Distribution Talk

Government contracts aren't for the faint of heart. Rick Lamb, marketing manager with Frank's Supply in Albuquerque, NM, understands the arduous truth of that statement better than most. Jason chats with Rick about the complexities inherent to General Services Administration (GSA) certification and why it might make sense for other suppliers to jump through those hoops. When Frank's found itself in a position to bid for its first government contract in 1996 for Los Alamos National Lab, Rick found himself in the thick of it. "We had never even attempted something like that," he says, but two Frank's employees who knew just enough about GSAs to convince the company to put together a bid. Nine months later, Frank's phone rang. "It was Christmas Eve, 1996. We get a call from the head of purchasing at Los Alamos, and they go, 'Be ready to start the contract April 1st.'" Frank's first scramble was on. While the bid timeline has shortened somewhat since the mid-90s, other aspects, like authentication and security clearance, have grown increasingly rigorous. Vendors must detail every level of the contract's implementation, from the level of support to chain of responsibility to security clearances and quality assurance programs, But is the GSA route profitable? CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH RICK LinkedIn Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry. *** For full show notes and services visit: http://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios.

Welcome back for part 2 with the Bader boys, Jason's in-depth look at his family's distribution business with patriarch and founder of Acme Construction Supply Co, Inc., Dick Bader, and younger brother Jordan, the company's current president and CEO. As they wrap up their visit, Dick and Jordan reveal the fundamental principles that have supported Acme's thriving culture and growth initiatives. They also share their motivations for and the rewards of trade organization participation. Anyone involved in a family business knows that it's often a thin line between circus and success. One of the factors keeping the C-suite from devolving into a three-ring spectacle is an owner or leader who surrounds themselves with folks who can augment the skills or talents that they lack. Once the people are in place, a critical next step is for the owner or leader to yield control. When Jordan purchased the company in 2008, he began thinking about how to fill company roles vacated by retirement with his own team of next-generation leaders. First, he turned to folks outside his industry who might help Acme expand. Then he promoted star talent from within. Now Jordan's broadening his industry's appeal beyond its typically male-dominated workforce, fostering an environment where women and the LGBTQIA+ community feel welcomed. While the continued evolution of Acme's culture is vital to him personally, he says what matters most is that these shifts result from his employees' influence. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE DT100: Celebrating 100 Episodes! Legacy and Leadership with Dick and Jordan Bader of Acme Construction Supply DT096: Amplifying Company Culture to Attract and Retain Top Talent with Bill Condron, The Granite Group Young Presidents' Organization STAFDA Evergreen Marketing Group CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JORDAN LinkedIn Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: Moblico, helping businesses do more business on mobile devices. *** For full show notes and services visit: http://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios.

Milestones are a part of the distribution business and, as it turns out, podcasting. What better way to celebrate Distribution Talk's 100th episode than with a combo of sorts––equal parts company case study and oral history. Jason corrals family patriarch and founder of Acme Construction Supply Co, Inc., Dick Bader, and little brother Jordan, current president and CEO, for an insider's look at the family business. Like all epic tales, this one comes complete with plot twists, sibling rivalry (of the genial kind), and a cliffhanger. "I'll admit, the first time I saw you speak right after you left Acme, I was pretty sure we were saving a seat for you back at Acme," Jordan jokes. When Jason exited the family business over a decade ago for the "greener pastures" of consulting, he eventually cleared a path for Jordan to lead Acme. Both Bader boys have their father to thank for their successes, having watched Dick navigate the often choppy waters of entrepreneurship. Dick weighed hefty considerations as he brought both of his sons into Acme. Legacy. Boundaries. Balance. No matter how thoughtful an entry or succession plan, there will be stumbles along the way. And successes more profound than any bottom lines. "Dad, as you brought us into the business, you showed continuity, and you showed this stability for our employees that, you know, I still have," says Jordan. Stay tuned for part two! CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JORDAN LinkedIn *** For full show notes and services visit: http://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: Profit2.

Customer messaging has always been a numbers race––and distributors that use 21st-century strategies to connect with and convert their target markets occupy pole position. Pierre Barbeau, president and co-founder of Moblico Solutions, says it's never too late to implement a mobile engagement plan specific to your vertical. Jason caught up with Pierre to discuss adding value to inbound and outbound activities for independent distributors via mobile app communication. Pierre's genius is in translating Moblico's complex services into terms (and numbers) his clientele can relate to and utilize. Moblico products like targeted broadcast messaging, custom app development, and automated notifications establish lines of communication and create new channels by which companies can gather intel. Sales data and survey responses, for example, can inform improvements to internal protocols, thus better serving the customer. In-house productivity, too, can benefit from Moblico solutions. Think human resources activities and sales team endeavors. Mobile notifications come in various forms (text messages, and push notifications to name a few) and are sent either manually or via automation. Moblico offers strategies that integrate its mobile messaging apps with a client's existing ERP and E-commerce platforms for the smartest reach. Regardless of how you may feel when a targeted ad or text crosses your path, studies show that younger professionals prefer mobile engagement over traditional forms of communication––and they're your future customers. It's beyond time to meet them where they live: on mobile. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Moblie Matters Podcast CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH PIERRE LinkedIn *** For full show notes and services visit: http://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: Connected Peers, connecting key employees in distribution's leading organizations.

The past is always present at Industrial Supply Company, thanks to a treasure trove of historical documents dating back to 1915. While the Utah-based company's 106-year heritage is impressive, Jessica Yurgaitis has no intention of dwelling in the dust of the organization's bygone era, even if the history major in her loves posting those old handwritten letters and sales slips. Jason chats with this fourth-generation president about balancing respect for family legacy with a desire to launch the company into a thoroughly modern future. Initially, Jessica wanted no part in Industrial; she wanted a Master's in history instead. But advanced degrees cost money, so she went to work. In purchasing, Jessica learned business basics: meeting with suppliers, building relationships, and executing marketing and co-branding strategies. Moving through each department at Industrial taught Jessica how to strengthen relationships. "I feel like I have a wonderful network of people," she says of her participation in associations like ISA. "I could pick up the phone anytime and call, and they'd be willing to give me time and help me work through an issue. And I do that all the time." She applies that same humility when the conversation turns to younger team members. Jessica has wisely surrounded herself with folks whose "digital native" skill sets complement her historical organizational knowledge. Leveraging legacy, leaning into growth. Jessica's got the balance right at Industrial Supply. CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JESSICA LinkedIn *** For full show notes and services visit: http://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

Continuity is an underappreciated aspect of ownership transition. Ben Whitlock, president of Mobile Fixture, a kitchen and restaurant supply wholesaler based in Mobile, AL, followed that game plan to the letter when he and three partners bought out the company's longtime owner. Jason caught up with Ben to discuss drafting a protracted transition process into the buyout deal, maintaining organization-wide confidence throughout the pandemic, and succeeding in the crowded hospitality space. Ben and his three partners, all members of the senior leadership team since approximately 2017, entered into a sale agreement with Mobile's longtime second-generation owner Walne Donald five years ago. But rather than pushing Walne out immediately, they wrote him into their purchase agreement. In addition to Walne staying on as majority owner, Ben and his partners were adamant about forgoing private equity. The team believed in the organization's inherent family philosophy and didn't want to tinker with it too much. That holistic approach to company culture served the organization well, especially during the pandemic. With no customers to sell to, Mobile closed its showroom and warehouses for several weeks to refresh and reorganize. That time together proved to be an excellent, if unplanned, team-building exercise. Now that the transition switch has finally flipped, Ben and the team are ready to tackle post-pandemic challenges like supply chain issues and inflation. CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH BEN LinkedIn *** For full show notes and services visit: http://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: HMI Performance Incentives, providing innovative, data-driven B2B incentive solutions.

