US first-quarter economic growth was revised upward to a 1.4% annual rate, driven by a 4.4% increase in business investment that offset slowing consumer spending and rising imports, according to Commerce Department data. Economists anticipate a rebound in Q2, but concerns remain about the impact of high interest rates on consumer spending, which makes up 70% of economic activity.

Distributors have reshaped sales teams in recent years to boost performance amid talent shortages and market changes. Dorn Group's James Dorn and John Gunderson examined these changes and explored the best ways to optimize sales teams on the latest MDM Podcast with Tom Gale. Dorn and Gunderson detailed the importance of supplier partnerships, strategic planning, positioning distributors as solutions partners and leveraging technology, such as AI, to drive revenue growth.

Construction material distributor Winsupply acquired HDPE-fabricated products manufacturer Forge PolyFab in a move that "will further enhance Winsupply's segment's offerings," said Greg Holbrock, Winsupply's vice president of mergers and acquisitions due diligence and financial integration. Dallas-based PolyFab will continue to have autonomy under a shared-ownership business model.

Companies participating in international trade face dual pressures that are each becoming more complicated to navigate as they manage regulatory requirements and the effects of tariffs. Jonathan Colehower of UST discusses frustrations with added conditions of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement that result in some companies choosing to accept penalties rather than comply.

Supply chain resilience has become a priority post-COVID-19, with companies investing in technologies such as warehouse management systems, automation and AI to optimize operations, but what might be better is building a platform that integrates these technologies across the supply chain, enabling real-time visibility and collaboration, according to Terence Leung, Global Senior Director of Solution and Industry Marketing for Supply Chain Management at Blue Yonder. This method would address disconnected systems' limitations and prepare businesses for future disruptions.

A slowdown in economic growth influenced by factors including a drop in residential investment and the effects of higher interest rates will combine with stable inventory levels to reduce freight demand over the rest of 2024, writes S&P Market Intelligence consultant Paul Bingham. Predictions for freight demand vary between modes, with total truck tonnage expected to grow by 2.4% and rail carload tonnage likely to drop by 1.5%, Bingham writes.

Focusing solely on scaling numbers can be misleading for sales goals, writes expert David Brock, author of "Sales Manager Survival Guide." Instead of trying to scale up to find more qualified leads, Brock suggests focusing on winning a greater percentage of qualified opportunities in the first place.

Make your message as clear and succinct as possible, then repeat it often through as many channels as possible, including meetings, blogs, newsletters and speeches, using a fresh approach each time, writes management expert and author Paul Thornton. "Use up-to-date examples and stories to keep your message relevant and meaningful," Thornton writes.

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