In 2009, my construction company was hired by an MRO and industrial electrical distributor for a warehouse renovation project. The owner knew exactly what he wanted, we were in constant, direct contact. As we built a working relationship, I started asking questions about the mechanics of industrial distribution—the supply chain dynamics, manufacturer relationships, … [Read more...] about The Industrial Inventory Paradox & Central Surplus Origin
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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: From a customer base perspective, sales to OEM customers were up 16% and MRO sales increased 14.5%. Fastenal … [Read more...] about Fastenal’s May Outperforms. The Market?
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 not experience it, there seemingly are always conversations. While on the distributor side the decision drivers relate to generational change (and lack of succession) and need to invest on the part of sellers, for buyers it is … [Read more...] about The 2026 Industrial M&A Landscape
