About Industrial Supply Trends
Industrial Supply Trends (IST) is a digital publication focused on the industrial supply channel. IST covers market developments, operational trends, and strategic shifts that matter to distributors, manufacturers, and manufacturer rep agencies. The goal is straightforward: share observations and ideas that generate useful discussion and help readers think more clearly about their businesses.
IST is published by Channel Marketing Group, a research, analytics, and consulting firm serving the wholesale distribution channel since 2001. Content reflects the perspectives of CMG contributors and guest authors with direct channel experience.
Readers should not interpret any post or comment as a recommendation to purchase from or avoid a particular supplier, or as the basis for an investment decision.
Industrial Supply Trends — Editorial Team
IST is led by practitioners who have worked inside the industrial distribution channel, not outside looking in.
Chuck Labow
Chuck leads CMG’s HVAC-R consulting division and contributes to IST as part of his broader focus on distribution strategy across the HVACR, electrical, and industrial supply channels. He works with distributors, manufacturers, and rep organizations on growth strategy, sales performance, and go-to-market execution.
His perspective on distribution comes from operating inside it. He has held full P&L responsibility as President of a specialty manufacturer, managed distributor branches for Graybar Electric and GEXPRO, and led teams through turnarounds and growth cycles. He has implemented CRMs, rebuilt sales organizations, and worked directly with contractors on material flow and job performance.
Much of his current advisory work centers on channel strategy, go-to-market execution, and AI and its practical implications for distribution businesses. He advises distributors navigating adoption and works with AI platforms serving the channel on go-to-market strategy, giving him perspective on both sides of the equation.
Chuck is based in the Orlando, FL area and can be reached at clabow@channelmkt.com or 302.757.3130.
David Gordon
David founded Channel Marketing Group in 2001 after spending a year with an electrical industry “dot com”, five years at IMARK Group and over 10 years in the performance marketing industry where he helped companies in over 60 industries with strategies to accelerate growth and increase customer engagement. CMG Trends first publication ElectricalTrends.com was started in 2006 to serve the Electrical Distribution Market. In 2018 HVACRtrends.com was established to serve the HVACR Distribution Channel.
David has written and presented for publications and associations including Modern Distribution Management, NEMRA, NEMA, Electrical Wholesaling, TED Magazine, Progressive Distributor, Industrial Supply Magazine, Supply House Times and the Canadian Electrical Wholesaler.
Be an Industrial Supply Trends guest author
Interested in being an Industrial Supply Trends contributor and sharing thought-leadership content, or information from your company, email us.