Want to know the secret to promoting a vibrant, growth-oriented company culture? Forget about the pingpong table in the breakroom. Bill Condron, CEO of Boston-based The Granite Group, says it starts with doing right by your associates and customers––even when no one's watching. Jason chats with Bill about his approach to bottom-up employee engagement, his company's aggressive expansion strategy, and striking the balance between healthy growth and sound culture. Bill's broader belief is that Granite's enviable reputation as a service- and innovation-oriented supplier is shaped by the staffers who typically get relegated to the middle or bottom of org charts at other companies: pickers, branch managers, and truck drivers. Maintaining Granite's culture isn't a hands-off endeavor. The company's yearly calendar boasts quarterly meetings, branch dinners, and town halls. The company has done an excellent job amplifying its culture to attract top talent, back-fill positions vacated by promotion and appeal to a demographic that this industry has traditionally ignored: women. "It's not perceived [as] welcoming or open or a place where women can be successful. That's absolutely false," says Bill. Granite boasts a finance team led by women and women-led branches as well. "If you're able to do that, you're going to up your success by a factor of many." CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH BILL LinkedIn Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. *** For full show notes and services visit: http://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: Moblico, helping businesses do more business on mobile devices.

Associations have long touted in-person events as a critical benefit of membership. However, in the wake of the pandemic, folks have grown more discerning about their time––and what they do with it. Molly Alton Mullins, CEO of SEVEN12 Management, helps these organizations amplify their impact through innovative engagement. Jason chats with Molly about how her company enhanced its value proposition during the live event hiatus, the dynamic interpersonal changes taking place as conferences resume, and inspiring long-term membership involvement. The Midwest in March isn't everyone's idea of a good time. Still, after two years of Zoom meetings, Molly couldn't wait for the in-real-life conversation and collaboration at this year's University of Distribution Innovation event. "It was great to get close to 600 distributors all together in a room, learning from each other, all different industries but essentially the same types of challenges, the same types of opportunities." There's no question that digital platforms helped most people maintain connections during the pandemic, but the community really thrives when that face-to-face happens in the same space. "On-site, the relationships that you make there, they're that much more intense," Molly says. Molly is well-versed at fostering environments in which interaction flourishes. She spent time in the political fundraising arena and government affairs, honing her strategic-minded, relationship-focused perspective. Since coming to SEVEN12 in 2016, she's applied that approach to grow the company's portfolio, expanding its menu of benefits and services and extending its expertise to verticals as diverse as distribution and mental health professionals. Regardless of industry, Molly says association members want the same thing from their experience: "They want the opportunities to do workshops and hear from their peers and learn facts and things like that." Members also crave in-person exchanges. "They want to engage, and they want to touch and feel and laugh and love and do all those sorts of things because they don't ever want to lose it again." As safety precautions lift and conferences ramp up, Molly says it'll take more than the status quo to entice folks to sign up for association membership. "It's great to learn a great story, but people want more than that," she says, especially if they're attending a destination event. People rightly demand more meaningful interactions now, whether through workforce development, mentorship, or peer-to-peer connection. Molly and her team are poised to deliver on those expectations. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE University of Innovative Distribution CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH MOLLY LinkedIn *** For full show notes and services visit: http://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: Profit2.

Visionary leaders chart a course to the C-suite with layovers in multiple departments, creating a culture of innovation throughout their organization along the way. Jason chats with Jameel Burkett, president and CEO of Burkett Restaurant Equipment & Supply in Toledo, OH, about supporting the pursuit of growth and learning, giving back to the industry through association advocacy, and revitalizing his family business amidst a global crisis. His passion for the food service supply industry is palpable, but he admits it wasn't always so. Like many next-generation owners, Jameel didn't think the family biz would satisfy his entrepreneurial aspirations. Twenty years later, he leads in an environment where the "intrapreneurial" spirit thrives. Jameel believes in the pursuit of growth and learning beyond Burkett. He returned to school in 2012 to complete his master's degree and further honed his leadership skills with Vistage executive coaching. It's his membership in FEDA, however, that has provided the most support, especially as the hospitality industry bore the brunt of COVID's many challenges. "I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for all the great people in our industry that took me under their wing when I was a young guy coming out of college, wanting to conquer the world." MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The Hard Thing About Hard Things - by Ben Horowitz CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JAMEEL LinkedIn *** For full show notes and services visit: http://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

Troy Meachum of ACR Supply isn't afraid to share his religious beliefs. While some might consider such transparency a recipe for disaster, ACR's chief encouragement officer makes a case for sincere faith-based leadership. Jason chats with Troy about integrating his religious convictions into everyday operations and how those beliefs have impacted employee morale, customer satisfaction, and the company's bottom line. In fact, ACR has grown its revenue from $3m in 1997 to over $33m this past year. Perhaps it comes down to geography. While many business owners north of the Mason-Dixon line keep their religious beliefs private, those headquartered in the American South tend to be more transparent about their faith––on company websites, at branch locations, and in conversation. ACR Supply, which makes its home in Raleigh, NC, proves the point. Faith, says Troy, is the foundation upon which his personal and professional success rests. There's no compartmentalizing the two. Troy lives his faith with intention, whether by engaging with fellow HARDI members or championing initiatives through ACR Cares, his company's outreach organization. "I'm 60 years old, actually 61 on Friday, and I'm really starting to hit my stride just from a ministry perspective," he says, looking ahead and placing his faith squarely in the future. *** CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH TROY LinkedIn For full show notes and services visit: http://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Brought to you by The Distribution Team and Connected Peers.

Whether you call it pot, grass, marijuana or nothing at all, it's impossible to ignore the cannabis industry's rapid transition from undercover operation to legitimate vertical, one with more conflicting regulatory statutes and distribution challenges than possibly any other. Joy Hudson, founder and CEO of Nimble Distribution in Portland, OR, parlayed her success in the traditional medical supply arena into a thriving cannabis distributorship, all while balancing profits with social impact. Jason chats with Joy about professionalizing the industry, advocating for better legislative considerations, and lending direct support to communities devastated by harmful drug policies of the past. Joy's logistics and sales expertise proved a perfect fit for a business on the brink of stratospheric growth. She and her business partner Marissa Rodriguez have built Nimble, a for-profit company with major social impact credentials. Their innovative strategies include second-chance employment opportunities and reparations-focused initiatives. By marrying a professional ethos with holistic community awareness, Nimble is securing its place at the vanguard of cannabis distribution. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Weeds Oregon Retailers of Cannabis Association NuProject CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JOY LinkedIn Nimble *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

Having trouble finding a candidate to take over once you've left the business for good? You needn't confine succession planning to family members or fellow C-suite occupants. Jim Daniels, president and chief operating officer of Mid-State Sales in Columbus, OH, says the key to a successful strategy is to consider rising stars both in and outside your organization. Jason speaks with Jim about creating a succession roadmap for every key role and mentoring talent to take those positions forward. At Mid-State, Jim's following a similar blueprint to the one that brought him into leadership, providing an environment in which Mid-State's 80 employees spread across the company's four branches can excel. Attracting top talent means providing candidates with a clearly defined path forward. And even top talent requires training. More specifically, mentoring. The difference, says Jim, is profound. In many ways, training is a one-way experience; this is how you do x-y-z. On the other hand, mentoring is a give-and-take exercise––and it's the key to successful succession planning. Succession doesn't always mean ownership or presidency. A distributor can mentor talent to fill many roles within the company, paving the way for continued health and prosperity of the entire organization. CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JIM DANIELS Mid-State Sales *** For full show notes and services visit: http://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: HMI Performance Incentives, providing innovative, data-driven B2B incentive solutions.

Want to optimize talent, foster innovation, and inspire loyalty amongst your staff? Diane Dye Hansen, chief management consultant at What Works Consultants, Inc., says the secret begins and ends with your company culture. Too often, however, companies settle for buzzwords rather than developing a vision statement with input from all. Diane joins Jason to discuss cultivating a healthy, productive work environment using research and data-driven assessment tools. She also shares one exercise guaranteed to help organizations define authentic company culture for themselves. Companies committed to recalibrating organizational integrity can begin by asking their employees to complete the following statement: The way we work around here is… The answers are often revelatory. From diagnosing internal struggles to highlighting opportunities for innovation, this simple ask can transform company culture for the better––and the future. Action-oriented, inclusive company culture goes further in securing and keeping quality employees than words emblazoned on a lobby wall. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The Predictive Index Good To Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH DIANE What Works Consultants, Inc. *** For full show notes and services visit: http://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios.

