Wholesalers and manufacturers attending the Wholesale Distributors Association convention in Dallas in March shared their views on the sales outlook for the remainder of the year and the biggest challenges they face in their business.
"We are projecting a slight increase," said Don Maloney, president of Coburn Supply Co. (Beaumont, Texas). "Business is up from last year, but last year at this time was not a good indicator. It looks good for the rest of the year, assuming interest rates remain manageable. But until the first shovel is dug in the dirt and thrown, you never know for sure, so we are cautiously optimistic."