Distributor Resources for the taking

According to an article written by General John A Sutter, on January 23, 1848 gold was found during the excavation for a saw-mill near modern day Coloma, California.  Shortly after, hundreds and thousands began the treck to California with a single phrase on their lips; "there's gold in them thar hills!  Gold free for the taking."  If you are a distributor owner, sales manager, or product specialist, there are some real nuggets out there.  Yours for the taking. 

Use this map to speed your search... And, if you find gold, share with others.....

Distributor Associations – Adding Value to Industry

 

Distributor Associations once thought to be the cigar chomping “good old boys club” for distributor owners are on the upswing.  Associations have decided - they must add value to the industries they serve.  Over the past 10 years these meetings have morphed from tax deferred vacations to power meetings.  This article by Rich Vurva of Progressive Distributor Magazine provides the details. 

>Click Here<

 

The biggest distributors

Have you ever wondered how you stacked up against the big guys?

This information allows you to plan your own strategy, understand the most common pitches used by competitors, and understand supplier behavior.

 

Each year, Industrial Distribution Magazine publishes The Big 50.

 

Electrical Wholesaling Magazine Publishes there own list along with an interesting article outlining developments in the industry the top 200

 

 

And as my hero Ron Popel of (K-tel fame) used to say…

But wait there’s more

 

Think this information isn’t valuable?  Why do you thing Purchasing Magazine is monitoring the Top 10 Independent Distributors? check out what the purchasing guys are saying

I can’t believe this stuff is FREE!

NAW Free Wholesale Distribution Industry Reports

The fine folks at the National Association of Wholesale – Distributors offer a number of free reports.  These reports are yours for the taking and they cover some of the most pressing issues in distribution.

Here is a short list:

• A report on finding the right workers for your business
• Understanding the risks and challenges of RFID
• Department of Defense (DoD) RFID Guidelines
• Why Wholesale distribution serves suppliers and customer at the lowest cost
• Healthcare plan and Tax implications
• Industry Standards for E-Marketplace (why reinvent the wheel)
• Providing leadership in Wholesale Distribution

Business Week Online Courses

Business Week Magazine offers free instructor led online courses covering a number of interesting topics.  Here is a couple that I found to be worthy of mentioning (there are dozens):

• Recruiting and Retaining Staff for Your Small Business
• Setting up a wireless home network
• The Art of Business Networking
• High Impact Low Cost Marketing

Hoover’s CEO’s on Camera

Ever wonder what the CEO of your largest customer is saying to the media?  Can you think of ways to use this information in presentations and sales calls?  Check out what the CEO of General Electric says about the 2007 Economic Outlook.

 

The Financial aspect of Distribution

The Profit Planning Group of Boulder, Colorado is dedicated to helping small to medium sized businesses understand the financial side of their business.  They run the Profit Analysis Report activity for a who’s who of Distributor Associations.  Dr. Al Bates, the President and CEO, speaks to distributor groups over 100 times each year.  And, he makes the outlines of his past presentations available for anyone to download.

Click here to find the gold