Associations
Staff -- Industrial Distribution, 8/1/2001
NAW offers new research book.
The National Assn. of Wholesaler-Distributors' Distribution and Research Education Foundation published a new research book, The Wholesale Distribution Customer Speaks, containing results of surveys about e-commerce and fee-paid services.
Those sales areas are considered critical to the health of distributors, according to NAW. Written by Mark Dancer of Frank Lynn & Associates, this book addresses customers' views of relationships with their distributors and offers tools and planning methods addressing those concerns.
For information, contact NAW/DREF at (202) 872-0885.
FPDA presents Internet program.
The Fluid Power Distributors Assn. presents a live Internet program, Achieving Sales in a Downturn: Increasing the Value You Bring to Customers, on Thursday, Sept. 20. Developed by FPDA's Young Executives, the program helps members remain profitable in an uncertain economic climate.
Howard Hyden, president of the Center for Customer Focus and an FPDA program developer, will host the program. Register online at www.fpda.org. Registration includes the live presentation and a follow-up "action assignment."
The association recently welcomed distributors ControlAir Inc. of Amherst N.Y. and PRC Industrial Supply, Bangor, Me. branch, and manufacturer/associate E-Drive Design, Inc., as members.
For information, contact FPDA at (856) 424-8998.
PTDA announces education initiatives.
The Power Transmission Distributors Assn. Educational & Scholastic Foundation announced a series of initiatives to help firms cope with three industry challenges: leveraging e-business, improving distributor/manufacturer working relationships, and identifying and training qualified employees.
PTDA plans to:
- Develop a template for distributors and manufacturers to analyze costs, benefits and risks of e-commerce implementation
- Create a standard to save time and money on stock checks
- Conduct research on the state of distributor/manufacturer relationships
- Underwrite a series of end-use industry-specific applications training tools for distributor sales associates
- Develop tools to help the industry create a homegrown pool of future employees
- Build a complete format to determine accurate product identification information.
- Some programs are ongoing and others have timetables for completion, according to Stephanie Kaplan, director of marketing and communications.
For information, contact PTDA at (312) 876-9461.
MANA releases commission survey.
To help solve the dilemma of commission rates, the Manufacturers' Agents National Assn. released its bi-annual commission survey. It lists the average commission and range for 134 product classifications for end-user, distributor and OEM customers. The publication includes Guidelines for Determining Agency Commissions, Fees and Incentive Programs.
For information, contact MANA at (877) 626-2776.
NIRA publishes Locator directory.
The North American Industrial Representatives Assn. released the 2001/2002 Locator, a directory of multiple-line manufacturers' representatives for industrial and safety markets. Nearly 300 representative companies' primary and branch locations are listed.
The directory includes information about a fax program alerting members to manufacturers seeking representatives, and includes the number of employees, type of products and company age.
For information, contact NIRA at (312) 240-0820.
NIFS West to be held in Las Vegas.
The 5th annual National Industrial Fastener Show West runs November 15-16 at the Paris Hotel, Las Vegas, Nev. Jim Bannister, a spokesperson for the show, expects 597 exhibit booths to be filled.
For information, contact NIFS at (614) 895-8348.
STAFDA announces workshop speakers.
The Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Assn. will run six concurrent workshops at the annual convention and trade show in San Antonio, Texas, in November. The 90-minute programs will be held Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and repeat from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Topics and presenters are:
- "Success Skills for Today's Professionals," Kay Dupont
- "Dealing with People You Can't Stand," Dr. Rick Brinkman
- "Climbing the Ladder to Success," Charles Petty
- "Improving the Bottom Line," Dr. Al Bates
- "Do We Sell or Do They Buy?" Michael Fortino
- "Recruiting and Retention Strategies," Dr. Lou Benson
For information, contact STAFDA at (262) 784-4774.
Send Association News to associate editor Al Tuttle, 275 Washington St., Newton, Mass., 02458; call (617) 558-4770; fax to (617) 558-4327; or e-mail to atuttle@cahners.com.
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