Wage growth over the past decade was highest among workers in the least unionized sectors of the industries governed by the National Labor Relations Act NLRA, according to a study by the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and Elevated Insights Group. Between 2015 and 2024, wages in these jobs grew by 36%, while most unionized NLRA jobs saw a 26% increase. "These findings underscore that over the past decade workers have not realized gains from aggressive union leader tactics," said NAW CEO Eric Hoplin.

Parts Town has experienced remarkable growth since 2004, scaling from just six employees to over 5,500 worldwide and projecting $2.8 billion in revenue for 2025. Executive Chairman Steve Snower joined the MDM Podcast to talk about the company's strategic priorities, including organic growth, entry into adjacent product categories, international expansion and employee ownership through the Town Shares program. Snower also touched on Parts Town's technological advancements, such as its Phoenix global fulfillment center, and leadership transition. 

Distributor Core & Main has opened a fifth branch location in Wisconsin that will support customers in the southern part of the state. The Columbus, Wisc., location will be mainly focused on fusible fabrication products and services. Company officials expect the branch to improve customer service and boost the company's footprint in the Madison area.

Pepper, an AI-powered revenue platform for food distributors, has acquired Kimelo, a San Francisco-based SaaS provider specializing in AI tools for distribution. The acquisition is set to expand Pepper's offerings by integrating Kimelo's technology for supply chain management, logistics, data analytics and purchasing. Together, the companies aim to provide a unified platform that streamlines operations and strengthens independent distributors' competitive edge.

Using rental robots to automate tasks has helped some managers of smaller factories allocate the work that human employees do differently, helping to decrease turnover and reduce injury rates. Duties commonly assigned to rental robots include sorting parts, stacking boxes and welding. 

The emergence of AI search engines like ChatGPT and Google's Search Generative Experience is changing business-to-business SEO by replacing traditional search engine results pages with direct, AI-generated answers. Instead of being focused on keyword optimization, content must now be structured for clarity and authority so that AI models can accurately interpret and present it in responses.

As AT&T enacts culture changes prioritizing capability and commitment over loyalty, shifting workforce demographics could pose challenges ahead, says S. Chris Edmonds, an executive consultant with The Purposeful Culture Group, who notes that millennials and Generation Z employees are more likely to value flexibility, learning and well-being over long-term allegiance to a single company. That could mean that these short-term gains may not be sustainable if the company struggles to retain younger talent, less motivated by traditional loyalty.

To engage in difficult conversations, we first must develop what Bob Bordone, a senior fellow at Harvard Law School, calls "conflict resilience," which is the ability to sit with the discomfort of disagreements, rather than just trying to resolve conflicts. "Conflict resolution skills don't matter without conflict resilience, which is a prerequisite to conflict resolution and negotiation. For example, I could know how to make a really great French meal. Yet if I can't sit in the kitchen because it's too hot for me, there will be no French meal," says Bordone.

Prioritize your organization's greatest asset — your people. NAW's premier education programs, such as the online Management Academy and the in-depth Distribution Leadership Program at THE Ohio State University, are designed to equip your high-potential employees with the skills and insights they need to lead and succeed. Ensure your rising stars are prepared to drive your business forward by investing in their growth today. Learn more about how NAW can help you develop the leaders of tomorrow.

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