Plus: How distributors can prioritize growth amid challenges
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May 22, 2025
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More than half of US companies plan to increase prices in response to US tariffs, according to a survey by Allianz, with only 22% of companies planning to carry the cost themselves. Most companies are opting to spread increased expenses between both consumers and suppliers. However, some global retailers are mulling global price hikes to offset US tariffs, spreading added costs across markets. Such a strategy could help avoid a drop in sales and likely save companies from drawing the ire of President Donald Trump, who recently criticized retail giant Walmart for announcing price increases as a result of tariffs.
Full Story: Reuters (5/20),  SupplyChainBrain (5/21) 
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Orgill executives, including executive vice president of sales David Mobley and chief operating officer Clay Jackson, offered advice to retailers on navigating market uncertainties, particularly in relation to tariffs. Mobley emphasized the importance of staying informed and agile, while Jackson highlighted Orgill's efforts to manage tariff impacts through alternative sourcing and strong vendor relationships.
Full Story: Hardware + Building Supply Dealer (5/21) 
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Moblico has launched OrderAssist AI, a tool designed to automate the conversion of unstructured digital orders into enterprise resource planning transactions. More than 30% of orders in wholesale distribution come from unstructured channels, and OrderAssist AI addresses this by reducing errors, saving time and scaling operations without extra staffing.
Full Story: Modern Distribution Management (tiered subscription model) (5/19) 
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Operations and Technology
Distributors must prioritize growth over cost-cutting to thrive amid unpredictable demand and supply chain disruptions, writes Mark Allen Roberts, founder of OTB Sales. Companies should reallocate capital strategically, innovate like startups, invest in automation, upgrade talent and create an agile culture, Roberts writes, adding that companies also should know when to phase out outdated products and processes.
Full Story: Industrial Distribution (5/16) 
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Only 34% of B2B teams fully utilize CRM systems, according to a study by Insightly and Ascend2, with 51% using CRM effectively but facing some resistance, and 14% using it inconsistently. Major challenges include manual tasks, limited team capacity, and tool integration issues. Executives and nonexecutives have differing views on CRM effectiveness and AI implementation, with executives more optimistic about both. However, CRM satisfaction has improved from 21% in 2022 to 40% in 2025.
Full Story: MediaPost Communications (free registration) (5/20) 
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Sales and Marketing
In a world of AI overviews and large language models, brands' focus must switch from traditional search engine results pages to multi-platform discoverability, writes Alex Moss. Moss advises SEO professionals to prioritize context, sentiment and structured data while keeping up with llms.txt and other standards proposals.
Full Story: Search Engine Journal (5/19) 
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The Business Leader
Leaders can smooth the way for change by being transparent about the process upfront, says Matt Tidwell, dean for graduate and professional studies at the journalism school of the University of Kansas. Tidwell recommends sharing company news in small settings, anticipating questions and ensuring the message is clear for all employees and shared in appropriate communication channels.
Full Story: Ragan (5/19) 
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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.
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