Measuring profitability by enterprise gross margin is a sledgehammer approach to a problem requiring nuance and precision.
Industry Analysis
How IMARK Group Is Helping Distributors Compete Amid Disruption
Co-ops and marketing groups like IMARK Group play a big role in helping independent distributors compete in today’s fast-changing market.
Office Depot Hires Former Amazon Business GM – and That’s Just the Start
In a series of moves, including bringing on the executive who launched Amazon Business, ODP is joining the marketplace war. With a flurry of aggressive, recent actions, ODP (the newly named parent company of Office Depot) seems intent on building a rival marketplace to Amazon Business. On Feb. 16, the company announced it had hired…
If Marketplaces are a Must, Should You Build Your Own?
Independent alternatives to third-party marketplaces like Amazon are emerging, and some distributors have found success selling through them. This has many wondering if they should build their own marketplaces.
How Fastenal is Outperforming the Market in 2020
Fastenal is outperforming its peer distributors in 2020 despite the recession. They’ve recovered quickly by capitalizing on their end market and excellent company culture, hitting their top line goals.
Home Depot Buys Back HD Supply; MRO Distributors Get Squeezed
Home Depot pays a 25% premium for an enterprise value of $8 billion to reacquire HD Supply, putting branch-based distributors square in the middle of the Devil and the Deep Orange Apron.
The Difference Between Alibaba and Amazon: How Alibaba’s B2B Platform Works for Distributors
John Caplan talks about how Alibaba’s customer-focused business model may be a better digital marketplace for U.S. distributors than Amazon Business.
The Minefields of Building Companies through Acquisition
A study of both successful and disastrous consolidations finds 10 common mistakes that drive employee misunderstanding and mistrust after the deal.
Burned But Not Destroyed: How Crises Foster Innovation
Recently, the Atlantic posted a story about the resilience of human societies in the face of disaster. The author made a strong historical argument that disasters have, in fact, stoked the development of modern cities.
The 3 Ingredients You Need to Build a Successful Marketplace
Marketplaces are among the most successful business models of the modern era. From Amazon to Google to Grainger’s Zoro, there’s clearly good money in the marketplace.