Fastenal's customer focus is seen through Onsite, vending | Tech Data totals $90.8M in fiscal Q3 earnings | Beacon Roofing Supply reports $27.4M in fiscal Q4 earnings
Fastenal's Onsite program and vending machines have helped reduce supply costs while helping customers focus on what they do best, writes Anna Wells. Fastenal's salespeople help customers "save money through acquisition costs, less working capital, crisp execution, transparency and visibility -- not just from a supplier standpoint but by being able to tell customers exactly what they use and how much they use," said Bill Drazkowski, senior executive vice president of sales.
Tech Data posted $90.8 million in earnings on $9.12 billion in revenue in the fiscal third quarter. Overall revenue was down 2% year over year but increased by 2% in North America.
What's on tap in manufacturing and distribution in 2020? Join experts from Netsuite and Deloitte as they talk about 2020 trends and technologies that will drive business, how to respond to a growing demand for price transparency, why now is the time to invest in updating back-office systems and more. Register for the webinar on Thursday, December 5th at 2 PM EST.
Distributors can improve processes such as requests for proposals by asking customers thoughtful questions about their business, challenges they face and how they determine success, says marketing consultant Ron Karr.
Kris Goldhair explains how business-to-business marketers can enhance customer experience, beginning by shaping a customer-centric culture by showing employees how new systems and software also make their own jobs easier. Eliminate data silos across the entire company to ensure a frictionless experience for customers and equip staff with the right tech and information to add value to all customer interactions, he writes.
Technology can be useful for improving sales efficiency, but many sales teams reap disappointing results because they lack the ability to leverage the tech they have, writes David Brock. Sales teams must focus on the fundamentals of selling and implement technology in measured, thoughtful ways instead of seeing it as a miracle cure, Brock writes.
As businesses like Amazon and Walmart introduce streamlined services for e-commerce fulfillment and distribution, customer expectations are evolving in-kind. But without equal funding, how can small and mid-sized companies optimize their supply chains to remain competitive? For a growing number of firms, the answer is on-demand warehousing.
For small businesses dealing with high shipment volumes or complex products, having to fulfill every new order in-house can quickly become overwhelming. But given their limited resources, how can small businesses grow more efficient without depleting their budget or overwhelming their staff? The answer might just be on-demand warehousing.
Great leaders need a strong bench around them, which requires deep thinking about whether candidates have the character, emotional makeup and desire to lead at the highest levels, writes Alaina Love. Former Circuit City CEO Phil Schoonover learned that "mission-critical positions" require people who can get up to speed quickly.
Called the "Master class in innovation for distributors," "Innovate to Dominate: The 12th Edition in the Facing the Forces of Change Series" has arrived. A roadmap for innovation, it helps distributors connect the dots between the forces of change and how distributors can change their business to capture opportunities -- and defend their business when necessary. The best innovations are about getting ahead instead of catching up. Order your copies to read over the holidays.
There's no denying the growth/demise ratio of Amazon versus brick-and-mortar operations. The "Amazon Effect" is causing businesses to literally shut down, leaving their creditors at a loss. NAW's strategic partner Cortera wants wholesaler-distributors to be ready. For a limited time, Cortera is offering wholesaler-distributors a complimentary Portfolio Analysis, CFO Report and unlimited Boost. Take advantage of this offer.
Billion Dollar Company CEOs, CFOs, operation executives, CHROs, CLOs, and CIOs attend these roundtables to benchmark solutions and strategies from distribution executives who are at the top of their game. The companies invited into this community are from distribution firms that exceed $1 billion in annual sales. Participating in this 24-hour, results-focused business meeting is one of the best ways to learn from your C-suite peers in distribution -- who aren't competitors! Register today.