If you haven't considered a credit union as your next commercial lending partner, you're not considering all the options. Mark Ritter, CEO of Nu Direction Lending, specializes in bringing traditional business financing to the credit union market, keeping the focus and funds local. Jason chats with Mark about what makes the credit union relationship unique and how wholesale distributors can benefit by securing their lines of credit, real estate loans, or general financing with a community-based lender. In addition to keeping money flowing locally, credit unions offer their clients direct access to lending decision-makers. That's a win-win for distributors as personal relationships buoy a company's bottom line. Not a member? No problem! Over the last ten years, credit unions have greatly expanded their membership criteria, welcoming more personal banking and small business clients into the fold. Whether it's a line of credit, a real estate loan, or something in between, the opportunities for distribution businesses are endless. When searching for fast, fair, and reliable funding, maybe it's time you took your business to a credit union––an organization that knows your company as well as your community. CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH MARK MarkRitter.com *** For full show notes and services visit: http://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

Companies in every vertical have become acquainted with safety distributors throughout the pandemic. But there's more to this partnership than "just" PPE. Jason chats with Dave White, the purpose-driven co-owner of Quad City Safety in Davenport, IA, about back-to-basics accounting and why he favors educating customers at the expense of recording sales. "A lot of the world operates selfishly," Dave says, explaining why Quad City Safety gives away so much of its expertise through both a YouTube channel and a podcast. "I think that through being unselfish, usually you're rewarded for being [so]." It's doubtful that anyone who's had a conversation with Dave would accuse him of ulterior motives; he's that passionate about sharing life-saving products and safety information. Of course, transactions keep the business viable enough to support those multimedia endeavors. That's where Dave's accounting background comes into play. Distribution companies are littered with emotional, sales-minded individuals who are sometimes swayed by bright, shiny decisions. Accountant-minded folks like Dave aren't so easily distracted. Dave and his Quad City Safety specialists continue to forge relationships through knowledge, regardless of how the numbers get crunched. They're committed to reliable, relatable customer care, from updating folks on the latest safety standards to demonstrating wearable gear and site-specific equipment. More often than not, those conversations result in a fall protection device ending up in the right place at the right time––and someone going home unharmed. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE American Society of Safety Professionals AD Safety Network CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn *** For full show notes and services visit: http://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: HMI Performance Incentives, providing innovative, data-driven B2B incentive solutions.

Looking for a way to enhance company culture and boost revenue? Mike Mortensen, president and CEO of Alaska Rubber Group based in Anchorage, AK, has a proven solution: an employee stock ownership plan. Jason chats with Mike about his entry-level start in distribution, his company's rapidly expanding physical and digital presence, and why owners of privately-held organizations should look to an ESOP when considering growth or exit strategies. For many independent distributors, the thought of turning company ownership over to employees is as intriguing as it is intimidating. But ESOP options are endless; owners can choose the most suitable structure for their organization and their legacy. For Alaska Rubber, that meant pursuing a "beneficial ownership" model. "The trust owns the company, owns the inventory, the assets and everything like that. And as an employee and a participant in the plan, we own the right to the rise or fall of the share price." To say that the ESOP has panned out for Alaska Rubber is an understatement. While the model wasn't an easy option for the company's original selling party to buy into, the long-term benefits outweighed those initial doubts. Besides increased revenue, transitioning to an ESOP has provided the company with advantages in areas of recruitment, acquisition, and innovation. The company recently completed a massive website upgrade, for example and while on-site cash sales remains top tier, Mike says the fully integrated B2B e-commerce platform has captured business well beyond the counter. Mike also credits forward-thinking tech companies like data partner Proton AI with Alaska Rubber's success despite online pressure from behemoth pick-and-ship competitors. Mike's good fortune in the distribution industry is one he's paying forward. He views his participation in both NAHAD (The Association for Hose & Accessories Distribution) and IDCO (Industrial Distributors Co-op) as a way to contribute to the industry's future. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE DT082: Benj Cohen of Proton AI on Leveraging Sales Data with AI Designed for the Distribution Industry Proton AI NAHAD - The Association for Hose & Accessories Distribution IDCO - Industrial Distributors Co-op CONNECT WITH MIKE MORTENSEN Alaska Rubber Group LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn *** For full show notes and services visit: http://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

During this holiday season, we are taking the opportunity to re-release some of the most popular episodes of Distribution Talk. Jason recently caught up with Lincoln Smith, chief strategy officer at HMI Performance Incentives. Although most people associate loyalty incentives with customer programs, now would be a great time to look at shoring up the relationship with internal associates. Distributors are not immune to the "great resignation" going on in North America and we hate to see associates jump ship for a couple of bucks per hour when we could design non-monetary performance rewards to keep them engaged. Furthermore, Jason predicts that 2022 will be a great time to double down on increasing market share. If you have the inventory, you're in a great position. Loyalty incentives are just another arrow in your quiver. Lincoln has been a great resource to the Distribution Team's clients over the last 18 months. Enjoy this conversation! *** With everything you've got going on, here's a topic you might not have considered: loyalty programs. Business has been thrown quite a few curveballs over the recent months and Lincoln Smith says rewards packages could hit a home run for B2B pros looking to boost their profiles and bottom lines in the months and years ahead. Many distributors and wholesalers are being forced to meet challenges that were at the tail end of their do-to lists. HMI is stepping in with innovative solutions for any size business. The drastic world and business changes of late might warrant a tactical refresh and programs like those built by HMI become much more relevant as your business searches for an advantage in the business environment of the very near future. *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: HMI Performance Incentives, providing innovative, data-driven B2B incentive solutions.

During this holiday season, we are taking the opportunity to re-release some of the most popular episodes of Distribution Talk. The August 2020 interview with Lisa Fiore, co-founder and CEO of Landscape Hub, broke all download records for the show. People were intrigued with her ability to apply this digital marketplace to the highly fragmented legacy industry of landscapes. Since the interview, Landscape Hub has grown dramatically and they're continuing to add more robust search features for the end user. From a fingernails in the dirt family business to technology-driven service provider, this is a really cool innovation story. Enjoy! *** Lisa Fiore left the family business behind to transform an industry. Jason and Lisa discuss the challenges that have shaped her management style and the tech she's created to revolutionize a stodgy wholesale vertical. "Their version of the story is that I grabbed the business and took it from them. My version is they gave it to me," Lisa laughs, recalling the series of events that ultimately lead to her taking over the family's century-old landscape supply business in 2010 - at the height of the Great Recession. Throughout that crisis, Lisa maintained an honest dialogue with her staff and her family about the painful adjustments to come. Fostering that level transparency taught her a great deal about the value of vulnerability, an attribute that has prepared her for the current pandemic. "We all have deep scars from the recession and I guarantee you we're all gonna have deep scars of living through this…[but] it's informed my instincts." Challenges should beget meaningful change. That's a takeaway Lisa has run with throughout her career. After shoring up the family business, she left the company to realize her dream: the creation of an online marketplace connecting buyers and quality suppliers across the country. But optimizing a fragmented ecosystem is not an easy task - or a quick one. Imagine an industry in which the established common names for products change from region to region, where orders are often taken via pencil and pad. That's what Landscape Hub is up against. Three years in, however, Lisa is as enthusiastic about her tech as she was the first time she pitched it to venture capitalists. "This is the future of the industry and I have to be a part of it and I have to see this thing through." Under her guidance, Lisa and her team will no doubt do just that. An entrepreneur at heart, she's happiest laying the foundation for future innovations. "We are doing something that is genuinely going to change this industry. We don't know necessarily what role we'll play in terms of the finished product, but I guarantee you, what we're doing today will make a difference." *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

