Deciding to keep or sell the family business is a difficult decision every business owner must face. In this article, four business owners share their personal experiences, revealing what led them to part ways with their family businesses.
As the Federal Reserve begins cutting rates, it will have a favorable impact on business lending conditions through Acquisition, Development & Construction (AD&C) loans as well as mortgage rates, according to NAHB chief economist Rob Dietz.
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Acquisitions require incorporating disparate processes, tools and teams into one cohesive unit. But when you have divergent sales strategies, duplicative customer data, and multiple marketing platforms, that can be challenging. Carly Cais writes that distributors can overcome these challenges by fostering transparent communication, prioritizing cultural alignment, leveraging technology, and nurturing a unified vision.
In this article, Mark Bray explains that while there are many skillsets that vary dramatically from entry level to executive level in wholesale distribution, there are three that are foundational at any stage of one’s career: selling skills, problem solving skills, and relationship building skills. Mastering these skills, he explains, will give anyone an advantage over those who fail to prioritize them.
Still having gross margin problems despite investments in pricing software, ERP upgrades, and talent? It usually boils down to two root causes. This article maps out pricing-driven margin success.
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Pam Stott and Doug Ford co-founded the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition (NCTWC) to address the ongoing labor shortage in the construction trades. The organization has gained momentum by actively engaging with schools to raise awareness about careers in the trades, starting with young students from the second grade through high school.
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MDM’s recent discussion with Andrew Brown, co-founder of Toolfetch.com, an eCommerce-based industrial distributor that caters to skilled trades, addressed how distributors stand to benefit from supporting skilled trades while debunking myths associated with them.
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A new Zillow survey across 26 metro areas found strong support for middle housing options, such as duplexes and small apartment buildings. The survey highlights a severe housing shortage, with over 8 million “missing households.” Modest densification measures, such as allowing more housing units on single-family lots, could help alleviate this shortage and slow housing price growth.
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How does artificial intelligence enable digital transformation in distribution? And what should distributors keep in mind when evaluating and implementing AI as part of their overall strategy? This article covers a recent Technology Leader Panel that tackled these questions which was hosted by Distribution Strategy Group’s Jonathan Bein.
Understanding when to adopt warehouse automation is essential for optimizing supply chain operations, as warehouses play a key role in storage, distribution, and inventory management. The 2024 Automation Study by Modern Materials Handling reveals that companies are increasingly investing in automation to improve warehouse capacity, efficiency, and order accuracy. For successful implementation, companies should partner with material handling systems integrators to navigate the complex process of selecting and integrating the right automation technologies.
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World Millwork Alliance (WMA) 54 TH Annual Convention & Tradeshow will hold its’ premier event at the Memphis Cook Convention Center from September 11-15, 2018. WMA will offer Veterans and Students complimentary access to the exhibit hall during Millwork Career Day on Friday, September 14, 2018 during the show hours of 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
WMA welcomes Veterans and Students to explore a career in the millwork industry. Learn from worldwide millwork professionals while viewing the finest millwork products. Meet with industry distributors and manufacturers about the opportunities in a millwork career.
Pre-registration for a name badge is available by completing a WMA Registration Form. Any local Student or Veteran who has pre-registered will pick up their complimentary “Expo – One Day Pass” with a valid student ID or Veteran ID at the WMA registration desk in the Memphis Cook Convention Center.
Veterans must show a Veteran’s Administration (VA) identification card to receive an “Expo-One Day Pass” and to gain entrance into the exhibit hall on Friday, September 14, 2018.
Students must show a valid Student photo I.D. card to receive an “Expo-One Day Pass” and to gain entrance into the exhibit hall on Friday, September 14, 2018.
Pre-registration is open until August 13, 2018; thereafter, registration is onsite at the WMA registration desk in the Memphis Cook Convention Center.
