Roofing and exterior building products distributor Beacon is acquiring Passaic Metal and Building Supplies, a more than century-old metal, roofing and siding supplier in New Jersey. Dave Doran, Beacon's regional vice president, highlighted Passaic's professional and service-oriented staff as a valuable addition. Beacon is also acquiring SSR Roof Supply, a two-branch operation based in British Columbia.

Wisconsin-based distributor ABC Supply has expanded its footprint by acquiring American Building Materials and its Premiere Roofing Supply subsidiary in Los Angeles. The ABM acquisition marks ABC Supply's first entry into the Los Angeles market. Employees of ABM will remain at the California location to ensure continuity for customers.

Mobile robots are gaining traction in warehouse automation -- with market revenues projected to reach $14 billion by 2027 -- but cost and return-on-investment challenges are slowing their adoption, according to an Interact Analysis survey that found that budget constraints are the primary barrier, with major robot deployments costing up to $1 million. Companies like Amazon and Honeywell are investing heavily in this technology, which can automate labor-intensive tasks and improve worker satisfaction.

The labor market has stabilized this year and wage pressures have eased, with industrial distribution executives reporting a slight increase in base salaries but a decrease in total compensation due to reduced variable pay, according to Mercer's ID Salary Report. Mid-level managers' average base salary increased to $109,000, and total compensation was $136,000, but 52% of these managers say they feel they are not fairly compensated, citing increased workloads and a lack of cost-of-living adjustments.

Supply chain management technology has the potential to help shippers be more adaptable and flexible as they deal with the dual challenges of rerouting due to hostility in the Red Sea and geopolitical disruptions such as trade disputes between countries, says John Lash, group vice president of product strategy at e2open, which produces supply chain software. "[T]he days of easy globalization are over," says Lash, highlighting the need to integrate flexible logistics with regulatory directives.

The top priority for business-to-business marketers is to help the buying committee reach a consensus, raising brand awareness among both "target" and "hidden" decision-makers and giving them the right information in the right way, according to research by LinkedIn and Bain & Company. David van Schaick explains how B2B marketers can do so, while also noting the importance of persuading the buying group to buy in to ideas and concepts.

Talent assessments can help hiring managers determine if salespeople have the necessary strengths to succeed, advises Beth Sunshine from Up Your Culture. "By leveraging a validated talent assessment, you're taking the guesswork out of a very tricky process and investing in both the long-term success of your people and your organization," Sunshine writes.

A July report showed slower hiring in the US as the unemployment rate rose, and some experts say that contributed to the stock market's sudden drop on Monday. However, some economists say the market was overreacting to the job news, as other aspects of the economy remain solid amid falling inflation.

Attending the Innovators Summit lets you stay updated with the latest industry developments and remain ahead of your competitors. By being aware of emerging trends and disruptive technologies, you can proactively adapt your business strategies, identify new revenue streams, and gain a competitive edge in the market. Learn more here.

In today's competitive labor market, understanding compensation trends is essential. MDM is pleased to present a free webcast discussing detailed findings from NAW's 2024 compensation study. This essential tool offers unparalleled insights into current salary and benefit trends within the wholesale distribution industry. This session will be moderated by MDM Senior Editor Vesna Brajkovic and will feature expert panelists Greg Manns of Industry Insights and Mike Emerson from Indian River Consulting. Learn more here.

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.