News and Trends

• Pro-Build to acquire HD Supply division
  HD Supply has agreed to sell "substantially all of the assets" of its lumber and building materials division to Pro-Build Holdings, an HD Supply spokeswoman said. The unit includes 39 lumberyards in Georgia and Florida, 32 truss facilities, 10 engineered lumber production sites as well as a construction services division. Industrial Distribution (11/30)

• MWI Vet Supply capitalizes on America's devotion to pets
  MWI Veterinary Supply reported $710 million in sales this year, up from a little over $606 million in 2006. The company, which surpassed the $100 million sales mark in 1998, expects sales of $825 million in 2008. Over the last few years, MWI has become a powerhouse distributor of veterinary supplies in the U.S., with its growth representative of a nationwide boom in spending on pets. The Idaho Statesman (Boise) (11/28) , The Idaho Statesman (Boise) (11/27)

• Tech Data to distribute Fujitsu Eternus storage line
  Tech Data is in a deal with Fujitsu to become the exclusive U.S. distributor of the company's Eternus storage area network solutions. Under the deal, Tech Data's Advanced Infrastructure Solutions division will distribute the full Fujitsu Eternus line of SAN-attached storage systems, in addition to providing sales and tech support. eWeek (11/28)

• Other News

• Avnet Electronics Marketing inks global distribution deal with Emerson Network Power
  Utility Products (11/27)

• School Specialty partners with retired basketball coach to create educational systems
  American City Business Journals/Milwaukee (11/28)

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Best Practices

• Seven traits of successful people include goals, vision
  There are key characteristics that most often identify successful people. A list of seven such traits begins with having a clear mission or set of values; having a personal idea or interpretation of success; and setting specific goals. DaveKahle.com (11/20)

• Demotions are tough on the ego
  Situations that can result in an executive finding herself or himself on a lower rung of power include such things as a company being sold, being outright demoted or shifting careers, which can bust the career-changer back down to "rookie" status. Regardless of the circumstances, it is frequently difficult for persons to successfully weather this sort of downward change in status, writes Rick Johnson, founder of CEO Strategist. CEO Strategist (11/13)

Sales

• Sales pipeline management often overlooked
  A company's sales pipeline can be its lifeline in terms of profits, yet its management, including formulating mechanisms for keeping track of leads, is too often given short shrift by companies, says David Stein, CEO of ESResearch Group. Mary P. Donato, president of Applied Principles, adds, "You need a customer relationship management system, some way to measure content, even if it's just an Excel spreadsheet." Manage Smarter (11/27)

Hot Topics

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

• Wolseley layoffs continue (Industrial Distribution)

• Twenty "most important" questions to determine business success (Forbes)

• Five pitfalls to avoid before and during retirement (Forbes)

• Economists, Fed still think economy can avoid a recession (The Wall Street Journal)

• Hagemeyer agrees to Rexel's offer (Industrial Distribution)

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

Small Business Manager

• Advice: Tips for getting ready for the accounting
  Business Week's Karen E. Klein has tips for taking your books to your tax accountant. Elections, changing economic conditions and exposure to the alternative minimum tax are just a few of the things small-business operators need to be considering. BusinessWeek (11/28)

Executive Life

• Park City, Utah, emerges as modern-day boom town
  A combination of events, including the Sundance Film Festival and the 2002 Winter Olympics, have helped transform Park City, Utah, into a serious winter destination. While making a name for itself means more development and traffic, it also means new hotels, restaurants and an urban feel not normally seen in a town its size. The New York Times (12/2)

• Cold cure: Drink cup of soup, call me in the morning
  Doctors and dietitians say science backs up the commonly held notion that chicken soup is a good antidote for a cold. Nutrients in soups can reduce inflammation and boost immunity, researchers have found. Chicago Tribune/Wire Services (free registration) (11/28)

NAW Insider

• The NAW Insurance Trust: Comprehensive benefits, lower costs for members
  NAW, Trustmark Affinity Markets, and Flexible Benefit Service Corporation have partnered to offer a health insurance plan that leverages the combined buying power of member companies, rewards healthy companies with lower premiums, and provides the added benefit of a pooled reserve fund. Learn more about this health insurance program available exclusively to NAW direct members or members of NAW member associations.

• Employee Performance Improvement Tool Kit: Your key HR resource
  Every distributor needs a more structured approach to improving employee performance, and the Employee Performance Improvement Tool Kit (book and CD) fits that bill. Use it to find, hire, develop, evaluate and retain efficient and effective employees. It includes dozens of customizable templates and 21 different samples of distribution jobs. Make it a key component in your human resources program.

Weekly Poll

• Have you started preparing for the 2008 tax season?
  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 getting documents in order.
	I have thought about it but have not gotten started.
	It has not even crossed my mind!

Associate Product Manager Travers Tool Co Flushing, NY Continuous Improvement Manager - Distribution Center GRAINGER Mira Loma, CA

SmartQuote

Don't give advice unless you're asked." --Amy Alcott, professional golfer