Subject Matter expert
Economics and Distribution: A Conversation with Alex Chausovsky
Wednesday, August 12 , 9:00 AM PDT / 12:00 PM EDT – 10:00 AM PDT / 1:00 PM EDT
Sit down with economics and global politics expert, Alex Chausovsky, as he and Ian Heller debate the biggest issues affecting distribution
Tariff policy is shifting by the week, conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine keep energy costs volatile, and AI’s long-term effect on jobs is still an open question. For distributors trying to plan inventory and pricing, the uncertainty is often as costly as the disruption itself.
Ian Heller sits down with Alex Chausovsky, Founder of 3DM Consulting, to break down what’s actually happening and how distribution leaders should respond. Alex explains why single-strategy planning no longer works and why scenario planning, or “war-gaming,” is becoming essential for distributors operating in this environment.
Tune in live on LinkedIn Wednesday, August 12.
Key Takeaways
- Tariffs are the new baseline, not a temporary policy, and section 301 and 232 actions will keep evolving through 2026
- Canada and Mexico account for the largest share of US imports, and trade dynamics with both countries matter more than most distributors realize
- Transparent, proactive communication with suppliers and customers is the difference between managing a price increase well and losing trust
- Scenario planning, or war-gaming, gives distributors a structured way to prepare for multiple outcomes instead of betting on one strategy
- AI’s effect on jobs has been minimal so far, but the combination of AI and robotics could reshape labor markets over the next 10 to 15 years
What You’ll Learn
- How to think about tariff exposure and pricing strategy heading into 2026 and 2027
- Why the US-Canada-Mexico trade relationship deserves as much attention as US-China tensions
- – How to start a scenario-planning or war-gaming process at your own company
- – What the data actually shows about AI’s impact on jobs today versus what to expect in the medium and long term
Speaker
Alex Chausovsky
President, 3DM Consulting
Speaker
Alex Chausovsky
President, 3DM Consulting
Alex Chausovsky is the President of 3DM Consulting. He is a highly experienced market researcher and analyst with more than two decades of expertise across subjects including economics, manufacturing, automation, advanced technology trends, and business cycle analysis. He has consulted and advised companies throughout the US and Canada, Europe, South America, and Asia.
Alex has delivered over a thousand presentations, webinars, and workshops to small businesses, trade associations, and Fortune 500 companies across a spectrum of industries, and is the go-to source of industry data and insights for business owners and leaders. Alex’s analysis has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, on the BBC, and on NPR, and he is a Top Voice on LinkedIn.
Host
Ian Heller
Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Distribution Strategy Group
Ian Heller joined Grainger as a part-time truck unloader in college and left fifteen years later as the VP Marketing. Since then, he’s held senior executive positions at four other publicly-held firms, consulted with dozens of distributors, and continues to write and speak extensively on how AI, strategy, channel evolution, and other major trends affect the industry. Ian holds a B.A. in History from Roosevelt University and an MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University.