goods as carriers divert more than $200 billion in trade away from the crucial Middle East trade route. "The supply chain pressures that caused the 'transitory' part of inflation in 2022 may be about to return if the problems in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean continue," says Larry Lindsey from consultants the Lindsey Group.

Organizations seeking to grow this year and help their sales teams navigate challenges will need to infuse a customer-centric approach that includes thoroughly evaluating buyers' and customers' acumen, aligning sales processes with customer journeys and staying responsive to market dynamics, writes Mike Kunkle, vice president at SPARXiQ. Other recommendations include training programs aligning with the sales process and methodology, motivational incentive programs and data analytics to optimize sales strategies.

This will be a breakout year for drone deliveries in suburban neighborhoods among retailers, medical centers and logistics firms as regulations are relaxed around trip distances and required visual spotters, predicts Joann Muller. Amazon, Walmart-backed DroneUp and Israel's Flytrex are planning drone delivery expansions, while Zipline is launching its next-generation delivery aircraft, and Wing is integrating AI to enhance operation efficiencies.

Short-form video, the fastest-growing social content format, should be prioritized by marketers this year, along with experimenting with private messaging in a non-intrusive way to tout deals or exclusive offers and content, Andrew Hutchinson advises. Hutchinson also advises moving away from X, formerly known as Twitter, and considering alternatives like Reddit, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Threads, as well as honing skills with generative AI tools and building 3D or augmented reality environments.

The US economy is expected to expand by 1.3% in 2024, according to a survey by Wolters Kluwer Blue Chip Economic Indicators that was conducted in early December. Meanwhile, some forecasters point to easing inflation and potential interest-rate cuts as factors that could bolster the economy this year.

During their policy meeting last month, Federal Reserve officials indicated that interest rates were at or near their peak and that rates would likely be reduced by the end of 2024, according to minutes from the gathering. Officials "reaffirmed that it would be appropriate for policy to remain at a restrictive stance for some time," although some Fed members also highlighted the economic risks of being overly restrictive.

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