Distributors are optimistic about the coming two years, albeit with concerns about supply chain shortages, high materials prices, labor availability and taxes, according to a survey by Distribution Strategy Group and the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors. Distributors also expect certain pandemic-era habits to carry on, including some allowance for remote work, continued digital investment and ongoing reliance on sales calls to supplement in-person meetings.

Reports that an Amazon Fresh site in Florida will feature a drive-thru lane and recent experiments by Hy-Vee and Walgreens in using pharmacy drive-thrus to fulfill grocery orders have some industry experts considering the potential impact of grocery drive-thru options on the future. As demand for pickup alternatives continues to grow, "retailers are right to be thinking outside the box and trying things," said Jason Goldberg of Publicis.

Distributors preparing to spend on e-commerce should have some idea of the return on investment, but there might be a point where too much ROI exploration is slowing them down, according to a recent panel event. ROI strategy will differ for each company depending on how they define ROI and at what stage their digital transformation sits, the panelists said.

Business-to-business marketers should focus on the "B2B mix" of solutions, trust and people, writes Oscar Torres, who explains how to foster a culture that facilitates that goal. When marketers and sales executives "demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the problem, they are seen as more credible and trustworthy, and this adds value to the B2B relationship," Torres writes.

LinkedIn Events empowers businesses to promote and host events within the platform, highlighting their expertise and building brand awareness, social media expert Lisa Jenkins writes. Jenkins outlines types, setup, invitations, promotion and measurement for gatherings on LinkedIn.

Great employee coaching leads to higher employee satisfaction along with stronger engagement and retention, according to Sonatafy Technology CEO Steve Taplin. Building an excellent coaching strategy starts with inviting employees into the conversation and working together to create an effective plan for improvement, Taplin writes.

Leaders need to be deeply involved in the day-to-day activity of starting, shepherding or terminating projects, both for the organization's success and for the personal growth of project managers, writes Mike Shipulski. "[I]f you want to accelerate the flywheel, help your best project managers elevate their game," he writes.

Are you looking for professional development programs to help you retain and develop your key personnel? If yes, then the NAW Certificate in Distribution Professional Management program will help your leaders reach their highest performance levels. Learn more.

In this free NAW webinar on Sept. 23, at 2 p.m. Eastern, Ian Heller and Jonathan Bein of Distribution Strategy Group will identify best practices for developing, implementing, monetizing and managing services. Register now! Sponsored by Oracle Netsuite and Enable.

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