If a trade association is only as good as its leadership, then HARDI––the Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International Association––is very good indeed, thanks to the energetic and innovative direction of CEO Talbot Gee. Jason chats with Talbot about his formula for providing consistent, top-notch value to HARDI members. The equation includes plenty of workforce development, government advocacy, and gratitude for the biggest little industry most folks know nothing about. "You could be a supremely educated college graduate, or you could be someone who never once even considered or wanted to go to college. Maybe [you] barely got through high school." Talbot confides, before revealing distribution's best-kept secret: "You could end up being a multimillionaire in this industry if you got the right stuff and work hard at it." He has the stories to prove his supposition, committed to video for the documentary Hot Commodity, a behind-the-scenes look at young people finding success in the HVAC industry. It's one of the many workforce initiatives that Talbot has been involved in, a concerted effort to build relationships with the next generation of decision-makers. In doing so, he's securing the current and future health of the industry. Whether he's promoting the HVAC industry, pushing the envelope of member offerings, or expanding his organization into Mexico, Talbot is laser-focused. HARDI's membership appreciates his work, especially regarding the many congressional fly-ins he's participated in on behalf of sector-specific issues. It's a form of advocacy that Talbot has helped foster. "I know people get uncomfortable when you talk about the connection of money in politics," he says, "but there's a reason that all exists. I'm not saying it's perfect, but it's not all bad." One of HARDI's strengths lies in its ability to drive member engagement, reaching out rather than waiting for membership to respond. Talbot says the organization continues to lean into and learn from those efforts. "That's kind of one of those dynamics of just how our business is so different now than the way it was before," he says, referencing not only the period just before the pandemic but also HARDI's overall evolution. The organization has grown to three times the size since Talbot first arrived and has become a more consultative entity in the intervening years. That growth suits Talbot, who's constantly tuned into creating mutually beneficial strategies and partnerships for the people he serves. "Man, when you solve a problem for them," Talbot says, "it's like best friends for life. They're the absolute most gracious people you could ever meet." Watch Hot Commodity, the documentary mentioned in this episode, for free. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Hot Commodity DT069: Steve Deist on career paths and recruitment strategies in wholesale distribution CONNECT WITH TALBOT GEE & HARDI HARDI LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

In order to compete in business, you need to be willing to change your ways. Jason talks about recruiting and retaining talent in the digital age with Marc Beerman, President and CEO of Beerman Precision in Beerman Precision is a New Orleans based rental, sales and service company focused on the industrial construction market. Marc learned the importance of understanding finances early on from his father, Ralph, who founded the company as a side hustle while working full time and raising a family. Quoting a lesson from his dad, Marc says, "Don't let tax returns fool you. Sometimes you make money on paper, but you have no cash." This insistence motivated Marc to go back to school after completing his engineering degree to get another degree… this time in finance. Marc came into the business in the early 1980s when the business was crashing due to the bottom dropping out of the oil industry. His solution was to stop buying inventory. "I said, 'We need to be cash rich, inventory lean'… so that when things turn around we have enough capital to make it through." And make it through, they did, but it wasn't until the 1990s that they were able to start growing again. Over his 3+ decades of leadership Marc has weathered storms (literally and figuratively) and has navigated changes in branches, technology, and more. Like many DT guests, he says one of the best business decisions he made was joining the board at STAFDA, eventually even serving as president. "You learn tremendous amounts from being around people who know a lot more than you." One of the things that lights Marc up is seeing young people coming into STAFDA. He and Jason agree that they need even more young folks entering distribution as a career. Marc says the problem is that distribution isn't a visible industry, rather it's more behind the scenes. Jason quips, "We're boxes in, boxes out!" The corner Marc is turning now is to focus more on e-commerce, an area where he sees some companies excelling and a lot who are lagging behind. He feels like this is an area where there is opportunity for smaller companies to play. The challenge is to recruit and retrain a different type of talent than what they have previously been accustomed to. Pitching your company to a potential candidate can be a bit of a role reversal. For Beerman, Marc is asking the critical question "What makes us a valuable place for someone to make a career?" His solution is giving young candidates a career path, helping them see what the future may hold for them when they come to work for Beerman. He cites Evergreen Marketing Group as a valuable partner, providing members with financial incentives toward investing in training for their employees. He sees this as part of his pitch to attract talent, and says, "It's been a great win for many of our employees, but it also was a win, believe it or not, for some employees that didn't stay with us." Ultimately, he says regardless of the risk, it's worth the investment either way. CONNECT WITH MARC Beerman Precision LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: HMI Performance Incentives, providing innovative, data-driven B2B incentive solutions.

There's no question that artificial intelligence is poised to revolutionize distribution, and incorporating this vital tool is a lot less daunting than it once seemed. Jason chats with Benj Cohen, founder and CEO of Proton AI, about extracting the gold that's buried deep in our systems. From uncovering hidden sales opportunities to onboarding new reps quicker than ever before, AI's ability to dig into data can help our legacy industry close more sales and meet future market challenges. "The median Proton AI customer sells 687,000 different skews," says Benj. With all those items in play, it's difficult for reps to figure out what customers need to buy now and anticipate what they'll want to buy further down the sales stream. "We have a ton of data that we're not leveraging to solve this problem." Enter Proton AI, the post-graduation project he set up to find a solution that would apply to the family's dental distribution business and other verticals. Having grown up in and around distribution, Benj is sensitive to AI skeptics amongst salespeople and owners. "We're very far away, in my opinion, from AI taking over the world, especially taking over the world of distribution," he says, allaying those fears by explaining how the tech supports growth. "What we do is ingest all of the customer data, product, data, transaction data, quote data, online browse data, truly everything we can get about what a distributor's customers are doing." Those patterns, many of which are too sophisticated for the human brain to recognize efficiently, are analyzed to make reps smarter. "The challenge with traditional CRMs is that they are just taking from the rep but not giving." Proton AI's approach delivers sales opportunities and creates a unique partnership between reps and its technology––via a system that your company's salesforce will actually want to use. "We're trying to be a helpful partner, to make their lives easier so they can spend more time with customers." Benj is a tech CEO with distribution in his DNA; he views the playing field from every angle and devises solutions accordingly. "Distributors need to be ready to compete with this next generation of digital-first companies," he advises, adding, "I don't think we should be beating ourselves up as a distributor saying, 'Oh, geez! We're backwards. We don't think technically!'" Ultimately, it's about tools that, to this point, haven't considered the industry's business model. Instead, they've simply overlaid their rigid systems onto distribution's expansive terrain. "Distributors already have a ton of data at their disposal," he says. Proton AI helps any size distributor analyze that information to their long-term advantage. CONNECT WITH BENJ & PROTON AI ProtonAI [email protected] LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

When Tyler Yelland, vice president of sales and marketing at Primco, approached the company's president, Cam Overacker, about starting a podcast, the pair quickly realized the show's potential beyond sales. Jason chats with the Canada-based duo about telegraphing Primco's company culture via Know Where You Stand (KWYS), their trendsetting podcast in the ordinarily conservative floor covering industry. From honest talk about podcasting's ROI to its power as a vehicle for inspiring the next generation of distribution professionals, Cam, Tyler, and Jason share their experiences and insights with the pod-curious. There's a simple explanation for how a Primco podcast came about: a marketing consultant proposed a blog. "I just wanted to do something more unique and something different [in] the market," says Tyler. Ten episodes into recording KWYS, his instincts have proven sound. The show comes across exactly as intended––an informative chat among colleagues who just happen to be friends. "It doesn't feel like work. It's just like Cam and I having another meeting except, instead of talking KPIs, we're just talking about what we would normally talk about." "I had no idea what I was getting in for," Cam jokes. All kidding aside, he quickly embraced a bigger picture mentality. "The transparency that the podcast gives us is, 'trust us, this is really who we are, and this is what we're going to say.'" Cam and Tyler aren't product reviewers; they're industry advocates inviting manufacturers, retail partners, and, yes, even consumers behind the scenes. "For me, it's more about that one person that you turn to, maybe, being open to hearing more about the Primco story and our products... To me, that's more important than any stat you can get," Cam says. Still, KWYS has an impressive reach thus far, and it's easy to understand why. With episode topics running the gamut from technology to shipping (a top-of-mind consideration given COVID import delays across every vertical), KWYS is a data-driven listen as well as an engaging access point for future business leaders. Tyler agrees. "There were so many times when I was younger and just thought I knew everything," he says. "It would have been nice to be able to flip something like this on and just listen to it and get ideas and get those juices flowing." When asked to share their number one podcasting tip, the Primco guys echo one of Jason's own: "Call Andrea," Cam says, a shoutout to Andrea Klunder, producer of both KWYS and DT. The response is also a nod to Cam's overall business investment strategy. "When we look back on [Primco's] failures over 74 years of business, it's the times when you can see that [we] didn't go all in." MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The Q and A Sales Podcast w/ Paul Reilly V Strategies - Calgary Video & Production Surfaces: The International Surfaces Event NAFCD ​​ CONNECT WITH CAM LinkedIn CONNECT WITH TYLER LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: HMI Performance Incentives, providing innovative, data-driven B2B incentive solutions.

