| February 28, 2007 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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- Duties change, expand for CIOs
Chief information officers have long been held as the kings of company computer systems, but as Web sites and technology become more a part of overall corporate strategy, they are taking on more responsibilities, including product development and sales growth. "The CIO title is misused, frankly," says one CIO for a Chevron business division. If monitoring tech systems is their sole job, "they should be named a tech manager. A CIO should be enabling a business to grow." The Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
(2/20)
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| | Facing the Forces of Change® - Live with Author Dr. Adam Fein
Don't miss this unique opportunity to interact with the author of Facing the Forces of Change®, Dr. Adam Fein, during a live complimentary web conference sponsored by IBM. Dr. Fein will discuss the four major trends outlined in the book, along with innovative strategies, and field questions from the audience—Tuesday, March 6 at 1PM ET. Click here to learn more. | |
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- What's worrying you is probably worrying others, too
A survey that asked respondents about the biggest challenges faced in manufacturing found that many in the industry are worried about similar issues, including worldwide competition (from China, in particular), recruiting and keeping trained workers and maintaining and operating a global supply chain. IndustryWeek
(3/1)
- Recruiting is increasingly competitive
The pool of job candidates who are "qualified, interested and ready to take a new job," is shrinking in many industries, and to find the right person, recruiters are finding themselves interviewing far more candidates than in the past, says one recruiter. He suggests using industry associations, online networking tools and personal contacts when searching for a skilled worker to fill an open position. Workforce (free registration)
(2/6)
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- When discounts cost you
Discounting may seem like an easy way to drum up business, but it can often cost more than you realize. Educate yourself and your sales reps on the bottom line of discounting and require that all price cuts get approval before future deals are made. Selling Power (free registration)
(2/19)
| Small Business Manager | | |
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- Protect data files like the big guys
Having a staff to handle data management often is out of reach for small businesses, but there are products available to handle such tasks, at prices that fit most any company's budget. Backing up information is key, and a redundant array of independent drives that holds 1,000 gigabytes of data can be purchased for as little as $699. The New York Times (free registration)
(2/20)
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| The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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Salient's UXT® solution can help you regain lost sales and improve your gross profit by up to 10%. Do you know when the competition is cherry picking your best items from your best customers? Do you know how to fix it? Click Here to see how you can regain and retain profitable sales.
Improve performance in your warehouse. Learn about practical solutions, best practices and proven techniques at WERC's 30th annual conference. Hear how leading companies apply winning practices in their DCs. The only conference dedicated to warehouse/distribution management. Early bird rates until March 7. For complete information click here.
Interested in learning more about advertising in NAW SmartBrief? Contact Henry Murphey at (202) 737-5500 ext. 245 or hmurphey@smartbrief.com
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| Executive Life | | |
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- TV characters inspire clothing purchases
Web sites SeenOn.com and StarBrand.tv allow fans to shop for items from the Gucci 85th anniversary bag from "Ugly Betty" to the Citizens for Humanity jeans worn on "Grey's Anatomy." Such Web sites help fans buy clothing, accessories, furniture and even martini glasses from TV shows and movies to satisfy their tastes for celebrity style. The New York Times
(2/25)
| NAW Insider | | |
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What are your employees worth?
As the U.S. economy continues to expand, wholesaler-distributors are reconsidering their staffing needs and how to attract and keep top performers. NAW's 2006 Employee Compensation Report, completely new, is available immediately for downloading to your desktop. It lets you see how your company's compensation program compares with those of other wholesale distribution companies.
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Try Remote Deposit Capture risk free for 30 days
Securely deposit paper checks from the convenience and safety of your office. NAW has negotiated group discounts and a risk free 30-day trial offer for Remote Deposit Capture technology through Solveras Payment Systems. Visit the NAW/Solveras Web site to watch a short video clip of checks being scanned, deposited and digitally archived, or call (800) 613-0148 today.
| Weekly Poll | | |
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Did you begin in the corporate world before moving into small business?
After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.
 | Yes |
| I have been in small business since the beginning. |
| I started in the corporate world and never left. |
| I got my start at a small business and moved into corporate. |
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| Director of Quality | Summit Electric Supply | Albuquerque, New Mexico corporate headquarters |
| Corporate Purchasing Manager | Crescent Electric Supply Co. | East Dubuque, IL |
| Marketing Analyst | Industrial Electric Wire & Cable | New Berlin |
| 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 |
| Lean Implementation Leader and Administrator, Quality and Safety | Werner Electric Supply Company | Neenah, Wisconsin |
| Inside Sales Professionals | AcuSport Corporation | TX, GA, PA and OH |
| Assistant Category Manager | AcuSport Corporation | Bellefontaine,Ohio |
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| SmartQuote | | |
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 | One of the hardest tasks of leadership is understanding that you are not what you are, but what you're perceived to be by others."
--Edward L. Flom,
CEO of Florida Steel
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Read more at SmartBrief.com |
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| | Recent NAW SmartBrief Issues:
- Monday, February 26, 2007
- Friday, February 23, 2007
- Wednesday, February 21, 2007
- Monday, February 19, 2007
- Friday, February 16, 2007
| | | Lead Editor: Ashley McMaster
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