The company’s biennial Grainger Show customer event perfectly demonstrated how the distributor is hyper-focused on customer solutions — just one of which is its expansive product assortment.
Expert Perspective
Article
An Ethical Examination of Business AI
While application possibilities understandably drive AI discussions, the ethics component has been overlooked. This piece dives deep into the guardrails distributors will want to keep in mind as they navigate their AI journey.
Technology
Article
Ride the AI and Data Wave: Your Business Success Secret Sauce
While distribution has been slow to embrace the game-changing technology that tech giants have pioneered and exploited, the industry can still take advantage of the AI infrastructure that exists.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Article
Behind the Deal: Ferguson’s Bolt-On Acquisition Strategy Amplifies Growth
Hear from Ferguson’s CFO on its growth strategy and the acquisitions keeping the plumbing and industrial distribution giant in the headlines.
Economic Trends
Article
MDM Forecast: Back to Normal After 2023 Wholesale Revenue Dipped Below $8T
With 2023’s final wholesale trade numbers accounted for, see how the sector fared compared to previous years, and our latest 2024-2025 revenue expecations by industry vertical.
Cybersecurity
Article
So You’ve Been Cyber-Attacked. Now What?
With cyber attacks being a matter of when rather than if it happens to you, Nick Pericle concludes his 3-part series here with initial response steps to take when your organization suffers an attack and...
Quarterly MDM-Baird Distribution Survey
Article
Survey: How Will Supplier Pricing Impact Distributors’ Gross Margin in 2024?
Distributors won’t be able to pass along price increases in 2024 at nearly the rate of 2021-2023. So, the 4Q23 Baird-MDM Survey asked distributors how they see supplier pricing impacting gross margin.
Quarterly MDM-Baird Distribution Survey
Article
Data: Distributors’ 2024 Sales Growth Outlook by End Market
Using charts from our 4Q23 Baird-MDM Survey conducted in the first half of January, we illustrate what this year’s sales growth expectations are for distributors across five key customer end markets.
Cybersecurity
Article
Survey: How Concerned are Distributors about Cyber Threats?
Nearly all respondents in our 4Q23 Baird-MDM Industrial Distribution Survey conveyed some level of concern, but you’ll want to see what portion consider it a top threat, and their interesting commentary.
Cybersecurity
Article
How Distributors Can Fortify Against the Cyber Attack Onslaught
Part 2 of this cyber threats series goes all-in on defense: The steps distributors can take to prep a security framework and an incident response plan.
Economic Trends
Article
MDM January Forecast: 2024 Revenue Expectations Slip After Softer 2023
Our latest forecast called for downward revisions, snapping a three-month streak of optimistic revenue trends.
Some distributors treat purchasing and procurement roles as administrators tasked with buying what the company needs to function. But you can unlock profits by rethinking purchasing and treating your purchasing manager like a rock star.

