Walmart's first-quarter earnings results show that more consumers are eschewing discretionary purchases for essential items but spending remains steady as shoppers seek value, and Home Depot's results indicate that more customers are deferring major home projects as interest rates remain elevated and are shifting their budget priorities toward services and experiences. LVMH's earnings and a strong luxury consignment market indicate that demand for luxury goods and ultra-personalized service remains healthy.

Industrial supplies distributor Winsupply has acquired Memphis, Tenn.-based Meter Service & Supply, a family-owned single-location distributor of plumbing, pumps and waterworks supplies to local and regional government agencies, general contractors, excavators and industrial accounts. "Together, we will leverage our combined strengths to achieve new levels of success in the Memphis waterworks market," said Winsupply President Jeff Dice.

GXO Logistics, a contract warehouse service provider, has completed a pilot it carried out in partnership with Employbridge of a platform that offers flexible work arrangements for more than 1,100 gig workers to supplement workers at eight warehouses, and plans to expand the hiring plan to more locations across the US. Nearly 75% of the participants of the pilot were women and almost 25% are stay-at-home parents or primary caregivers.

Supply chain disruptions as a result of geopolitical tensions have emerged as a major concern for businesses during Quarter 1 as firms battle delayed shipments and rising costs, according to analytics firm GlobalData. "Regional conflicts are impacting suppliers and companies in sourcing and delivering products," says GlobalData analyst Misa Singh.

The Corporate Transparency Act, which took effect at the start of the year, requires an estimated 36 million reporting companies, including most distributors, to provide beneficial ownership information to the US Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. However, distributors should consult legal counsel to ensure compliance, as some distributors may be exempt, and others may be required to offer additional information based on a number of factors.

Organizations should be transparent with vendors as well as suppliers to improve supply chain initiatives, writes Norman Katz, president of supply chain consultancy Katzscan. "In a commoditized world, execution is the new competitive edge, and this includes working with suppliers -- and vendors -- to unleash new technologies and create unique products," Katz writes.

Google's AI search engine, AI Overview, is changing search results by including videos and images and encouraging complex queries. Traditional SEO methods are expected to be less effective, with at least one marketer forecasting a 25% drop in organic traffic. Forward-thinking marketers are adapting by integrating video and image site content into their SEO strategies, focusing on long-tail keywords and increasing their presence on platforms like Reddit.

Dara Treseder, chief marketing officer of Autodesk, talks about the brand's recent campaign showcasing how its software helps to bring "Star Wars" content to life and getting creative to connect with business-to-business audiences. "The emotional investment that people have in B2B products is massive," Treseder writes, noting, "Deepening that emotional connection is very powerful."

New managers can build trust and respect if they are clear with their team about what they expect, provide them with actionable and constructive feedback and admit what they don't know while committing to finding out needed information, writes author and Georgetown University professor Rachel Pacheco. "The manager is modeling to the team that it's okay to admit that we don't all know everything and that at times we have to ask for help," Pacheco writes.

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