Plus: House rejects latest GOP funding bill
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December 20, 2024
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ABC Supply has opened the ABC Supply Learning Center at its headquarters in Beloit, Wis., to support innovation and professional development, including in branch management and sales development. The 43,000-square-foot center features advanced audiovisual technology and a 150-seat auditorium, and "is a reflection of our dedication to the growth of our associates," says Chief Operating Officer Mike Jost.
Full Story: Hardware + Building Supply Dealer (12/17),  Modern Distribution Management (tiered subscription model) (12/18) 
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The International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced workers delivering Amazon packages went on strike at seven facilities across the country on Thursday. The delivery drivers are not direct employees of Amazon and work for companies that deliver for the online retailer, but the Teamsters claim the company ultimately controls their working conditions. Amazon does not expect significant disruption from the strike and says it is not obligated to bargain with the drivers.
Full Story: SupplyChainBrain (12/19),  The New York Times (12/19),  Sourcing Journal (tiered subscription model) (12/19) 
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The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors Legal Policy Center is urging a federal appeals court to uphold an injunction blocking the Corporate Transparency Act, which requires many companies to report information about the individuals who own or control them. The NAW Legal Policy Center filed an amicus brief in support of the district court ruling and said the CTA's reporting requirements exceed Congress's constitutional authority. Chief Government Affairs Officer Brian Wild said the public interest "clearly favors maintaining the district court's ruling until the courts can fully resolve the CTA's legal flaws."
Full Story: National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (12/18) 
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Operations and Technology
Supply disruptions top procurement leaders' concerns
(Pixabay)
Supply disruptions are the top concern for 42% of procurement leaders, followed by macroeconomic factors, geopolitical trends and compliance issues, according to a Gartner survey. "CPOs' concerns about supply disruptions reflect the often unpredictable nature and potentially existential impacts of these events," says Andrea Greenwald, senior director analyst at Gartner. "They are coming to understand that the reactive measures they have employed to manage risks over the past four years will not be sufficient for the next four."
Full Story: Supply Chain Management Review (12/17) 
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Historically, supply chain teams have operated reactively, addressing crises only after they occur, writes Edmund Zagorin, co-founder and chief strategy officer at Arkestro, who notes that this approach often fails to add strategic value and can negatively impact team morale. By transitioning to a proactive stance, leveraging AI and predictive analytics, teams can anticipate disruptions and develop strategic plans to address them, transforming procurement into a strategic business function, Zagorin writes.
Full Story: Material Handling & Logistics online (12/19) 
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Sales and Marketing
B2B companies are finding it essential to integrate public relations and marketing to navigate challenges such as misinformation and AI-generated content. Public relations has evolved from media relations and crisis management to include thought leadership, social media engagement and influencer partnerships, with the role of building trust and credibility remaining a key component, Amy Packard Berry of Sparkpr writes.
Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (12/17) 
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Policy Watch
The House has rejected a temporary funding bill backed by President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk, raising the risk of a government shutdown. The bill, which included a provision to raise the debt ceiling, failed 235-174, with 38 Republicans joining Democrats in opposition. The federal government will partially shut down if no bill is passed and signed into law by 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (12/19),  Politico (12/19),  The Washington Post (12/19),  Bloomberg (12/19) 
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The Business Leader
The Federal Reserve announced another quarter-point reduction to its benchmark interest rate, and median projections suggest there could be another two 25-basis-point rate reductions in 2025. "With today's action, we have lowered our policy rate by a full percentage point from its peak and our policy stance is now significantly less restrictive," said Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The outlook did not reassure markets, which fell sharply on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average posted its 10th consecutive loss, dropping by more than 1,100 points.
Full Story: The Associated Press (12/18),  Bloomberg (12/18),  CNBC (12/18),  Yahoo (12/18) 
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Use one-on-one meetings to develop rapport with your direct reports, especially remote employees, by using six specific questions to uncover how they're feeling about their work, their life outside of the office and their aspirations, says Steven Rogelberg, Chancellor's Professor at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Powerful questions center on what drains them at work, what excites them outside of the office and how you can support their goals, Rogelberg says.
Full Story: Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model) (12/17) 
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About NAW
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) is one of America’s leading trade associations, representing the $8 trillion wholesale distribution industry. Our industry employs more than 6 million workers throughout the United States, accounting for approximately 1/3 of the U.S. GDP. 250,000 wholesale distribution companies operate across North America, including all 50 states. Learn more.
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