| June 8, 2007 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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- Trends in industrial distribution
Pembroke Consulting President and NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence Fellow Adam J. Fein, Ph.D. analyzes the evolving client relationships, product offerings and value-added services of industrial distributors. He also identifies four major industry trends, including private-label products, demand-driven channels, changing profit models and customers who are connected. Industrial Distribution
(6/1)
     
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To buy: Copies of "Facing the Forces of Change®: Lead the Way in the Supply Chain" are available here.
- Going green makes a statement from eager CEOs
A number of high-level corporate executives, such as Rupert Murdoch, are switching over to the green movement regardless of whether they fully buy into the science behind it. In his blog, Rich Karlgaard defines a new breed of CEOs called "Red Greens" that act "Green," but base their environmentally conscientious actions on what they consider to be smart economic and public relations moves. Forbes
(6/18)
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| | Live Webcast: Demand-Driven Customer Relationships
Join IBM for a complimentary live web conference as distribution industry expert, Dr. Adam Fein, moderates a panel of guest distributors sharing their personal experiences on how they optimized their inventory levels to increase service levels while reducing inventory carrying costs — Tuesday, June 19 at 1PM ET. | |
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| Best Practices |  | |
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- Good customer service relies on listening
A discussion with Diane Berenbaum, co-author of "How to Talk to Customers" emphasizes the importance of building customer relations through listening. Providing excellent customer service can be a challenge, and small businesses can work on accomplishing this by listening to suggestions from associates and customers. BusinessWeek
(6/1)
- Learn more about voice-directed technology
Voice-directed technology may be the answer if you're looking to boost efficiency and increase productivity at the distribution center. Voice works by sending warehouse management system assignments to a distribution center employee, who is wearing a headset equipped with a battery-powered mobile computer, which converts the data to audio-based commands. Via the wearable computer, the employee responds verbally when the task is completed, which in turn cues the next command, in a process that saves time, improves safety and reduces the number of errors. Supply & Demand Chain Executive
(6/4)
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- Etiquette, manners for sales reps
Sales guru Dave Kahle addresses the proper etiquette to use with clients. Kahle's tips include making sure to ask permission for a colleague's time if you don't have an appointment; calling clients by their first name only when appropriate; and remaining standing until the person you're meeting with sits. DaveKahle.com
(5/22)
| Small Business Manager | | |
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| Executive Life | | |
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| NAW Insider | | |
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Automation creates need for e-commerce insurance
Where would you be if a virus caused your computer network to crash or if an artificially generated electric current damaged your material handling equipment? Would the expense of replacing a salesperson's stolen laptop be out-of-pocket? The Hartford offers low-cost solutions for some exposures that could be high-tech nightmares. Read about the solutions.
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Practice lean warehousing and eliminate wasted space and time
This is the first book to apply the "lean manufacturing theory" specifically to the world of warehousing. Lean Warehousing discusses the "why of getting lean" and shows you how to eliminate wasted space and time in a systematic approach, so you have a leaner warehouse operation tomorrow than you do today.
| Weekly Poll | | |
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How many nonbusiness trips do you take a year?
After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.
 | More than four. |
| Somewhere between two and four. |
| Usually just one. |
| People go on trips outside of business? |
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | It takes 20 years of hard work to become an overnight success."
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| | Recent NAW SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, June 06, 2007
- Monday, June 04, 2007
- Friday, June 01, 2007
- Wednesday, May 30, 2007
- Tuesday, May 29, 2007
| | | Lead Editor: Ashley McMaster
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