Nelson-Jameson, a distributor of food-processing products, has acquired a 45,000-square-foot facility in Fairview, Pa., which will serve as one of its five distribution centers nationwide. The facility will feature a climate-controlled warehouse and a service and repair center, and is expected to be operational in the summer.

US consumer confidence declined toward year-end amid concerns over the stock market and rising living costs due to tariffs, according to the Conference Board. The expectations index dropped to 81.1, nearing recession levels. Consumers remained optimistic about inflation and still plan to spend on major purchases, such as automobiles.

NetPlus Alliance members are forecasting sales growth for 2024, and even better growth in the coming year, according to the group's latest Industry Outlook report. Roughly two-thirds of respondents in the October survey forecasted increased sales, and higher expectations for 2025 are attributed to branch expansion and increased consumer activity.

SRS Distribution has partnered with ToolBelt, a contractor networking platform, to enhance accessibility for contractors seeking work and labor. The collaboration leverages SRS's nationwide reach, allowing its contractors to be promoted through ToolBelt's verification feature. The move follows SRS's recent initiatives, including the launch of its Roof Hub Estimator tool and a partnership with the Department of Defense's SkillBridge Training Program.

Ecommerce and automation in the wholesale distribution sector significantly enhance operational efficiency, speed to market, customer satisfaction, scalability and skilled job opportunities, writes Austin Walker, vice president of sales and marketing at Anyseals Americas. For example, warehouse management software offers real-time inventory updates, reduces manual efforts and improves data accuracy, helping organizations modernize their operations to meet evolving customer demands.

A California law that begins taking effect in 2025 will restrict the location and construction of warehouses and distribution centers that are more than 250,000 square feet and are near sensitive receptors, such as residences and schools. The law potentially raises logistics costs but excludes warehouse stores and rail-connected facilities, offering a possible loophole for some logistics operations.

Brands are increasingly using AI for creative marketing, with notable campaigns including eToro's "Watch the Market Moves," Vodafone's "Rhythm of Life" and Coca-Cola's "Holidays Are Coming." Secret Level's "A Very AI Yule Log" and a Land Rover spec ad by Tool North America also highlight the technology's potential.

Inflation, rather than a hot job market, drove widespread job hopping in 2022, according to a working paper by experts from Columbia University, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the University of Chicago and the University of Texas at Austin. The paper notes that rising prices forced workers to switch jobs and renegotiate wages, creating conditions that resembled a tight labor market, but real wages were 4.4% below expected levels, and growth in average hourly earnings was down for 25 consecutive months.

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.

Dana Perino, former White House Press Secretary, journalist and bestselling author, will share her unique insights into leadership, effective communication during times of change, and how to capitalize on a shifting political landscape. Dana brings an insider’s knowledge to her political analysis, addressing what’s on the minds of the American people and politicians with clarity and precision, leveraging a unique understanding of what organizations need to know about how the public is being affected by the current political climate.

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