Industrial Supply Trends is continuing our quarterly series of gaining marketplace insights and sharing it with you, helping you benchmark your performance. The Q3 Pulse of Industrial Supply survey is now open, until September 24th. Results will be shared the first week in October. We need input from distributors, manufacturers, and independent manufacturer … [Read more...] about Gain Industry Insights. Participate in the Q3 Pulse of Industrial Supply Survey
Industry Outlook
Why the ISA Executive Network Matters More Than Ever
For the past few months, the ISA leadership team and the ISA Educational Council have been working behind the scenes on this project. It has been fun to be part of the project led by Brendan Breen, his entire ISA team, and all the great educational committee and board leaders (leaders who are working every day in the channel) who are committed to this program. So, getting … [Read more...] about Why the ISA Executive Network Matters More Than Ever
AI for Industrial Supply IMR’s
From a tech viewpoint, AI is what companies talk about. Distributors are implementing it or at least discussing it. Not much gets shared within the manufacturer environment but it is well in use. Independent manufacturer reps (IMRs) have also asked the question. Some have dappled. Few are advanced. Most are intrigued but lack expertise and/or are concerned about … [Read more...] about AI for Industrial Supply IMR’s
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
Pentagon Pricing Series – A Pricing Reset is the Most High-Risk and High-Reward Activity in B2B Industrial Distribution
As a former pricing leader for three billion-dollar distributors in North America, I can share from experience that a major pricing reset is simultaneously a dangerous activity, yet when done right, the best driver of top-line sales growth in this industry. Earlier this year, I wrote a Case Study for Modern Distribution Management (MDM) on the pricing reset MSC Industrial … [Read more...] about Pentagon Pricing Series – A Pricing Reset is the Most High-Risk and High-Reward Activity in B2B Industrial Distribution
Durable Goods & CAPEX Issues + Tarriff and Policy Volatility = Uncertainty – IST
As an analyst for the past 20 years, I have relied on key economic indicators as foundational to prepare forecasts for leadership to make informed business decisions. Two of those key foundational indicators were Durable Goods Purchases and Business Capital Investment, but those indicators have had much change the past 5 years. The once bellwether and predictable indicator … [Read more...] about Durable Goods & CAPEX Issues + Tarriff and Policy Volatility = Uncertainty – IST
AI Update: How do you keep your Industrial teams in the loop
The news is full of how rapidly AI is evolving, with a spate of recent articles predicting mass layoffs and massive disruptions. Advances are certainly breathtaking – when OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November 2022, it added a million users in 5 days; in April 2025, it achieved this in one hour; and reportedly one-third of companies are using AI agents to automate and improve … [Read more...] about AI Update: How do you keep your Industrial teams in the loop
