Distributors help keep businesses running smoothly by ensuring they have the right items in the right place at the right time. And if you’re doing your job well, the public doesn’t even see you.

Respondents to ASA’s monthly sales reported a median sales increase of 18% for January 2023 vs. 2022. This reverses a four-month trend of slowing year-over-year rates of growth.

Last month, the room at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida, was brimming with more than 100 volunteers representing multibillion-dollar international companies, regional independent companies, and maybe the lifeblood of the industry, multigenerational family businesses.

The overall survey queried sectors such as industrial, electrical, safety, HVACR, plumbing, building materials, safety, hardware, chemical and plastics, oil and gas products, JanSan and several others. The survey featured an 85-15 percent split between distributors and manufacturers.

Affiliated Distributors (AD) announced the launch of the Center for Independent Distributor Leadership (CIDL), a development program designed to prepare the current and future leaders of independent distribution with the competencies and experiences to build long-term, sustainable success for their companies.

Respondents to ASA’s monthly sales report survey reported a median sales increase of 9% for November 2022 vs. 2021.

Dice, currently the president of Winsupply Equity Group, will replace Winsupply Inc. President John McKenzie, who is retiring Feb. 28.

ASA’s Business Intelligence Unit recently published its latest Quarterly Market Survey that tackled a bevy of human resource-related questions.

During ASA’s NETWORK2022 in Chicago this past November, a member-led panel discussion focused on the much-talked about supply chain woes and inflationary conditions.

Affiliated Distributors (AD) announced that Ben Brumfield will be joining the company as President, AD Member Supply, effective March 6