Turner Supply has acquired Progressive Supply, a provider of maintenance, repair and operations solutions based in Woodstock, Ga. The acquisition marks Turner Supply's entry into the Atlanta and North Georgia markets and is the company's 11th acquisition in its 121-year history. Turner President and CEO Chip Schramm said Progressive's "core values and culture of high-touch customer service are a strong match for Turner's."

The National Federation of Independent Business filed an amicus brief in the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors challenge of Oregon's extended producer responsibility law. The NFIB argues that the law, which shifts the burden of disposal and recycling to producers, is unconstitutional and imposes regulatory and financial requirements on businesses outside Oregon, potentially impacting small businesses across the US that sell products in multiple states.

Optimas Solutions executed a carve-out of its international business unit, resulting in two independent, regionally-focused fastener and component distributors. The structural change is the culmination of a multi-year transformation from a centralized global model to autonomous entities, allowing each business to better address local market needs, improve decision-making speed and enhance operational flexibility.

Picking is a critical but challenging warehouse role, with more than 20% of warehouse operators citing difficulty hiring pick-and-pack workers. To address this, companies can optimize warehouse layout and automate processes to ease the physical demands on workers. Implementing voice-directed picking and other technologies can boost productivity and job satisfaction. Additionally, warehouse operators should communicate career paths to attract and retain talent amid rising operational costs.

Procurement teams are increasingly turning to AI-powered data normalization to address challenges in inventory management, writes Valentina Jordan, the CEO and co-founder of Nauta. Traditionally, procurement has operated across systems that do not communicate, leading to fragmented data and reactive decision-making, but AI can unify data from enterprise resource planning, warehouse management and other systems, offering real-time, SKU-level visibility. This shift enables more proactive supplier management, risk mitigation and capacity planning.

Marketers are re-evaluating the concept of community, with Reach Agency CEO Gabe Gordon noting that the term is often misused to refer to social media consumers. True community building requires empathy and a long-term mindset. "At its core, community is an empathy practice," says PandaDoc's Pat Timmons. "It requires understanding what people are feeling, what they need and why they are showing up in the first place."

A growing number of companies have linked recent layoffs to AI, but economists and employees question the extent of the technology's role, noting that organizational adjustments to AI-driven efficiency take time. Reports indicate that while AI can enhance individual productivity, the broader impact on labor markets remains limited and difficult to measure, with some experts suggesting that companies may attribute layoffs to AI to appease investors and boost share prices.

Eighty years of NAW. Two hundred fifty years of America. One industry powering it all. Our new anniversary video celebrates the story of American wholesale distribution, the companies that keep shelves stocked, factories running, hospitals supplied, communities connected, and our economy moving. Check out NAW's video!

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