We distill results of the 2Q23 Baird-MDM Industrial Distribution Survey’s polling of respondent expectations for the impact of government programs and reshoring on theIr businesses in the next 5-10 years.
Market Analysis
Article
MSC Voices ‘Leveling’ Market Tone
“The tone on the ground is one of leveling rather than significant declines,” said MSC CEO Erik Gershwind during a June 29 3Q earning call.
Technology
Article
How Much Do Distributors Leverage AI Today, and Where?
We examine the quantitative and qualitative aspectsof that question, which was asked in the new 2Q23 Baird-MDM Distribution Survey.
Economic Trends
Article
July Wholesale Data: Expectations Weaken for 2023 2H and 2024
Full-year revenue expectations soured for a second-straight month, falling from a slight gain to decline. Mike Hockett recaps those figures and more.
Market Analysis
Article
Home Depot’s Plan to Serve the Untapped Contractor Market
Vesna Brajkovic details how Home Depot targets a market typically served by wholesale distributors with its plans to be a one-stop-shop for complex contractor projects.
Digital Commerce
Article
Mutual Gains: ARG Industrial & Midland Industries Both Win by Sharing Product Data
Within the distributor-supplier relationship, product information sharing can be hard to come by. But here, Mike Hockett details a partnership between ARG Industrial and Midland Industries as a winning example.
Market Analysis
Article
How Customer Engagement is Changing in Distribution, and Where AI Applies
Mike Hockett distills key takeaways from a new MDM whitepaper and webcast on the topic of customer experience and what distributors are doing to improve it.
Economic Trends
Article
Data: Wholesale Optimism Grows for Soft Landing
Mike Hockett breaks down the latest economic indicators, wholesale sector data and industry sentiment, which points to improved full-year outlook.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Article
Behind the Deal: Global Industrial Finds Strategic Fit in Indoff
Global Industrial CEO Barry Litwin shares what made Indoff the perfect fit to be the industrial distributor’s first acquisition since 2015.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Article
Behind the Deal: BlackHawk Grows in Fasteners with Stock’d Supply
MDM spoke with BlackHawk Industrial CEO John Mark to learn more about the company’s recent acquisition of Chattanooga-based Stock’d Supply.
Market Analysis
Article
Home Depot, Lowe’s Ready for Pros’ Shrinking Project Sizes
Lowe’s reports a more positive outlook on Pro customer sales as projects shrink and Pros work through backlogs.
Data & Analytics
Article
Analytics that Quantify Value & Grow Profits (Get Control of Your Results)
Randy MacLean shares the most effective analytics used by companies to actually control their results and appease all stakeholders.

