For the past number of months, David Gordon and I have been talking non-stop about pricing and have been busy helping many Industrial distributors and manufacturers with their “buy side” and “sell side” programs. As a former pricing leader for two of the largest distributors in North America, I have been remiss in writing as much as we should about buy-side and sell-side … [Read more...] about Pentagon Pricing Series – Part 1 – Sell Side is everything
Distributor
Haggard and Stocking – Built by the customer for the customer
Our latest member spotlight series, I had the chance to connect with Haggard & Stocking Industrial Supplies & Services, an Industrial Distribution leader that provides engineered solutions in Tooling, Abrasives, Safety, Material Handling, Fasteners, Vending, and more. I was intrigued by Haggard & Stocking as I was doing the research, as they appear to be a good … [Read more...] about Haggard and Stocking – Built by the customer for the customer
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
Increasing Warehouse Output While Managing Costs
With business in 2025 looking like “slow growth” looking forward, leading industrial distributors are focused on improving the operational / warehouse aspects of their business. While national chains, over the years, quickly moved to a CDC or RDC model, larger independents have also adopted this approach. This achieves a dual mandate of “improved” inventory management and … [Read more...] about Increasing Warehouse Output While Managing Costs
Part 1 – How manufacturers are re-examining their Industrial distribution channel strategy for 2024
Leading manufacturers are always preparing for and examining their Industrial distribution channel for adjustments in 2024. Get yourself prepared for the coming manufacturer-manufacturer rep- distributor realignment games to come. Future-focused manufacturers have been re-examining their channel strategy for the past few years. As business slows, they will step up communication … [Read more...] about Part 1 – How manufacturers are re-examining their Industrial distribution channel strategy for 2024