Reports of massive employee turnover and dissatisfaction are everywhere––except at Stafford-Smith, Inc. Jason chats with David Stafford, third generation president and CEO of the Kalamazoo-based foodservice equipment distributor, about his company's remarkable retention rate. With 19 locations across 11 states and an overwhelmingly Millennial workforce, Stafford-Smith's culture of loyalty flourishes under David's open-door policy, an office-wide environment of mutual respect, and a few well-timed pranks. "It's been a very good ride so far. We make money; we are very profitable. We work hard. [ ] I don't ask anybody ever to do anything I'm not willing to do myself or have not done." Although David's lead from the front style is a hallmark of successful privately-held distribution companies, it's his repeated acknowledgement of team contributions that make him a standout in the industry. Competitive by nature, David applies lessons learned from his college football days to business, preferring a team approach to execution and a coach's mindset to decision-making. "It takes a village, and so we all need to do this together," he says, referring to the pandemic-related challenges of the last 18 months. "But again, we also have another edict: business is not a democracy. There comes a time where somebody has to be the head coach, general manager, and owner." Access to the key decision maker lays the groundwork for job satisfaction and loyalty, regardless of an employee's generational cohort. While many businesses are frantically trying to rework company culture issues exposed by the pandemic, Stafford-Smith is benefiting from well-established practices. "You see a lot of people having a hard time hiring people. Everybody came back to work for us," David says with pride. Even the five employees (out of over 200) who wanted to retain wfh status were replaced within a week. Stafford-Smith's enviable position as a top-tier employer is one of the reasons they're also exceptionally successful at acquisitions. For companies interested in pursuing an acquisition or greenfield startup, figuring out the perfect formula can seem daunting. David relies on data and his gut. "The formula is, really, I have to feel with these people what's going on. I gotta feel it's the right decision." Again, he goes back to the importance of everyone involved, not only the bottom line. "You gotta make sure you handle it right, that you treat the people right," he says, ever mindful that the new employees will assimilate into Stafford-Smith's well-established ecosystem. Stafford-Smith's gameplan for a post-COVID environment begins with the folks on the floor and ends on David's doorstep––and his office is always open. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Check out Jason's recent interview with Dirk Beveridge. CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

Why would anyone spend 97 days on the road visiting 34 privately-held distributors in the middle of a pandemic? To champion the noble cause of distribution, of course! Jason catches up with Dirk Beveridge, fresh from his We Supply America tour. Beyond the business strategies and innovation beats the heart of this industry: humanity. Dirk shares some of the people-powered stories he captured during this epic journey, offering his patented brand of inspiration and encouragement as well as resources to spark company-wide conversations. "Everybody in my business network tried to talk me out of it," Dirk laughs as he launches into the impetus for his 16,000 cross-country trek. After 18 months stuck in his office, unable to get out on the road and talk to people, Dirk had had enough. "I was looking to take control [ ] to get into my unique ability." Anyone who's ever met Dirk knows this visionary entrepreneur and award-winning keynote speaker for his superpower: telling stories about the industry he loves. "This project was really about coming back and finding it, finding Dirk." What he found instead was renewed faith in the strength and resilience inherent to distribution. We Supply America is more than a love letter to the industry, however. It's a compilation featuring the not-so-secret ingredients that go into making great family-run wholesale distributorships. In an age where the distribution giants seem to be overtaking the world, We Supply America reminds family-run operations that their contribution to this country goes deeper than dollars and cents. While the C-suite is well represented throughout the eight episodes, Dirk says it's the chats he had with drivers, warehouse pickers, and outside sales teams, among others, that provided the most compelling revelations. "Every one of these jobs provides for the unleashing of the human spirit, provides for the individual to grow and to develop and to move towards their potential." They form the foundation of this noble cause, he says. Their unique vantage point provides valuable insights that management can apply to innovate processes and culture. As for the top-tier decision-makers, Dirk applauds every single one for their commitment during the pandemic. Owners continue to grapple with a neverending storm of supply chain issues, labor issues, regulation issues––the list is long. "They have overcome every hardship," he says, adding, "They have accepted the challenge. They have embraced the challenge. They didn't ask for it. They brought their creativity, their grit, their desire, their team, their culture to bear." At the end of his travels, Dirk landed on one core truth: folks in distribution are noble; they are essentially the backbone of this country. Now he's excited to share that message with viewers through the We Supply America series. "It's been touching. It's been enlightening. It's been inspiring, and it's buoyed me. It's lifted me in terms of the goodness in people, and the goodness of humanity and that business, independent entrepreneurial family-owned businesses that happened to be in the business of distribution are at their core human." Like what you hear? Check out Dirk's resources and his appearances on previous episodes: We Supply America UnleashWD Values.com DT039: Dirk Beveridge on coming out of crisis better than before DT022: Dirk Beveridge on innovation, leadership, and legacy CONNECT WITH DIRK: LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON: LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: HMI Performance Incentives, providing innovative, data-driven B2B incentive solutions.

Looking for concrete steps to ease the effects of languishing and regain mental fortitude? Jason and Paul Reilly, speaker, trainer, author, and host of the The Q and A Sales Podcast break down six exercises anyone can implement to improve mental resilience, regardless of company role, industry, or location. Whether you're in the C-suite or the cold-call trenches, there's no question that the challenges brought about by this pandemic are extensive––and exhaustive. It seems counterintuitive then that so many sales teams are crushing their goals from a commission standpoint. But take a closer look. Professional performance doesn't always reflect what's happening personally, as Paul found out when he began conducting research for his latest book Selling Through Tough Times. While swings in success are inevitable over the course of a career, he points out that for the large cohort of salespeople who got into sales after the Great Recession, these last 18 months have hit a bit differently. "So many salespeople right now are facing tough times for the very first time and they have not built that foundation of mental resilience." Even those of us who've weathered our share of economic storms before 2020 could use an assist right now. Paul developed his plan to appeal to everyone, no matter their experience. "I call it the Daily Mental Flex®. It's a collection of six exercises that will help you build resilience and help you build that mental strength that we need." His 30-day Tough-Timer Challenge supports positive mental programming, positive environmental programming, and tough-timer characteristics. So, what's a tough-timer? "A tough-timer is kind of like an archetype. It's the individual who is able to thrive through challenging times." The nearly 40 years worth of experience Paul's company has had training salespeople provided more than enough tough-timer data. He distilled that information into a simple yet effective plan featuring daily exercises (like reps at a gym) for each of the following entries: Gratitude Continuous Improvement Discipline Pruning and Planting Positive Reframing Reducing Friction While his challenge is primarily inward-focused, Paul adds that one of the most critical components of resilience-building is empathy. By committing to 30-days of self-awareness, we acknowledge those areas where we need assistance and, in return, are better able to recognize the same in our family members, co-workers, or employees. "Being able to share what you're comfortable sharing is a nice way to let [the team] know, hey, it's okay to not be okay," he says. In times like these, that acknowledgement goes a long way in strengthening our personal and professional foundations. Like what you hear? Check out Paul's extensive resources: ToughTimer.com Selling Through Tough Times 30-day Tough-Timer Challenge The Q and A Sales Podcast CONNECT WITH PAUL LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

How honest have you been with your team about their mental health? How honest have you been with yourself? Jason joins business partner Marshall Jones to address mental well-being in the time of COVID from an organizational and personal standpoint. The pair discuss anecdotal evidence, offer insights from their conversations with clients, and provide tools leaders can use to create a more empathetic working environment. No matter what you take away from this episode, know that if you're struggling, you're not alone. The sooner we acknowledge our shared vulnerability, the better for all. Does it feel like you're working twice as hard just to tread water these days? When people consider mental health, they most often focus on one end of the spectrum or the other: flourishing or depression. The protracted uncertainty of the pandemic has exposed many of us to a middle state: languishing. Even if your organization is doing well despite the challenges, languishing is an invisible weight that seems to burden everyone. Then there's the adjacent pandemic: loneliness. Once the silent torment of the elderly, Millennials report experiencing the highest degrees of loneliness. While no cohort is spared, GenY is a huge (if not the largest) percentage of the current workforce. "Senior leadership certainly needs to take a very active role in addressing this and not just, saying, 'Well, I know HR has got it under control' because it's really everybody's responsibility within the organization," says Marshall. But how? Approaching mental well-being challenges honestly is a good foundation on which to build. The traditional route of head-down/push-through doesn't support personal or organizational well-being. Neither does writing off employees with supposed 'slacker' tendencies; there is too much evidence to the contrary that there's something else going on. Beyond sharing our struggles with others, there are physical steps that can help ease folks back into a state of flow. Sleep, hobbies, exercise are often quoted because they work! Likewise, gathering the team for a day of community service or other gratitude-based activity can go a long way in strengthening bonds and helping everyone connect on a deeper and more meaningful level than the current crisis. Like what you hear? Check out the resources mentioned in this episode: DT073 - Jason & Marshall on navigating the supply chain crisis DT059 - Jason & Marshall on harnessing the power of peer networks DT036 - Jason & Marshall on adapting to opportunities during the distribution crisis The Lonely Century - by Loreena Hertz NYT: There's a name for the blah you're feeling: it's called languishing CONNECT WITH MARSHALL JONES: LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: HMI Performance Incentives, providing innovative, data-driven B2B incentive solutions.

