US LBM Holdings has purchased Connecticut-based Ridgefield Supply Co., while Graybar Electric has bought New Jersey-based Shingle & Gibb Automation. Terms of the acquisitions have not been revealed.
Optimas OE Solutions in 2020 named a new CEO, improved its technology and revamped its Americas strategy during the pandemic. "Instead of getting lost in this terrible situation and kind of putting everything on hold ... we've been very focused, and certainly on the technology and the innovation side," CEO Marc Strandquist says.
The ‘consumerization’ of B2B selling Join B2B ecommerce expert, advisor and author, Brian Beck and J.J. Keller ecommerce executive, Adrienne Hartman for a candid discussion on the most important aspects of the B2C digital experience to adopt for your B2B ecommerce operation. Register now
The November Logistics Manager's Index reading of 70.8 was a slight contraction from 71.6 in October but also significantly greater than the 51.3 record low in April, according to the most recent report. LMI researchers attribute logistics industry growth to rising e-commerce activity, which they say is leading to record lows in warehouse and transportation capacity.
Hybrid events will be a big trend in the future of event marketing, writes Aventri CEO Jim Sharpe, who offers tips on creating the best experience for both in-person and virtual attendees. Sharpe also explains how to use data to not only prove return on investment but to feed into other marketing areas, and predicts contactless check-in will become essential for future in-person events.
As we look to 2021, retailers need to focus on planning for the future with strategies that meet both the immediate and long-term needs of their customers and maximize the potential of all their sales channels. Read SmartBrief's Q&A with Leslie Hand, group vice president, IDC Retail and Financial Insights
A little bit of thanks can go a long way with employees, either as a written note or verbal praise, and is crucial to keeping employees engaged with the company. "A happy employee might not necessarily be a productive employee, but engaged employees tend to perform better than their unengaged counterparts," says Vivian Woo, senior people science analyst at Culture Amp.
NAW guest blogger Benj Cohen writes, "One of the most valuable resources distributors have is their data. Data can reveal what your customers are likely to buy, what growth opportunities you're missing out on and where you can cut costs. Distributors with the right data can meet customer needs and dominate competitors. But acquiring and handling data properly is no easy task." Read his post.
Commercial collections has been thrust into the spotlight for many industries. Whether employing internal or external collection strategies, or a combination of both, businesses are re-evaluating their approach. Attend live webinars designed by NAW Trusted Partner Creditsafe to give you the best options, insights, and assistance as your company adjusts to the new collections landscape.
The pandemic is forcing many distributors to reevaluate their supply chains to create more resilient models. At the heart of "Optimizing Channel Profitability" is a common ground for distributors and manufacturers to focus on making a one-to-one connection among a supplier's channel compensation, a distributor's capabilities and customer value, all leading to a process where all three entities can have constructive, objective dialogue rather than subjective, selective fault-finding. If you're looking to strengthen your value proposition post COVID-19, this resource will help.
