As the 4th quarter approaches and planning season happens, the importance of year-end profit numbers grows by the day. Many channel leaders have to see-saw from a meeting about this year to a Planning meeting for 2026 about every hour. I found when I was in those meetings every day, that I needed to focus my energy into buckets, to do the best job possible for the year end … [Read more...] about Industrial Planning season is here, are you ready for 2026?
Distributor News
ISA Member Haggard and Stocking – Acquisition News
A few weeks ago, I was able to do an IST profile on Haggard and Stocking and their history. It was a fun story to write on an Industrial Channel leader who has shown steady growth over the past five decades. As what always seems to happen if right after you write a story the company, they go out and make a big move right after it is published. Haggard and Stocking make an … [Read more...] about ISA Member Haggard and Stocking – Acquisition News
Fall is the season to get your Channel business ready for 2026
This week, I was on calls with various Industrial Channel and Industrial Supply Association (ISA) leaders discussing the upcoming ISA Fall Summit in Memphis, TN, in early November. We were discussing the tracks, the speakers and presenters, and the takeaways for participants. In looking at the speakers and presenters, I was struck by the fact that 20 of the speakers across … [Read more...] about Fall is the season to get your Channel business ready for 2026
ISA Member Spotlight Series – Industrial Supply Company
As I was doing the research and interviews with Industrial Supply Company, and writing this profile, one famous quote kept popping in my head.... "Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country." Horace Greeley. That "grow up with the country" phrase certainly applies to Industrial Supply Company. They are a great example of a Company founded in 1916 in Salt … [Read more...] about ISA Member Spotlight Series – Industrial Supply Company
ISA Member Earnings – Lawson Products (DSG)
ISA Member - Lawson Products is part of Distribution Solutions Group (DSG), so their results are shown as platform in the overall DSG earnings releases. Lawson showed moderate sales growth in the latest Q2 2025 Earnings Release. Distribution Solutions Group (DSG) – DSG, the specialty distribution company serving the MRO, OEM and industrial technologies markets, headquartered … [Read more...] about ISA Member Earnings – Lawson Products (DSG)
ISA Member Earnings – Kennametal Q4 2025 Results
Kennametal launched their fourth-quarter earnings report in August and the industrial waters have been choppy this year, but the size of the overall North American market creates opportunities for growth. Kennametal – Kennametal, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions for the … [Read more...] about ISA Member Earnings – Kennametal Q4 2025 Results
ISA Member Earnings – MSC Industrial Q3 2025
MSC Industrial launched their third-quarter earnings report in July and the industrial waters have ben choppy this year, but the size of the overall North American market creates opportunities for growth. MSC Industrial – a distributor of a broad range of metalworking and MRO products and services, reported third quarter financial results on July 1, showing a 0.8% … [Read more...] about ISA Member Earnings – MSC Industrial Q3 2025
IST Analysis – Grainger Q2 2025 Earnings Release
ISA Member and Industrial Leader Grainger released their Q2 Results on August 1st, which provided insight into their pricing actions and continued above market growth in their Endless Assortment business unit. At this years, ISA Fall Summit Gowri Natarajan - Director Procurement & Supplier Management at Grainger will be speaking at the event. Our Channel Marketing Group … [Read more...] about IST Analysis – Grainger Q2 2025 Earnings Release
Part 3 – Manufacturers and Distributors need to do better than a C+ on their report cards
Last week I was on a fun webcast where Mark Jackmore CEO of Precision, and I were diving into real-world examples of how manufacturers and distributors could use data more effectively to report progress and take meaningful action together to improve their business. We covered a lot of ground on the webcast, shared best practice examples, and tactical information on how you … [Read more...] about Part 3 – Manufacturers and Distributors need to do better than a C+ on their report cards
ISA Fall Summit is expanding content and tracks for the Industrial Channel
Late last week, the Industrial Supply Association sent out for the full details for the ISA Fall Summit November 3-5, 2025 in Memphis. The ISA Fall Summit has evolved over the years, and I am excited about this year's enhancements. The event still has it's bedrock programming for Emerging Leaders, Women in Industry, and the Veterans Empowerment Network of course, but … [Read more...] about ISA Fall Summit is expanding content and tracks for the Industrial Channel
