Industrial Distribution's annual list of the top North American industrial distributors by revenue is led by Grainger. The rest of the top five companies are Genuine Parts-owned Motion Industries, Airgas, HD Supply and Fastenal.
Walmart+, a paid membership program launched last month, is known to more than 50% of US shoppers surveyed by Piplsay, and 11% have already signed up while 27% are considering it. More than 35% of respondents who are Walmart+ members say they did not previously use a subscription service.
The pandemic has accelerated the pace of digital transformation in construction materials distribution, which will likely lead to more consolidation, standardization and integration, according to this McKinsey analysis. "Distributors could reinvent themselves by taking on a role as the future construction landscape's logistics hub," the authors write.
Logistics businesses want to make sure workers have the right skills for new technology, as well as pursue digitalization and sustainability and adapt to the changes caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to DHL's fifth Logistics Trend Radar report. The report details 29 trends that DHL predicts will shape the decade in logistics.
Distributors should reevaluate the assumptions they make about sales operations, many of which are no longer true and can lead to bad decisions, says Mike Marks of Indian River Consulting Group. Those include misconceptions about pay and motivation.
This book excerpt by Alissa Carpenter offers a guide for leaders who want a better sense of what their employees' strengths are -- and how to uncover that information. "Two people can accomplish the same task, but they might go about it in different ways," she writes.
Enter to win a $500 VISA gift card when you take our 7-9-minute survey to tell distributors how they must change. If you sell through distributors, this is your chance to offer your advice to distributors on what they must do to remain a valued partner in your supply chain in the future. Authors Ian Heller and Jonathan Bein will review the findings on a complimentary October 20 webinar and in a complimentary detailed research report in digital format. Take our survey here.
Old school distribution is about stocking inventory, taking orders and serving demand. New school distribution is about innovating through customer services and working side-by-side with customers in the real world. The future of distribution is about solving problems in your customer's business -- often before your customer even knows a problem exists. Innovate to Dominate provides breakthrough ideas, lessons from leading distributors who are innovating and inspiration to help you lead your customers into the future and sustain your competitive advantage.
Designed for C-suite executives, these virtual roundtables provide actionable strategies that will help put your COVID-19 recovery plan in place. Companies belonging to this community are from distribution firms that exceed $1 billion in annual sales. You'll engage in robust conversations with your peers and hear from industry experts on topics to help your business transition to the new normal -- all in the comfort of your own office/home. Register today.
