Articles Tagged with ''distributors''

AI is helping women streamline complex or time-consuming tasks, such as preparing commercial quotations, entering sales orders, managing email and calendars, and organizing large volumes of product information. It is also becoming part of daily life, supporting everything from cooking and budgeting to travel planning and quick problem solving.

Marcone also received this award last year. 

At the American Supply Association's recent LEAD retreat, the need to transfer industry knowledge from retiring veterans to the next generation was highlighted as a critical issue in the PHCP-PVF sector. To address this, ASA's Business Intelligence Unit has commissioned a survey among its members, in line with the objectives of its Operational Excellence and Embracing the Future councils.

Distributors must constantly adjust due to pricing volatility, supply-chain disruptions, labor shortages, inflation, and shifting customer expectations, tightening decision timelines. In November, five distributors met at ASA NETWORK in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for Supply House Times’ 16th annual distributor roundtable to assess the market and discuss future success.

In wholesale distribution, progress in 2025 rarely came from one sweeping change. It came from smarter forecasting and more accurate data analysis. From incremental improvements in product data that made online searches less frustrating to onboarding processes that got new hires productive faster than before. None of it flashy, but all of it impactful.

Looking back at this past year, I want to leave you with a few notes about some of the ASA events I thought were extra special for me and also some other things that make ASA so special as our industry’s only national trade association.

Nearly three in four ASA members say their companies are already experimenting with AI, while 38 percent report they are exploring use cases, while 34 percent are piloting one or more AI tools.

According to the American Supply Association’s most recent sales report, industrywide wholesale trade in mid-2025 was up just over six percent year-over-year, while inventories climbed a modest 1.3%. That balance suggests something healthy — not overheated, but steady growth with wholesalers staying disciplined on stock levels. In other words, people are buying smart.

Supply House Times discussed the evolving PHCP-PVF industry with members at the 53rd AIM/R conference, focusing on rising expectations, market shifts, and the importance of strong partnerships.

Faith, stewardship, and a people-first leadership style have shaped Miller’s 45-year career at Eastern. As he prepares to serve as the American Supply Association’s 2026 president, he aims to bring that spirit to the PHCP-PVF community by encouraging members, promoting smart technology adoption, and building a stronger future together.