News and Trends

• Some distributors, manufacturers worried about economy, survey finds
  A survey by Modern Distribution Management conducted late last month indicates that more than half of its readership harbor concerns about the economy, while more than a quarter are "very concerned." Roughly 45% of the respondents said they expect the general economic situation to worsen over the next six months. Modern Distribution Management (3/5)

• Suppliers begin to redefine relationship with automakers
  A winnowing down in the number of domestic suppliers in Michigan's automotive industry should mean those that remain will be in a stronger negotiating position with Detroit's Big Three automakers, say some analysts and industry observers who believe the shake-out will mean more collaboration between auto companies and suppliers than historically has been the case. MLive.com (Mich.) (free registration) (3/6)

• Item-level RFID tagging takes off
  With technology costs falling and standards governing item-level tagging having been disseminated, RFID tags are finding their way onto individual products much more quickly than experts predicted. A case in point: Within two years, every product entering Sam's Club distribution centers will be required to have an RFID tag, parent company Wal-Mart announced earlier this year. DC Velocity (3/2008)

• Other News

• Tech startups lose talent to bigger firms as economy softens
  The Wall Street Journal (3/7)

• ProBuild buys two truss makers
  Modern Distribution Management (3/6)

• D&H makes more credit available to VARs
  CRN (3/6)

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Best Practices

• To stay or to go? What to do when the job doesn't live up to its billing
  New jobs don't always comport with one's personal or professional expectations or even with the original job description. Sometimes, walking away immediately is the best course, while in other cases, such as if the organization is undergoing change and you like the employer, it might be more worthwhile to stay put and give the job a chance. The Washington Post (3/2)

• Running a winning M&A shop
  Picking up the pace of M&A requires big changes in a company's processes and organization -- even if the deals are smaller. The McKinsey Quarterly (free registration for SmartBrief readers) (3/1)

Sales

• Tips for getting a good blog up, running
  Starting a marketing blog and making it successful in less than a year can be accomplished, as one who has done just that, with some key planning. A list of tips includes reading other blogs and doing your homework; joining the conversation on those other blogs; start writing and find your voice; and connect with other bloggers. MarketingProfs (free registration) (3/4)

Hot Topics

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

• Housing bust drives down cost of building materials (The Sacramento Bee (Calif.))

• Chinese factories look to lower costs through outsourcing (The Washington Times)

• Distribution centers get larger, more geographically diverse (DC Velocity)

• When it comes to sales, it's all about confidence (American City Business Journals)

• How to get on your boss's good side (Forbes)

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

Small Business Manager

• E-mail marketing fits home-based business budget
  Resources are limited for small, home-based businesses, which makes e-mail marketing attractive because it takes more time than money. Entrepreneur.com explains the two basic e-mail marketing formats and offers five tips for getting started. MSNBC/Entrepreneur (3/3)

Executive Life

• New Le Meridien keycards offer pass to high art
  Starwood's Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts is launching a new line of keycards that don't just grant access to rooms -- they also give guests free admission to contemporary art museums. The plastic keycards themselves are small works of art, featuring striking images designed by cutting-edge artists. USA TODAY (3/7)

• Careful steps create perfect steak
  Colombian chef David Pardo de Ayala gives tips on how to make steaks the perfect color and flavor. He says not all cuts of steak are suitable for grilling and advises steaks be room temperature (not chilled) before you start to cook. The Manila Times (Philippines) (3/7)

NAW Insider

• Register for NAW's Large Company Financial Networking Conference
  NAW's Large Company Financial Networking Conference is in Chicago, May 13 to 14. It joins top-level financial executives from wholesale distribution companies with sales of $100 million and above to network and learn. Agenda topics are based on responses from the financial community and address specific needs of the group, including risk management, strategic pricing and generational demographics. Get the details and register.

• 5 Fundamentals for the Wholesale Distribution Sales Manager
  This book from the NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence offers a practical but powerful approach for taking your sales force to the next level. It includes essential theories, key concepts and real-world stories taken from the front lines of wholesale distribution. Use this book as a foundation to help you become an effective, high-performing sales manager. Order your copies today!

Weekly Poll

• Does your company's Web site have a blog component?
  After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.

	Yes, it is a good feature.
	Not yet, but we are considering it.
	No, we do not see the need.
	We do not have a Web site.

Branch General Manager US SUPPLY COMPANY Bristol, PA Branch General Manager US SUPPLY COMPANY Lewisburg , PA Director of Regional Workforce Development The AED Foundation Oak Brook, Illinois Pneumatic Automation Product Manager Controlled Motion Solutions, Inc. Southern California

SmartQuote

Take everything you like seriously, except yourselves." --Rudyard Kipling, English author