How to Build a Killer Insider Sales Team

From the NAW Blog

In recent years, inside sales has emerged as a highly profitable channel for distributors. “When appropriately utilized, inside sales reduces cost-of-sales by 40%–90% relative to field sales, while revenues may be maintained or even grown,” according to the Harvard Business Review. Selling more while spending less sounds great, but it is much easier said than done.

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Do You Have a Plan to Dominate or Are You Just Catching Up?

From the NAW Blog

More than ever before, distributors have the opportunity to break free of the chains that bind them to meager margins and feeble brands. But, there is a problem. The prevailing distribution mindset is that the forces of disruption and digital transformation highlight the weaknesses in the distributor's business model. Distribution is threatened, but distributors can do more. The forces of change that are enabling disruption are also available to distributors. Breaking free requires a new mindset: Distributors can dominate!

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Restructuring Distributor Sales Teams to Better Serve the Modern Buyer

From the NAW Blog

As modern buyers have embraced self-service (via internet searches, social media and e-commerce platforms) for much of their buyer journey, the need for traditional sellers who provide product information — and even application insights — has dropped radically. Buyers complete 70 percent of their journey before they even engage with sellers. COVID-19 has accelerated the pressures to boost productivity and elevate sales teams’ value-add.

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Viva la revolución: A Movement for Distributor Dominance

From the NAW Blog

By adopting a new mindset, distributors have the opportunity to break free of the chains that bind them to meager margins and feeble brands. That mindset is about believing that they can do more than survive. Distributors can dominate!

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Olander Offers Heli-Coil 101 Class

Have you ever wondered why use Heli-Coil wire inserts as opposed to other inserts? What are some of the Heli-Coil application  and installation requirements? This webinar, offered by The Olander Family of Companies, will review this topics and other common installation Issues, possible causes and solutions,  and some rather charming Heli-Coil factoids.

The webinar is scheduled for October 14, 2020, 11:00-11:45 am Pacific Time.

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How have your customers' behaviors changed since COVID-19?

From NAW

The COVID Effect on Purchasing

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The 3 Things an Effective Board of Directors Should Never Do

From NAW

In my last post for the NAW Blog Distributing Ideas, I talked about the importance of having an effective board structure as a foundational element of a sustainable competitive advantage, whether your business is public or private. It’s a rare thing, however, and a great one in a distribution company is an exception.

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What is your strategy in this era of technology disruption and transformation?

From NAW

Leading technology companies are offering customers new ways of ordering — by voice or product image. In addition, leading distributors and retailers are using AI-enabled business intelligence to understand their customer needs better, and they are applying autonomous vehicles, including drones, for deliveries. How important is all of this technology capability to your customers?

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3 Reasons to Invest in AI Now

There are a lot of reasons for distributors to adopt AI. As I explain in previous posts, the technology can help inside and outside sales reps sell more, transform customer service branches into revenue drivers and boost e-commerce performance by double-digit percentage points. At this point, the real question for distributors is not if they should adopt AI, but when. In this post, I’ll answer that question.  READ MORE

 

NAW Supports the INFORM Consumers Act

NAW Press Release:

Washington, DC (September 1, 2020) … Today the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) announces its support of the INFORM Consumers Act, legislation introduced by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) which will require common-sense disclosures from third-party marketplace sellers who use online platforms like Amazon to sell products to American consumers. A companion bill has also been introduced in the House by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).

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Are Your Managers Managing Your Culture?

From NAW blog:

A new article by Mark Dancer, NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence Fellow, is live in the NAW Blog: Distributing Ideas

 

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CDP: The Three Letters You Need to Know

From NAW:

A new article by Benj Cohen, Entrepreneur of Artificial Intelligence Technology and Third-generation Distributor, is live in the NAW Blog: Distributing Ideas

Here is a preview.

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What is Innovate to Dominate

From NAW:

What is Innovate to Dominate? 

In these uncertain times when you are looking to strengthen your business in the second half of 2020 and beyond, we hope you’ll use these timely educational resources as your roadmap to create B2B innovation. NAW and PROS are partnering to provide these essential tools to help you on your digital transformation journey so you can get ahead of the increasingly disruptive and transformational forces around your business. Our goal with these resources is for you to not only see into the future of distribution, but to step into it with world-class, scalable solutions.

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3 Steps to Managing Market Shifts with Inventory Analytics

From NAW Blog:

A new article by Senthil Gunasekaran, Co-author of Seven Enduring NAW Institute Best Sellers, is live in the NAW Blog: Distributing Ideas

Here is a preview.

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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Fundraiser

Würth Industry North America and Elgin Fastener Group have partnered with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and are hosting a charity auction to raise funds for a fantastic cause. Purchase a $98 raffle ticket, and you will be entered to win a 98-year-old custom, classic car! 100% of our proceeds will go directly to St. Jude, and there is no limit on the number of tickets you can purchase! The winner will be announced LIVE on September 16th on Würth Industry North America's LinkedIn Page and Elgin Fastener Group's Facebook pages!

Click here for details.

What's the Net Investment Income Tax and How does it Apply to Me?

What's the Net Investment Income Tax and How does it Apply to Me?

August 2020 Article by:

Matthew A. Dolan & Roman A. Basi
Basi, Basi & Associates at The Center for Financial, Legal & Tax Planning, Inc.

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How to Build a Foundation for Sustainable Competitive Advantage

From NAW blog:

A new article by J. Michael Marks, NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence Fellow, is live in the NAW Blog: Distributing Ideas:


Here is a preview.

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Distributors' Views on Technology Disruption and How to Respond

From NAW:

As part of NAW’s exciting new digital series of seven research reports and seven webinars titled, How Technology Will Transform Wholesale Distribution,” we urge you to register for our second webinar, “Distributors’ Views on Technology Disruption and How to Respond,” on Tuesday, August 18, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern, with speaker and author Ian Heller of Distribution Strategy Group.

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Are You Innovating with One Arm Tied Behind Your Back?

From NAW blog:

A new article by Mark Dancer, NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence Fellow, is live in the NAW Blog: Distributing Ideas


Here is a preview.

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Increasing Sales with Personalization or Segmentation

From the NAW blog:

A new article by Benj Cohen, Entrepreneur of Artificial Intelligence Technology and Third-generation Distributor, is live in the NAW Blog: Distributing Ideas

Here is a preview.

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