To say Jeff New has earned his upcoming retirement after 40 years at the helm of Mid-City Supply out of Elkhart, IN, is an understatement. His legacy includes expanding the company from one location to nine and the staff from 35 employees to 130. Before he hands the keys to his sons, Jason chats with Jeff about the industry relationships that have helped Mid-City weather growing pains, multiple recessions, and that impending transition. "My first year of running this company, I took my father's company, which had never had a losing year [ ] and in the first year we lost $180,000," says Jeff. "I thought I was a complete failure." In Jeff's defense, the late 1970s were difficult for everyone. Fast-forward four decades. Mid-City is not only a success; it's a prime example of a company that stays competitive in the plumbing, HVAC, and industrial products industry through a willingness to learn from even the most unpleasant lessons. Trial and error is a less alarming process when you're in the company of others who can commiserate and offer wise counsel. Jeff credits much of his on-the-job education to his organizational memberships. He's an active participant in American Supply Association, taking on various leadership roles, including president in 2008 - amid yet another major recession. "Here I am, ASA president, big shot, flying around the country, giving speeches," he laughs, remembering the extent to which everyone had to cut their budgets just to get by. "One year later, I'm cleaning my own toilets. If that doesn't make you humble, nothing will." Belonging is rewarding, but only when members commit their participation. Jeff credits his connections to WIT (now Commonwealth Group) for putting him in touch with the people, strategies, and, yes, money that kept Mid-City afloat through tough times. "It really saved our company because, without that, we wouldn't have been here." While many folks may oppose buying group membership, Jeff sees the relationship as an investment that pays big dividends. "This made us take a look at ourselves from a different viewpoint and made us a better company." As Jeff prepares to hand the C-suite over to his two sons, he's looking forward to how their co-presidency will shape Mid-City's future. "There are advantages and disadvantages of being co-president," he admits, but his sons have a solid, forty-year foundation upon which to build. Like what you hear? Check out the conversations mentioned in this episode: DT074 - Mike Adelizzi CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JEFF NEW: LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

In an industry stacked with exemplary role models, Shannon Worthington stands among the very best. As president of Dixie Construction Products based in Atlanta, GA, his stewardship extends beyond the company and his era at the helm. Jason chats with Shannon about his commitment to fostering reciprocal relationships and setting the stage for seamless leadership transitions. Shannon began his career in distribution with a simple pledge to himself: "If I ever get in a position where I could make a difference, I would never send someone out without any training, without any knowledge to go call on people." Forty years later, that pledge still stands. He remains committed to leadership built on mutual respect and a desire for the entire team to succeed, even those not directly assigned to his payroll. Take Dixie's relationship with its suppliers. While many organizations make the mistake of expecting hand-outs, Shannon and his team look for ways to strengthen those partnerships. "The only thing I've ever asked, or we've ever asked is, help us be better, help sell more product," he says. The strategy has served Dixie well. It's also a hallmark of Shannon's management style, creating networks from the ground up and nurturing those contacts with integrity - doing the right thing, especially when no one's watching. Shannon admits the right thing isn't always the easiest path to take. However, his commitment to everyone's success remains unflappable no matter the pinch to his personal comfort. "I learned early on that if you make sure that you've done everything you can, to help [employees] grow and support them [ ] and then they still can't… Then you've got to move on because it's not fair to everyone working around that person or anyone else in the building." Speaking of moving on, while he has no intention of stepping down anytime soon, Shannon's keenly aware that he'll have to pass the baton eventually. To that end, he takes his responsibility to the next generation of Dixie leadership seriously, owing a seamless transition to those who came before him and made his evolution from salesperson to president a success. "There's no substitute for time and experience," Shannon says. "You can't make it happen faster; you just got to experience it." He's happy to lend his support to Dixie's younger talent as they fortify their networks and prepare for a successful future in distribution. Like what you hear? Check out the conversations mentioned in this episode: DT028: Kevin Higginbotham on cooperatives, manufacturer partnerships, and Planning for Profit DT072: Kathryne Newton on generational differences in the distribution workforce CONNECT WITH SHANNON WORTHINGTON: LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: HMI Performance Incentives, providing innovative, data-driven B2B incentive solutions.

It goes without saying that Mike Adelizzi, CEO of American Supply Association, hopes to never again face a test like the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the crisis thrust distribution into the spotlight; Mike's not about to let all that attention go to waste. Jason chats with this innovative association exec about serving the plumbing and PVF distribution community through advocacy, education, and planning. The pair also discuss D.Next, the organization's ambitious program for solving supply chain issues and recruiting the brightest talent into industry careers. "You can't out-Amazon Amazon. We don't have the budgets," Mike laughs. But the obvious assessment doesn't signal defeat. Instead, the market's heaviest hitters - including Home Depot - act as catalysts, driving ASA to think more strategically to protect its members and propel the industry forward. "Amazon actually doesn't scare us. We feel we can compete with Amazon. What scares us is what's coming down the pipe," he says, "what's the next Amazon?" While no one could've predicted a 15-month worldwide shutdown, ASA does have an excellent track record for spotting impending disturbances within the industry –– and getting proactive. The association has long worked to organize its membership around issues, think: national lobbying, and local grassroots activities like letter writing campaigns and voting strategies. The future of association advocacy, however, demands a modern approach. ASA has entered the 21st century with D.Next, their state-of-the-art research and innovation lab at University of Illinois Research Park. D.Next is a big initiative that attracts big thinkers. Mike's passionate about the program's recruitment potential and considers it one of his most important acts of advocacy. "Younger folks today, they don't want to go to meetings, you know? And that's what charged us years ago to start thinking about, well, what can the association do to support them where they would see value?" Under Mike's visionary leadership, the answers lie in D.Next's robust plans for analyzing business intelligence and developing the next-gen of industry solutions. CONNECT WITH MIKE ADELIZZI: LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

Navigating the current supply chain crisis requires adaptability - and intelligent math. Jason's friend and business partner Marshall Jones asks the questions this time around as the pair chat real-time challenges and opportunities. Jason's simple equation for calculating customer profitability coupled with his tips for strengthening the relationships that matter will help distributors avoid costly missteps well into the future. "History does have a good strong track record of giving us, in normal times, a very good prediction of what to buy for our needs," says Marshall before delivering a caveat. "In uncertain times like this, it's not as valuable." The last 15 months have served up more surprises than the previous fifty. That's prompted even the most conservative distributors to panic. So, how can they adjust their systems to deal with ongoing uncertainties in the marketplace, and what should they be doing to protect themselves, to hedge against being the distributor with too much stock? Well… "I think this is kind of a tough intestinal fortitude-type of behavior that folks are going to have to take a hard look at. In other words, allocating product to the very best customers that you have," says Jason, noting that manufacturers have played the allocation game for years; it's an easy, effective, and immediate quantification of a distributor's most desirable customers over time. Those who don't measure up are simply taking away gross margin dollars from those profitable customers' contributions. Customers are only one side of the calculation; suppliers occupy the other. As the world reclaims its footing, distributors that show a willingness to share more information with their core suppliers can gain momentum faster. "If you are a collaborator with these folks," Jason says, "you are going to see, possibly, your orders getting filled more often." At some point, the bottleneck will loosen. Proper crisis management now can create competitive advantages for distributors in the future. Find Jason's net profitability exercise at Distributor Power Tools: Customer Profitability. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Distributor Power Tools: Customer Profitability CONNECT WITH MARSHALL JONES: LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: HMI Performance Incentives, providing innovative, data-driven B2B incentive solutions.

