Fastenal’s May Outperforms. The Market?
Last month Fastenal reported sales of $751.5 million, putting them on track for around $9 billion (or slightly more at their growth rate) at the end of the year. May’s corporate sales were up nearly 15%. Looking at it from customer market perspective: Heavy manufacturing customers up by 18.7% Non-residential construction sales increased by 16% Other manufacturing sales climbed…
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Sales Incentives Drive 2026 Goal Achievement
We’re almost 50% of the way through the year. Are you almost 50% towards your 2026 sales and profitability goals? If not, now is the…
The 2026 Industrial M&A Landscape
The M&A market continues to be strong in the industrial supply sector on both the manufacturer and distributor fronts. And while at times you may…
Data Centers and the Industrial Supply Channel
Data centers are set to drive $650-$900 billion in 2026 CAPEX, making them one of the strongest growth engines in nonresidential construction and distribution. The…
The Construction Industry is Obsessed with Digital Tools
eCommerce. AI. Direct connectivity between customers and distributors. Access to manufacturer portals. The construction and industrial distribution channels are no longer only about product knowledge,…
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Data Centers and the Industrial Supply Channel
Data centers are set to drive $650-$900 billion in 2026 CAPEX, making them one of the strongest growth engines in nonresidential construction and distribution. The opportunity spans the full ecosystem—from upstream IT components to midstream REIT and hyperscale infrastructure to downstream construction support—creating multiple ways for distributors to win. The biggest advantage is service execution: distributors that can source, kit,…
The Construction Industry is Obsessed with Digital Tools
eCommerce. AI. Direct connectivity between customers and distributors. Access to manufacturer portals. The construction and industrial distribution channels are no longer only about product knowledge, logistics, access to credit (for customers) and personal relationships. You need to not only be able to use technology but sometimes you feel like you need to be a technology maven. Lizzy Higgins from Newborn…
Wesco’s $3 Billion MRO Secret: Why the Electrical Giant Probably Attended ISA26
How one of America’s most underestimated MROP players used ISA26 to build supplier alliances, potentially scout acquisitions, and stake its claim as a top-five industrial distributor — and why the rest of the channel should be paying close attention. When Wesco walked into the Huntington Convention Center for ISA26, a few people in the exhibit hall may have done a…
The 2-for-1 Trap: Converting Dead-Stock into Liquidity
In the industrial supply industry, where organic growth is there but slugg(ish), distributors are increasingly aggressive about “buying support”. This is especially true in unseating competition that operate MRO storerooms or are doing “vendor managed inventory” initiatives for industrial accounts. Market share for distributors isn’t just earned like it used to be—it’s bought. But for the distributor, “buying” that share often comes…
Byrnes Retires from Impactful Career at NetPlus, Leadership Promotions
NetPlus Alliance, the industry buying group with over 400 distributor members, shared a recent press release announcing the retirement of Paul Byrnes and some recent promotions. The NetPlus Headline Paul Byrnes set to retire from NetPlus after 12 impactful years in leadership Zach Brado tapped to lead as new Senior Vice President of Growth & Development Jennifer McMillan promoted to…
Grainger Outperforms Industry Due to eCommerce
Grainger reported 1Q 2026 results on May 7, with sales of $4.7 billion, up 10.1%, or 12.2% on a daily, organic constant currency basis. They achieved an operating margin of 16.7%, up 110 basis points, reversing last quarter’s decline. Volume growth and higher customer demand drove Endless Assortment sales up 19.6%, and High Touch sales were up 10.5%. Grainger passed…
AI in Distribution: A Reality Check Before You Commit the Budget
The conversation around AI in distribution has moved past the pilot stage. Budgets are being committed, vendors are promising transformation, and the stakes on getting it right are higher than ever. Justin Johnson, founder and CEO of Motivate, offers a practical reality check for distributors weighing where AI actually moves the needle and where it just creates motion without results. His observations…
CRM Isn’t the Problem — How Reps Drive Adoption
In conversations across the rep community, one theme continues to surface: CRM is no longer optional. CRM Is No Longer Optional Rep agencies today have access to capable platforms such as RepFabric, Zoho, Hubspot, LeadSmart, and Salesforce among others. The functionality is there. What continues to lag is consistent adoption. You hear it directly from agency owners. They question how…
