One-third of distributors polled in the 4Q25 Baird-MDM Industrial Distribution survey say recruiting skilled labor is their biggest workforce challenge this year — and rising wages are forcing some to make cuts. We analyze the...
Years of supply chain disruption haven’t triggered the sourcing pivot many expected. New Baird-MDM survey findings explore why industrial distributors are largely holding steady — and what’s really standing in the way of faster reshoring...
Now is the time for distributors to abandon their “just-in-case” mindset, argues Nelson Valderrama. Today’s (and future) markets and competition require strategic inventory management that optimizes the return on investment in countless SKUs with shifting...
More than a handful of companies on MDM’s Top Distributors Lists garnered the reputation-based honor from Fortune.
Our January update shows 2025 finishing up as a solid annual growth year for the industry. Get your product sector-specific forecasts here through 2027.
As data centers demand nearly $7 trillion in infrastructure investment by 2030, electrical distributors are making strategic bets — from major facility expansions to new leadership roles. See how distributors are looking to capture their...
Under new CEO Martina McIsaac, MSC Industrial is emerging from a difficult 2024 and first half of 2025 by refocusing on sales execution, core customers and productivity. Early fiscal 2026 results show rising efficiency, manufacturing-led...
For many mid-size distributors, the warehouse is the biggest asset — a huge “bank account,” if you will. But unlike savings you can easily access, this inventory is a financial pain point. It’s a trap...
While building materials/construction — which had led every month prior — went quiet, other product verticals picked up the slack.
Stemming from MDM’s 2025 M&A Summit, learn how Singer Equipment scaled to nearly $1 billion through disciplined M&A — without sacrificing culture. CFO Seth Feldman shares how Singer evaluates deals, avoids costly missteps, integrates acquisitions...
Stellar’s DCS program has delivered approximately $250 million in verified customer savings over the past 16 years while taking the Tacoma, WA-based distributor from a regional player to a national standout. Here, we explain how...
Our final forecast for the year reflects a healthy upgrade for the industry’s overall 2025 revenue, with all but two of its 19 product sectors seeing upward revisions. Meanwhile, our 2026 outlook also saw a...