"You better be thinking towards the future, or you're going to get left behind." -Kathryne A. Newton, Ph.D How do you manage the generational divide within your company? Kathryne A. Newton, Ph.D., may not have all the answers, but she does possess more than enough intel to coax groups toward more productive communication. Whether those conversations happen face-to-face, through email, or via text is another matter. Self-professed generation geek Jason invites Kathryne to bust the cohort myths that get in the way of innovation. She also shares insights from her career as associate dean of Purdue University's Polytechnic Institute and her tenure with the University of Innovative Distribution. In case anyone assumed otherwise, Kathryne makes her cohort allegiance clear: "I am not a basher of Millennials or Gen Z or any of 'em." Instead, she champions creating environments where the differences build stronger teams rather than pitting one group against another. With literally five generations currently working side by side, there's a staggering wealth of expertise and innovation in the workforce right now - and an inevitable amount of friction. Helping management navigate intergenerational conflicts is Kathryne's specialty. She often finds that attachment to generational stereotypes (the cynical GenXer; the entitled Millennial) derail good intentions. Each group possesses unique talents, influence, and outlook; it's incumbent upon management to recognize those differences and foster a company-wide appreciation for them. Her top tip? Meet the individual cohorts where they are rather than expecting everyone to operate in the same style. Kathryne's time at Purdue has afforded her a unique vantage point to assess the mettle of distribution's next leaders. She likes what she sees. She does wish that more institutions would follow Purdue's lead and provide students with creative programs for financing graduate degrees. However, no matter where they've graduated from, wholesale distribution professionals can continue their education via The University of Innovative Distribution, one of Jason's favorite events. Kathryne is the department chair and a faculty member of the concentrated CEU program. Although a Boomer herself, Kathryne doesn't sound eager to join the ranks of that generation's retirees, at least not yet. She still enjoys transforming generational discord into workplace triumph. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE DT069: Steve Diest on career paths and recruitment strategies in wholesale distribution Generations At Work: Managing the Clash of Boomers, Gen Xers, and Gen Yers in the Workplace - by Claire Raines, Ron Zemke, Bob Filipczak Adaptive Spaces: How GM and Other Companies are Positively Disrupting Themselves and Transforming into Agile Organizations - by Michael J. Arena CONNECT WITH KATHRYNE A. NEWTON, Ph.D. University Of Innovative Distribution Purdue University LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

"We started to create a strong bridge between inside and outside of the house; we were realizing that we needed to make both pieces great." -Andrew Hartman Teams flourish under teachable leaders. For proof, look no further than Andrew Hartman, president of Hartman Independent Company based in Canonsburg, PA. As the third-generation decision-maker, his conscious efforts to remain open to new ideas and willingness to engage in challenging conversations have transformed this 70-year-old distributorship. Jason chats with Andrew about tweaking team roles, buying group advantages, and leading by example. "I actually had to apply to the company where I was working part-time for a full-time position," Andrew recalls, explaining that, in hindsight, the speed bumps his father put in place before he could join the family business served him better than having the keys to the kingdom simply handed over. The experience reinforced the notion that he was applying for a "real job" and, if he wanted to rise in the ranks, he'd have to earn every rung. No spoiler here; Andrew did succeed. "To be a great leader, you have to first be able to be led. That's not possible if you're not teachable," he says, with the self-assured yet humble style that's at the core of Hartman Independent's thriving culture. Teachability is behind a recent shift within the company. Intrigued by the prospect of strengthening Hartman's value proposition, Andrew split his customer service team and inside sales staff into two separate entities. While not without its challenges, especially during a pandemic, the change has allowed the organization to reallocate resources for potentially more significant returns. "I think, again, just being willing to learn and to grow and to change, it's gonna end in success," Andrew says. The education doesn't stop once Andrew leaves his office. In addition to STAFDA membership, he's also active in several buying groups: AFFlink and Sphere 1. He's a firm believer in the tools and services provided and the relationships fostered among members. "There's really a triangle effect that is going on, three strands if you will," he says, "and it creates a strong bond driven by the organization but, still, with the distributor and the manufacturer at the core." Here, too, Andrew approaches his membership with humility, knowing he'll only get out of these associations what he puts in. CONNECT WITH ANDREW HARTMAN: LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com

"The answers don't always come from me; I am asking you for the answers, and I'm asking you to find those answers and to drive change yourself." -Jamie Arguello Could your team pass the litmus test? If you left your distribution business in their hands for four weeks, five, six, would the shop survive in your absence? Jamie Arguello has the real-life data to prove that her business wouldn't simply survive; it would thrive. Jason chats with the CEO of Grady's Foodservice Equipment & Supplies in Pueblo, CO, about coming home to the family business, creating space for second chances, and the rewards of letting go so others can step up. "So, I got involved with my family business basically by chance," Jamie says, recounting the deal she made with her father in 2007 - to work at Grady's until she'd paid him back for a real estate investment that had tanked along with the markets. Once that debt cleared, however, Jamie had found her professional home. The wholesale distribution space provided her with everything she had sought elsewhere: competition, collaboration, and connection. "I have actually held every position in our company, and I've never been good enough at any of them to keep them for long," she laughs. Instead, Jamie turned her keen eye toward the interrelation between every department under the Grady's' roof, connecting her employees through processes and systems, and moving everyone forward, together. But all that superior macro vision couldn't prepare Jamie for a pandemic and the health crisis that came next. Or could it? Amid the challenges that marked summer 2020, Jamie discovered she had breast cancer. The diagnosis swiftly shifted all of the company's micro concerns onto her team. "I couldn't do what I used to do, and for me, that was extremely hard." But not without its rewards. It's a testament to Jamie's management style how well the Grady's family flourished as she focused on her recovery. That time away also provided Jamie with a fresh perspective. "It's so much easier to see [challenges] from a distance than it is to see in the day-to-day when you're in it," she says. Meeting challenges and being of service is a hallmark of Jamie's character. She's an active member of FIDA, admitting that she initially got involved solely for the data. Now, she champions FIDA's exceptional educational programs and access to talent. Perhaps her most meaningful professional commitment is to those in need of a second chance. Grady's, long known for making connections, offers employment opportunities to folks whose criminal record may prevent them from securing meaningful work. The program has turned out to be a win-win. "They've always provided me with more motivation than I could ever have provided them," she says. Yet another reason why the Grady's team receives the highest marks on that litmus test. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: DT069: Steve Diest on career paths and recruitment strategies in wholesale distribution CONNECT WITH JAMIE ARGUELLO: LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: HMI Performance Incentives, providing innovative, data-driven B2B incentive solutions.

"A distributor is very much about micro marketing; [ ] they win the battle one customer in one relationship at a time." -Steve Deist Distribution has a PR problem. Longtime listeners will no doubt recognize that phrase as one of Jason's favorites. The lament takes aim at the industry's lackluster attempts to attract fresh talent, anyone who hasn't grown up in a family business and, therefore, remains clueless to all that distribution offers. Steve Deist, chief operating officer of Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply, agrees. He chats with Jason about the math that makes distribution work, the industry's noble mission, and, of course, the value proposition about which more young people should know. "I'm really, really boring," laughs Steve before launching into his origin story. His career trajectory, while not glitzy - an engineering degree followed by time on the manufacturing side, 20 years worth of consulting, 4+ in his current role - has provided him with a unique vantage point from which he can see the industry's promise and pitfalls. "One of the first ah-has that you get from distribution is that it's all different, right? If you've seen one, you've seen one." Steve considers the sheer diversity reason enough to consider distribution as a viable career option. Add to that distribution's persistent presence as an economic force, and you've got a recipe for steady professional growth. From the 1970's onward, for instance, "the number of the percentage of the GDP and the number of wholesale distribution companies is pretty darn stable." According to Steve, that's a function of the key value that distributors provide. So why don't more folks out of college (or even high school) give serious consideration to distribution? Messaging. "I think we tend to be a little shy and not willing to put our employee value proposition out there," Steve says, pointing out that distribution doesn't do a very good job about talking itself up. Sure, big tech gets all the glossy press. Yes, their hotel-like HQs are status campuses. Distribution, however, offers unprecedented opportunities for advancement - and far earlier than those management-heavy behemoths. The industry also offers an exceptional relationship-building, difference-making environment that resonates with Gen Z. "At Ewing, I don't care about selling them this rotor or this bag of fertilizer this month. I mean, I want to do that," he laughs. Ultimately, Steve says that Ewing's goal is to make their customer successful, to help them grow rather than simply rating a transaction. "That's a long-term career relationship," Steve says - the kind that will attract a new wave of leaders. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: DT: Mike Marks on reinforcing your foundation and building market share during difficult time‪s CONNECT WITH STEVE DEIST: LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

