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Industrial Supply Trends

Industrial Supply Trends

Insights to Inspire, Grow, and Profit.

Chuck Labow

Stanley Black Decker Industrial Channel: Q1 2026 Read

May 4, 2026 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

Stanley Black Decker Q1 2026 results landed this week.  For the Stanley Black Decker industrial channel, the more useful read is what sits underneath the headline numbers.  Total revenue was up 3% to $3.8 billion, organic revenue was flat, adjusted gross margin held at 30.2%, and adjusted EPS landed at $0.80.  Those are the financials.  The channel signals are where the article … [Read more...] about Stanley Black Decker Industrial Channel: Q1 2026 Read

MSC Industrial Q2 2026 Earnings: Revenue Slows, Margins Hold, Guidance Improves

April 14, 2026 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

MSC Industrial distribution center representing Q2 2026 earnings performance and industrial supply channel strategy

MSC Industrial earnings for Q2 fiscal 2026 showed modest revenue growth against a mixed demand picture. Revenue grew 2.9% year over year to $917.8 million, coming in below consensus expectations in the $930 to $932 million range.  Price contributed approximately 660 basis points to sales growth, while volume declined roughly 400 basis points.  The gap between those two numbers … [Read more...] about MSC Industrial Q2 2026 Earnings: Revenue Slows, Margins Hold, Guidance Improves

Fastenal Q1 2026: Strong Growth, Tightening Margins

April 14, 2026 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

Industrial distribution warehouse representing Fastenal Q1 2026 earnings results and channel implications

Fastenal Q1 2026 results put the Winona, Minnesota-based industrial distributor at $2.2 billion in quarterly revenue, up 12.4% year over year.  The headline is clean.  What sits underneath it is worth unpacking for anyone tracking how the industrial distribution channel is absorbing cost pressure, managing customer mix, and investing in technology to hold position. Revenue … [Read more...] about Fastenal Q1 2026: Strong Growth, Tightening Margins

The Friction Gap: Why the Industrial Buyer Journey Has Stalled

February 12, 2026 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

Industrial buyer journey friction gap between modern purchasing behavior and traditional sales channels

Sales cycles are getting longer. Win rates against 'no decision' are climbing. The instinct is to blame the buyer for going dark, but the real issue is that the industrial buyer journey has evolved past the channel's ability to support it. Craig Martin is President of C3 Team, a strategy and marketing agency that works with industrial manufacturers on growth, brand, and … [Read more...] about The Friction Gap: Why the Industrial Buyer Journey Has Stalled

Stanley Black Decker Earnings: Margins Up, But Volume Softness Raises Channel Questions

February 10, 2026 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

What Stanley Black Decker Earnings Tell Us About Channel Demand The latest Stanley Black Decker earnings tell a split story.  Margins are improving, but the volume underneath is soft, and the gains are coming from pricing and cost structure rather than demand.  For distributors and contractors who sell, stock, and rely on DeWalt, Craftsman, and Stanley products every day, … [Read more...] about Stanley Black Decker Earnings: Margins Up, But Volume Softness Raises Channel Questions

Eaton Q4 2025 Earnings: What Distributors Should Know

February 10, 2026 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

Eaton Q4 2025 earnings analysis for industrial distributors

What Eaton Q4 2025 Earnings Signal for Industrial Distributors Eaton Q4 2025 earnings delivered record numbers, but the real story for the industrial channel sits underneath the headline.  Data center demand is reshaping where Eaton invests, how it allocates capacity, and which segments get priority.  For distributors and reps carrying Eaton products, the … [Read more...] about Eaton Q4 2025 Earnings: What Distributors Should Know

Why Your Industry 4.0 ROI Remains Elusive

January 28, 2026 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

Manufacturing facility floor with digital overlay representing Industry 4.0 technology integration

The Execution Edge:Building an Industry 4.0 Model That Actually Delivers Craig Martin, C3 Team President The promise of Industry 4.0 ROI has been dangled in front of manufacturers and distributors for over a decade as the "Great Equalizer" for manufacturing and distribution. The promise was clear: invest in IoT, AI, and Big Data, and you will unlock unprecedented levels … [Read more...] about Why Your Industry 4.0 ROI Remains Elusive

MSC Industrial Revenue Growth Hits 4% as New CEO Takes the Helm

January 28, 2026 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

MSC Industrial distribution center representing Q2 2026 earnings performance and industrial supply channel strategy

MSC Industrial revenue growth of 4% in Q1 2026 looks healthy on the surface, but the details underneath tell a more nuanced story.  The distributor, one of the largest metalworking and MRO suppliers in North America, reported results on January 7 that beat earnings expectations while simultaneously raising questions about demand fundamentals.  For industrial distributors and … [Read more...] about MSC Industrial Revenue Growth Hits 4% as New CEO Takes the Helm

Visual Workplace Doubles Revenue with Forward Solutions’ Multi-Channel Transformation

January 24, 2026 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Jan. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forward Solutions today released a new case study showcasing how embracing a multi-channel sales and marketing strategy can deliver breakthrough growth for industrial manufacturers. With business buyers now expecting a seamless experience across distributor, direct, and digital channels, many mid-market manufacturers are … [Read more...] about Visual Workplace Doubles Revenue with Forward Solutions’ Multi-Channel Transformation

The AI-Enabled Distributor: From Pilot to Profit

January 11, 2026 by Chuck Labow Leave a Comment

Channel Marketing Group will release a new eBook, The AI-Enabled Distributor: From Pilot to Profit, on January 16.  The guide is designed specifically for distributor leaders who are trying to make sense of artificial intelligence in a practical, business-focused way. AI is no longer confined to innovation teams or IT departments.  For … [Read more...] about The AI-Enabled Distributor: From Pilot to Profit

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The AI-Enabled Distributor: From Pilot to Profit

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