I hope you've been able to visit Industrial Distribution's new Web site, which went live in mid-June. We moved onto a new platform along with our sister magazines here at Cahners' Supply Chain/OEM Group.

You may have already noticed new features and functionality, which I will highlight below. Overall, the new electronic foundation will be easier to navigate and allows us to provide more quality articles on sales, management and product-specific topics that you expect from ID.

I would, however, like to clarify a few points.

We apologize for any inconvenience and snags you may have encountered shortly after the launch when some sections of the site were still under construction.

We expect that archived articles dating back through 1999 will be restored sometime this summer.

In addition, if you have www.inddist.com bookmarked on your computer, you need to re-enter the above URL if you haven't done so already. That's because the site resides on a new server, so while the URL remains the same, it should be re-keyed and saved to point you correctly to the new site every time.

We also encourage readers to register using the short form accessible from the top of the homepage. This will enable you to search the archives and to also register for our bi-monthly e-mail newsletter. By registering, you will help us get to know our online readers better and provide more information that meets your specific needs.

Here are some features of the site we hope you will find useful:

• New homepage. Better organized, more visually appealing and compact, the new homepage allows you to search the site and archives by entering keywords. You may also search Manufacturing.net, Cahners' portal for manufacturing news, products, and topics from various magazines and sources, or use the Google search engine to scan the entire Web.
• Expanded product channels. We've added Power Transmission, Fluid Power, Hose & Accessories and PVF to go along with Cutting Tools/Abrasives, Hand and Power Tools/Construction, Safety Equipment, Fasteners & Adhesives, and Distribution Technology.

Accessible on the left-side navigation bar, each channel displays articles with sales tips and market trends for those product sectors, profiles of distributors' best practices, new products, company and industry news, association links and other resources.

• Resource Center. Accessible from the navbar, this is a hub of sources and links on topics vital to your business. The sections include sales management and training, inventory management, market research, a small distributors' hub, industrial distribution degree programs, e-business resources and leading supply chain researchers. We've also added sections with industry links for Machine Tools, Motors and Welding supplies.
• All editorial content from each month's issue is now available online. This means more new products briefs and sales aids; association news; personnel news; and regular columns such as the "Final Word" distributor's viewpoint, "Manufacturer's View" and "Systems & Software."

We hope you will find the new site an even more valuable resource. Please continue to participate in the online polls and send your comments and critiques my way.