Consumer sentiment in the US fell slightly in March but remains relatively high, according to the University of Michigan's latest consumer sentiment index, which dropped to 77.9 from 79.4 a month earlier. Consumer sentiment reached an all-time low in June 2022 and was as low as 61.3 as recently as November, but rose rapidly in late 2023 and has largely remained flat this year.

Technology-driven products manufacturer and distributor Resideo Technologies will buy Snap One Holdings for $1.4 billion. Snap One provides smart-living products, services and software and will be integrated into Resideo's ADI Global Distribution business. The combined unit will provide more third-party products and proprietary offerings.

Building materials distributor Beacon is acquiring Omaha, Neb.-based General Siding Supply as it extends its reach in the Midwest. The 50-year-old siding, window and door distributor includes three Nebraska locations and one each in Iowa and North Dakota. The General Siding Supply deal is Beacon's fourth acquisition of the year.

Amazon has maintained its top-level status in a number of industries due to its access to proprietary data, an intensively competitive culture and unparalleled leverage, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation. This culture was evidenced by its 2015 project to create the Wickedly Prime private-label food brand, which sought to reverse engineer Trader Joe's top 200 items.

Value-added services such as vendor-managed inventory or product co-design differ from stand-alone products and services in that the value produced and cost structure are more complex and difficult to identify, writes Jonathan Byrnes, chair of Profit Isle, a SaaS profit analytics firm. To estimate and track the value and cost of such services, companies should create a showcase project that explores new ways of doing things and create a system that precisely tracks the service's ongoing value and cost, something possible with an enterprise profit management solution.

Business-to-business marketers can use AI in three ways to power improved e-commerce experiences, including tapping generative AI for content from product descriptions to personalized recommendations, advises Sana Commerce CEO Sebastiaan Verhaar. AI assistants can create a seamless online purchasing experience while AI analytics help to drive customized moments, Verhaar writes.

When facing a challenging decision, consider your own personal moral wisdom, advises Joseph Badaracco, professor at Harvard Business School. In his book, Badaracco notes that following your moral wisdom will involve answering four questions, starting with "what really matters?"

Technology has become so pervasive throughout the workplace that all employees must be able to use technology as a tool for efficiency and innovation, regardless of industry, writes Fortium Partners CIO Brian Greenberg. Overcoming the digital divide and fostering a culture of continuous learning are essential for people and companies to thrive in this tech-centered reality, Greenberg writes.

Research shows the benefits are clear: Companies that invest in their employees' professional development experience increased employee retention, improved performance and enhanced innovation. Join a select group of high-caliber professionals for an exclusive program designed to accelerate your career in wholesale distribution. This intensive, 5-day certificate program, led by seven expert faculty members from The Ohio State University, will equip students with the strategic skills and knowledge to navigate industry challenges, drive growth and lead with confidence. The Spring Session is April 29 - May 3, 2024. Learn More.

The NAW Company Roundtables are an exclusive community of thought leaders from Billion Dollar and Large Company distribution enterprises who congregate to network with non-competing peers in multiple lines of trade on key issues. Learn more about the many Roundtable event opportunities we offer, and how your leaders can get involved. Learn more.

Join us on May 22 at 1 pm ET for the next webinar in our "How-to with NAW" series. Each episode is a micro-revolution for your distribution business, delivering practical takeaways and actionable steps you can implement immediately.