News and Trends

• McKesson-iSoft deal on hold, source says
  Drug wholesaler-distributor McKesson Corp. was positioned to purchase iSoft, a software company, until talks reportedly halted amid a breakdown in the negotiations over the contract terms. "McKesson would be the best buyer because they're a cash bidder, but they would have to be persuaded to drop all their current demands," a source familiar with the deal said. Silicon.com/ZDNet UK (2/19) , The Scotsman (Edinburgh)/Reuters (2/14)

• Cardinal Health and Abaxis in distribution deal
  Medical supplies and equipment wholesaler-distributor Cardinal Health Inc. has entered a distribution deal with Abaxis Inc., a portable blood analysis systems maker. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. BusinessWeek/Associated Press (2/14)

• Master distributors have tough entry, but bright future
  Master distributors are wholesaler-distributors that sell to other distributors. It is not an easy business to access, said one master distributor's vice president, and the challenges, including storage and freight, can be significant. But despite the possible setbacks, "manufacturers have started to recognize the cost of supporting some smaller distributors and are beginning to refer these customers to their master distributors, who are better equipped to handle smaller orders," said the president of Neuco Inc. Supply House Times magazine (2/2007)

• NAW announces new organization for distribution research, education
  NAW announced at its executive summit that the Distribution Research and Education Foundation's work will now be under the operation of the NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence. "We've created the NAW Institute to more clearly focus on the intended outcome of our research -- excellence in distribution," said Byron Potter, chairman of the newly created organization and president and CEO of Dallas Wholesale Builders Supply Inc. The new entity's first study, "Facing the Forces of Change," will be available in March. NPTA Alliance (2/12)

• To buy: Copies of "Facing the Forces of Change®: Lead the Way in the Supply Chain" are available here.

• Other News

• Avnet Technology Solutions names new global president
  ITBusiness.ca (Canada) (2/14)

WHITE PAPER: Optimizing Business Processes To Increase Profitability. Are you trying to reduce the capital investment in stock across the supply chain and decrease overhead costs? Learn more about how you can optimize your logistics processes. Download this case study today.

Best Practices

• The benefits of having a "work spouse"
  Having a work spouse, or someone with whom you closely work, confide in and enjoy spending time, has shown to increase productivity and boost morale, said the Gallup Organization. These bonds usually develop naturally and have characteristics of more serious relationships, including bickering or even gift-giving. The Washington Post (2/11)

• Best technology educators may be one cubicle away
  Companies are more frequently relying on podcasts, blogs and co-workers to train their employees on new technologies. The move is seen as a measure to cut costs while increasing productivity and creating a more versatile learning environment. Workforce (free registration) (1/29)

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Sales

• Keep e-mails safe from the virtual trash heap
  Business e-mails should be polite, concise and free of misspellings and common grammatical errors, even though the e-mailing format may feel like a casual communication tool to you. Every business e-mail should contain an intro and a brief and informative subject line, and, if links are necessary, include short, clear URLs. Manage Smarter (2/15)

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by NAW SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Home Depot mulls sale of wholesale business (The New York Times)

• Graybar CEO oversees record profit in 2006 (TED Magazine)

• Home Depot CEO brings changes, humility to new position (The New York Times)

• Private labeling's popularity grows among W-Ds (Industrial Distribution)

• Tips for inventory management (Inbound Logistics)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Small Business Manager

• Generations can learn from each other at family-run businesses
  There's no denying that younger generations have plenty to learn from their older counterparts at family-owned companies, but the best businesses succeed by encouraging all employees -- new and veteran -- to learn lessons and take suggestions from each other. Continuity and open mindedness are among the keys to growth, says professor and business speaker James Lea. American City Business Journals (2/12)

Executive Life

• Column: Consumers should seek strong insurers
  The risk of natural disasters and the sharp increase in the cost of reinsurance make it vital for consumers to buy insurance policies from companies that are financially secure, writes Melissa Gannon, director of insurance and bank ratings for TheStreet.com Ratings. She notes at least two insurance firms have failed recently as the result of losses from severe storms. The Street.com (2/15)

• Red wine, chocolate help the heart -- emotionally and physically
  Women sometimes sip a glass of red wine or indulge in a few pieces of dark chocolate to ease stress, bring comfort or mend a broken heart. When it comes to women's health, these foods do have some actual heart-healthy benefits, but it's important to choose certain types of dark chocolate and weigh the benefits and risks of alcohol. Star-Tribune (Casper, Wyo.) (2/13)

NAW Insider

• NAW and The Hartford
  NAW has partnered with The Hartford to offer insurance expertise and comprehensive coverage tailored to the specific needs of wholesaler-distributors. The Hartford also offers expedited claims handling services and a countrywide network of loss control and risk management experts to help wholesaler-distributors protect their businesses and minimize loss costs. More information available here.

• Improve your branch profitability with powerful new tool
  Do you need help understanding your financial statement? Could you use a tool to build a powerful business plan? "My Business Analysis [MBA]" will do both and show you how to use financial analysis to find the path toward improving your branch profitability. Every branch manager should use the "MBA" to focus time and effort to improve their operating income.

Weekly Poll

• Do you have an "office spouse," or confidant?
  After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.

	Yes, my co-workers are like family
	No, I keep my professional life all business
	I consider my co-workers casual friends, but that's it

Quality Assurance Specialist Confidential Pittsburgh, PA Sales - Major Accounts Manager ProLift Industrial Equipment Company Louisville, KY Outside Sales Rep - Tampa, Florida HISCO, Inc. Tampa/Orlando, Florida Area Division Branch Manager - San Jose, CA HISCO, Inc. Milpitas, CA Lean Implementation Leader and Administrator, Quality and Safety Werner Electric Supply Company Neenah, Wisconsin Sr. Manager, IT Accounting/Financial Planning Ingram Micro Santa Ana, CA Technical Specialist Systems Developer Ingram Micro Santa Ana, CA Telecommunications Engineer Ingram Micro Santa Ana, CA Sr. Database Administrator/Modeler Ingram Micro Santa Ana, CA Sr. Project Manager, IT Ingram Micro Santa Ana, CA Purchasing Manager Plumbing Distributors Inc 1025 Old Norcross Rd. Lawrenceville, GA 30045 Operations Manager - Distribution Center GRAINGER Mira Loma, CA (Los Angeles) Director of Information Technology APA Search Tampa, FL Director of Operations Muller Incorporated Philadelphia, PA

SmartQuote

You know children are growing up when they start asking questions that have answers." --John J. Plomp, author