The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors congratulated president-elect Donald Trump on his election win. NAW said it looks forward to working closely with the Trump administration on issues vital to the distribution industry and the supply chain, in addition to supporting policies that strengthen the industry and benefit the American workforce and economy.

Donald Trump is returning to the White House with plans for sweeping economic changes, including significant tariffs on imports aimed at protecting domestic manufacturing. Wall Street is preparing for potential economic shifts, including lower taxes and deregulation, with expectations that such policies could spur growth. There is also some concern that policies could spark a trade war with retaliatory tariffs or potentially bring higher inflation.

BlueLinx Holdings. is opening a distribution center in Portland, Ore., to expand its reach in the Pacific Northwest. The new facility aims to improve service and delivery efficiency in the region, allowing the company to meet rising demand and pursue new market opportunities. BlueLinx said the center would offer a broader product range and quicker delivery times.

US services activity climbed in October despite an increase in political uncertainty ahead of the election, the Institute for Supply Management's survey showed. The index climbed to 56 from 54.9 in September, driven by a rebound in employment.

Applying quantitative demand forecasting methods along with other approaches helps reduce inventory issues in the supply chain and reduce costs, writes supply chain consultant Ryan Twyman. Challenges faced when implementing demand forecasting include the unpredictability of the market and inconsistent data quality, Twyman writes.

Amazon has launched drone delivery operations at its Tolleson, Ariz., same-day delivery site, integrating drones into its delivery network for the first time. The company is using MK30 drones, which can carry up to 5 pounds and have received FAA approval for Beyond Visual Line of Sight flights.

Procurement fraud is a growing concern in B2B transactions, highlighted by a recent case involving six IT contractors charged with bid rigging and bribery, resulting in millions of dollars in overcharges to the US government. Companies are increasingly turning to digital solutions such as ERP systems and AI to detect and prevent fraud, which often occurs in supplier selection and invoice processing.

Kate Rehling outlines 12 key talent management strategies for 2025, emphasizing the importance of growth guides, recruitment, onboarding and employee engagement. Each month focuses on a specific area, such as using Growth Guides to enhance manager-employee relationships in January and conducting Culture and Engagement Surveys in June to boost productivity and retention.

Microinteractions -- the subtle daily exchanges between colleagues and leaders -- can significantly influence workplace culture and success, with positive ones enhancing morale, trust and engagement and negative ones creating tension, writes Dylan Taylor, chairman and CEO of Voyager Space Holdings. "Leaders should navigate microinteractions with empathy, respect and attentiveness, mitigating the risk of causing harm while reinforcing a culture of mutual support and equity," Taylor advises.

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 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.