Tariffs, which have become a key tool in US trade policy, are influencing companies to diversify supply chains away from China. The Biden administration has maintained and added to tariffs on Chinese goods, citing national security and industrial policy, and both presidential candidates are expected to continue this trend. Companies are adjusting their strategies, with some delaying investment decisions and others reducing their reliance on Chinese suppliers.

The Conference Board reported a sharper-than-expected 0.6% decline in the US Leading Economic Index for July, which follows a 0.2% dip in June. The July decline was driven by a drop in new orders, weak consumer expectations and slow building permits and manufacturing hours. However, the six-month annual growth rate is no longer pointing to a recession ahead.

Making decisions based on advanced analytics and data-driven insights creates the best foundation for supply chain resilience, writes Marcus Reimann of the Kuehne+Nagel Group. Reimann shares four other strategy recommendations, emphasizing the importance of detecting disruptions early, moving toward a just-in-case model, building in redundancy and implementing effective demand planning technology.

Boston-based supplier Chelsea Morning Produce is leveraging AI to improve its operations as it transitions leadership from founder Wes Carr to his daughters Natasha and Felicia. The company integrated Choco AI's technology to address challenges with the manual logging of customer orders, significantly reducing both order processing time and errors, freeing up time for the business to focus on growth and innovation, Natasha Carr says.

An approach focused on agility, sustainability and resilience is essential for organizations involved in the supply chain, according to a review of six significant threats along with recommendations for mitigating each one prepared by Ashray Lavsi of Efficio. Shipping interruptions caused by hostility in the Red Sea are one example, as they force ships to take longer routes and have a secondary effect on air freight rates, writes Lavsi.

Business-to-business marketers should put digital first in their strategies, writes Ledger Bennett Revenue Operations Director Mike Blake. Blake notes that target audiences often congregate on Instagram, TikTok and audio platforms and that digital-first tactics need continuous updates.

Top performers need mentors who focus on their specific needs, encourage continuous learning, introduce them to new challenges, help them understand emotions and nurture their relationships with other professionals, write Ruth Gotian and Andy Lopata, who wrote books about mentoring. "Effective mentoring can help high achievers avoid stagnation, discover new passions, and expand their influence, ultimately creating a culture of high achievement within their teams and organizations," they write.

Ferguson Enterprises has expanded over the past two decades from its plumbing roots into a leading North American distributor with $30 billion of yearly revenue. Fueled by acquisitions and organic growth, the firm has a presence in nine distinct channels, including HVACR, waterworks and industrial supplies. Much of Ferguson's revenue comes from ecommerce and showroom orders, and its extensive distribution network of over 1,700 branches and 35,000 associates enables same-day and next-day inventory to contractors.

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.

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Join us in Washington, D.C., January 27 -29, for NAW's Executive Summit, bringing together the best and brightest leaders from the wholesale distribution industry. Learn more here.