We consulted a legal expert well-versed in DEI legal policy and advisement on how leadership teams can navigate what could become a tricky situation.
Economic Trends
Article
MDM Forecast: 2024 Ticks Up, Followed by Much Better 2025
Month-to-month, the revenue outlook for 2024 improved modestly, while 2025’s had a healthy increase. See those figures plus an updated GDP forecast here.
Strategy
Article
A Deep Dive into Ferguson’s Digital Strategy
The last of this three-part Premium series examines how the plumbing, HVAC and industrial distributor has leveraged Ferguson.com, Build.com and Ferguson Rewards
Strategy
Article
Buy or Build Tech Solutions? Stellar Embraces Both
This case study details the MRO products distributor’s pandemic-born initiative to complement its third-party software solutions with in-house technology, and the ROI gained from the hybrid approach.
Strategy
Article
Inside Ferguson’s Private Brand Strategy
The second of this three-part Premium series examines the plumbing, HVAC and industrial supplier’s exclusive brands that have been a key market accelerator.
Technology
Article
Fastenal Details Rollout of Internal AI Tools
Fastenal launched an AI-upgraded chatbot in June, and is currently building a sourcing tool — both intended to help its staff. Get the details here.
Market Analysis
Article
Stubborn Demand Softness Prompts Macroeconomic Context
With demand softness lasting longer than any industrial distributor would prefer, we examine recent executive commentary and numerous economic indicators to make sense of business conditions.
The first of this three-part Premium series examines the plumbing, HVAC and industrial supplier’s scaled diversification that has put it at or near the top of many of MDM’s Top Distributors Lists.
Economic Trends
Article
MDM Forecast: August Annual Outlook is Weakest of 2024
Month-to-month, all but two of the U.S. wholesale trade’s 19 sectors saw further regression in our August forecast.
Building Materials/Construction
Article
Exclusive: New Details Emerge on QXO’s Go-to-Market Plans
Through a new report and an interview with someone close to QXO, MDM gleaned insights about which building materials verticals the splash-making distributor is targeting.
Market Analysis
Article
MDM Data: Distributors Report Challenging Margins, Market Competition
More than half of respondents in the 2Q24 Baird-MDM Distribution Survey indicated they characterized 2Q24 as slightly or much more competitive than a year earlier.
Technology
Article
How to Navigate Labor Challenges in Distribution
As distributors look to add to their headcount in a challenging labor market, tech experts share three ways automation can help.

