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.
Technology
Article
ChatGPT’s Big Potential in Supplier Negotiations
Mike Hockett discusses how AI chatbot tech is being utilized by a retail giant in supplier negotiations, and how it can apply in distribution.
Market Analysis
Article
Data: Mixed Signals Continue as Distributors’ Expectations Improve
Mike Hockett analyzes the Census Bureau’s latest wholesale trade data and how it compares with commentary MDM has gathered.
Quarterly MDM-Baird Distribution Survey
Article
Commentary: Distributors Chime In on Choppy Industrial Demand
Some markets voiced robust 1Q demand while others saw things at least start to slow. Here’s what distribution execs had to say in the 1Q 2023 Baird-MDM Survey.
Operations
Article
Friction Fixes: How to Align Sales with Operations
The age-old conflict of sales vs. revenue operations doesn’t have to be a combative relationship. Mike Hockett distills takeaways from an ISA23 session on ways to make this dynamic more collaborative.
In the Baird-MDM 1Q Survey, we asked distributors what obstacles they faced when trying to leverage technology. Read the responses here.
Strategy
Article
How to Map Your Customers to the Right Channels and Reps
In this second of a two-part series by Redwood Advisors, learn about the final steps to optimizing an expansive sales force: mapping your accounts to the right sales channel and assigning them the right rep.
Sales & Marketing
Article
How to Refresh and Refine Your Customer Segmentation
This MDM Premium piece from Redwood Advisors focuses on how your organization can develop a detailed customer segmentation methodology.

