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
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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
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
