ID's Top 5 Of The Week

Our 2015 Big 50 Video Countdown continues to lead the way on ID, while a trio of trend pieces were other top items – examining the pending trucker shortage, smaller, urban distribution centers, and industrial products buying behavior.

Our 2015 Big 50 Video Countdown continues to lead the way on ID, while a trio of trend pieces were other top items â€“ examining the pending trucker shortage, smaller, urban distribution centers, and industrial products buying behavior. Jack Keough churned out another high-performing blog as well.

Here's this week's Top 5:

Industrial Distribution's 2015 Big 50 Video Countdown: To no surprise, our new Big 50 video was the top item for a second-straight week. Stay tuned for the more condensed list version to appear here on www.inddist.com, but until then, this version featuring ID editors Anna Wells, Jack Keough, and myself offers commentary on, or by, each company on the list. ID's 2014 Big 50 List was also a top item this week, undoubtedly as readers want to check how companies moved up or down the list from last year.

​Jack Keough - Home Depot Not Seeking More MRO Distributors: The latest blog from Keough, ID's contributing editor, examined Home Depot's post Q2 earnings conference call, in which CEO Craig Menear stated that the company is not seeking to acquire any more MRO Distributors following its recent purchase of Interline Brands – No. 19 on the Big 50. Menear also touched on why Interline was a great fit for Home Depot.

Where Have All The Truckers Gone? 10 Tips To Fight The Shortage: Adam Robinson of logistics management provider Cerasis discusses the current and impending trucker shortage in the U.S., the effects it will have, and what companies can do to navigate through the crisis as trucking rates are set to increase 4 to 9 percent by year-end 2016.

E-Commerce Driving Demand For Smaller, Urban Distribution Centers: My latest blog is based upon data from a recent study by real estate firm CBRE, which shows that, driven by ever-growing e-commerce, demand for industrial facilities under 200,000 square feet in urban areas is on the rise. Distribution centers are typically found on the outskirts or suburbs of large cities, or small towns, because of their size and the cheaper costs of land and labor. But as customers expect 1-2-day, or same-day shipping more and more, distributors and retailers are beginning to invest in smaller DCs closer to population centers.

New Study Deconstructs Customer Loyalty In Industrial Distribution: This article examines a recent study by UPS which examines the behaviors, preferences, and perceptions of industrial products buyers, uncovering some interesting trends on how “customer experience” is really coming to the forefront of the loyalty equation. The article provides a good look at the challenge distributors face to provide vital components required to keep a loyal customer base, while continously adapting to buyers' changing behavior.

Last Week's Top 5

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