Plus: Document automation frees up employees
Created for [email protected] | Web Version
May 8, 2025
Connect with NAW LinkedInFacebookX
NAW SmartBrief
News for the wholesale distribution industrySIGN UP ⋅   SHARE
Top Stories
The US and China are set to hold their first formal trade talks since President Donald Trump initiated a trade war, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer meeting Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Geneva. The discussions will aim to de-escalate tensions and address the tariffs imposed by both sides, with businesses expressing cautious optimism.
Full Story: Reuters (5/7),  Financial Times (5/6),  CNBC (5/7) 
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
Supply chain pressures moderated in April despite continued uncertainty from shifting Trump administration tariffs, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of New York report. The Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, which was launched during the coronavirus pandemic to track trade disruptions, fell to -0.29 from -0.17 in March, indicating lower-than-normal pressures. Easing supply chain pressures are partly attributed to companies stocking up on goods before further tariff impositions.
Full Story: Reuters (5/6) 
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
R.S. Hughes is relocating its Saunders facility from Lombard, Ill., to Cypress, Texas, with a June 2 opening planned. The new plant will enhance production capacity and support across several sectors, and will include die-cutting, slitting, laminating, packaging and assembly capabilities.
Full Story: Industrial Distribution (5/6) 
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
Operations and Technology
Document automation significantly reduces the time needed for processes that were traditionally manual, such as data entry and document generation. By automating these tasks, businesses can save hours that were previously spent on repetitive paperwork, allowing employees to focus on more strategic activities and meet deadlines more efficiently.
Full Story: Medium (tiered subscription model) (5/6) 
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
Technology collaboration is crucial in supply chain logistics. By partnering with experts in areas like transportation and warehouse automation, businesses can quickly access solutions without needing to develop them internally. These trusted partnerships allow companies more time to focus on delivering seamless customer experiences, identify and address disruptions and help employees develop new skills.
Full Story: Supply & Demand Chain Executive (5/6) 
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
Sales and Marketing
B2B marketers face challenges in 2025 amid economic uncertainty, but understanding current trends can help to drive clear, data-driven strategies, writes Mario Peshev of DevriX. The rise of generative AI has led to content saturation, making high-quality content more crucial than ever. Additionally, the buyer journey has become longer and more digital, with younger buyers preferring self-directed research, requiring marketers to provide timely and relevant information.
Full Story: Demand Gen Report (5/2) 
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
The Business Leader
Use silence to forge deeper connections
(AscentXmedia/Getty Images)
The sound of silence can help you listen and connect with other people, writes John Baldoni, an author and leadership speaker, who relates an anecdote about journalist Hilton Als observing Prince backstage instead of asking endless questions. "Silence is an excellent practice when it comes to making a connection and, over time, gaining an individual's trust," Baldoni writes.
Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (5/7) 
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
NAW Insider
NAW Insider Banner
Prioritize your organization's greatest asset — your people. NAW's premier education programs, such as the online Management Academy and the in-depth Distribution Leadership Program at THE Ohio State University, are designed to equip your high-potential employees with the skills and insights they need to lead and succeed. Ensure your rising stars are prepared to drive your business forward by investing in their growth today. Learn more about how NAW can help you develop the leaders of tomorrow.
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
LEARN MORE ABOUT NAW:
Join NAW | Publications | Events | Legislative Issue Briefs
Business Services | NAW Career Center | Blog
Sharing NAW SmartBrief with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free.
Help Spread the Word
SHARE
Or copy and share your personalized link:
newsletter.smartbrief.com/naw/?referrerId=lfbdlNyHyu
To put everything in balance is good, to put everything in harmony is better.
Victor Hugo,
writer, poet, playwright
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
About NAW
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) is one of America’s leading trade associations, representing the $8 trillion wholesale distribution industry. Our industry employs more than 6 million workers throughout the United States, accounting for approximately 1/3 of the U.S. GDP. 250,000 wholesale distribution companies operate across North America, including all 50 states. Learn more.
SmartBrief publishes more than 200 free industry newsletters - Browse our portfolio
Sign Up  |    Update Profile  |    Advertise with SmartBrief
Unsubscribe  |    Privacy policy
CONTACT US: FEEDBACK  |    ADVERTISE
SmartBrief Future
Copyright © 2025 SmartBrief. All Rights Reserved.
A division of Future US LLC
Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036.