"Pick the right system for yourself... At some point, you trust your judgment and whoever you're working with that,'okay, this is gonna work.'" -AJ Maloney AJ Maloney has weathered a lot of changes - as has the family business he once guided. While this former vice president of Coburn Supply in Beaumont, TX, may have passed the baton onto the 4th generation of leaders, he still has plenty of sage advice to share. Jason chats with AJ about sustaining multi-generational success, the perils of large-scale systems migration, and the importance of association membership. "The first rule that we've had when we hire a family member is that anybody we hire, we can fire." That's AJ laying down the company law. Being born into this family business doesn't guarantee your spot. Instead, there's an informal rule that family members can only join the ranks if they've pursued other professional options outside of the company. It worked for AJ. The one-time math teacher and coach returned to Coburn after ten years in education. That time out in the "real world" bolstered his affinity for processes and pure data. "I guess I am a nerd," he laughs. It's a badge he can wear proudly, having successfully overseen the company's transition from pen-and-paper orders to POS back in 1992. As Coburn has expanded (53 locations!), the scaling, integrating, and upgrading have continued. With growth, however, comes pain; the trick is to keep it to a minimum. A recent overhaul of the company's warehouse management system proved trickier than AJ had hoped. "It's worked well for us, [but] it was a difficult transition into it," he admits. "The wheels came off the bus." Having clarity of vision and regional specialists in place made the difference; that upgrade transformed Coburn. AJ says any transition is a learning process; there are always tasks you wish you'd approached differently or challenges you wish you'd anticipated. Ultimately, he advises others to pick the system that works for their business rather than the flashiest tech because, once installed, "you have to get to a point where your employees trust the system." Coburn operates a vast network of sites, including multiple showrooms, distribution centers, and pipe yards. Setting an example for the next generation who'll take over that large enterprise is important. AJ joined the American Supply Association's advisory side to be of service to his fellow members and those rising in the ranks. He cites ASA as having helped broaden the experience of those in the industry, especially with programs geared toward emerging leaders. "I think they've done a great job of developing it and continuing to emphasize it." Coburn's future is in excellent hands thanks to the foundational values of its not-so-distant past. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: DT: Gordon Graham On Distribution Inventory, Speaking from the Stage, and Maintaining Integrity CONNECT WITH COBURN SUPPLY: LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: HMI Performance Incentives, providing innovative, data-driven B2B incentive solutions.

"One of my clients put it in a really great way. He said, 'Get your arms around the day before it gets its arms around you.'" -Jason Bader Want to sleep better tonight? Sure, it's an odd opener - until you think about all the nagging issues that keep managers (especially new ones) up at night. In this episode, Jason flies solo, sharing his favorite tips for building a solid day-end routine regardless of industry. Think of this episode as a coaching session with tangible action items. Anyone can finish their day implementing Jason's foundational steps. He advises setting aside a solid 30 minutes and promises that no special tools are required except pen and paper, which, admittedly, might feel special if you're someone who's a committed notes app user. "There's something phenomenally magical about putting pen to paper," Jason says of the old-school approach. So what to put on that blank slate? Lists, of course - in a decidedly different format. Jason advises listeners to shift focus from a general brain dump in favor of detailed reflection. The questions that prompt this part of the day-end routine provide answers to spark the next. The second exercise borrows from Stephen Covey's advice: sharpen that saw. In other words, take time for self-development. Jason recommends reading a trade article, watching a YouTube video, or listening to a podcast (*ahem*) that informs or teaches. From five-minute reads to quick episodes, you can learn and retain a lot of information at the end of the day. The final step is the one we're all most familiar with - creating a list. Here again, Jason refers to one of his favorite authors for guidance. Brian Tracy advocates for eating that frog! It's a phrase that refers to prioritizing the biggest thing first. Jason agrees, recommending that listeners create a task list with built-in punch. Not sure where or how to begin? "I want you to go back and actually find a way to prioritize it," Jason says, revealing that the best lists follow a simple ABC plan. The goal here isn't perfection. Even Jason admits to missing the mark on his day-end routine and reaping the results. "When I wing it, man, things are all over the place!" When he takes that time-out at the end of his day to reflect, invest in his personal development, and plan? "I think I earned my keep today." CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: LinkedIn MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time - Brian Tracy *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com

"We're always learning. Our customers are teaching us. They are tremendous professors." -Patricia Bible Throughout the pandemic, restaurants have received much of the press. But what about the suppliers behind the pizza joints, Thai carry-outs, and doughnut shops? How are the distributors fairing? Well, at least one of them is thriving through tough times. Patricia Bible, owner and CEO of KaTom Restaurant Supply in Kodak, TN, joins Jason to discuss the other side of the hospitality industry. The company's success is rooted in its dynamic leadership and service-oriented culture. "It's been a very different last twelve months. We've seen lots of things change, and we have had to dig deep within ourselves to become better and to look at the world through a different set of eyes." In speaking with Patricia, one feels that she doesn't spend too much time dwelling on the past. Since KaTom's inception, the company has strived to meet the future earlier than everyone else. That philosophy might have spelled doom for any husband and wife team with little distribution experience. For Patricia and her late husband Tim, it just meant they had to work a little smarter than their competitors. They even worked smarter than the supply chain expert they hired to help with KaTom's first big warehouse set-up. The big shot didn't survive. KaTom, on the other hand, continues to thrive. Although talk of expansion is a perennial KaTom conversation, Patricia prefers everyone - including her grown children - under the same 160,000 roof for now. "I can get up from my desk, be in the distribution center in six to seven minutes [and] walk the entire distribution center several times a day, see what the pain-points are." That accessibility fosters trust and long-term loyalty in the trenches as well as in the C-suite. But she's not counting exclusively on the old guard for the next new ideas. Instead, Patricia's actively courting Millennials into the restaurant distribution industry through internship programs with local universities and outreach via KaTom's retail facility. "I think [Millennials] are the most brilliant individuals because they're not afraid of anything," she explains. "It's really refreshing. We have enjoyed it immensely." Patricia is as passionate an advocate for the industry that has provided her family with its livelihood. She's participated in FITA - The Federation of International Trade Associations - leadership activities and programs for many years. She credits FITA speakers with teaching her more about supply chain management than anyone else. "[FITA] has revolutionized KaTom," she says. Smart money says KaTom's achievements are 70/30 due to Patricia's exceptional guidance. CONNECT WITH PATRICIA BIBLE: LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: HMI Performance Incentives, providing innovative, data-driven B2B incentive solutions.

"Now you're able to offer your customers something that will financially protect them from what you know is a potential expense, but they view as a non-expense down the road." -Rich Danchisin If you've listened to the podcast for a while, you know that distributors who can teach a contractor how to make more money foster loyalty for life. The challenge is finding opportunities that don't squeeze already tight distributor margins. Enter Rich Danchisin of Trinity Warranty. His company offers creative extended warranty solutions across multiple verticals. These customizable programs on residential, commercial, industrial products might be the edge your company needs to boost its bottom line. "We design programs to fit the needs of the distributors that we work with." That's Rich with a Cliff's Notes version of Trinity's focus, but his swift delivery doesn't do the products justice. Trinity provides comprehensive warranty programs to contractors who install and maintain heavy equipment - think HVAC, refrigeration, LED lighting, and even pool equipment. The offering can provide wholesale distributors with a good income source without the pesky burden of cash tied up in depreciating physical inventory. For the contractor, Trinity's warranties remove the friction associated with so many service calls, allowing them to repair equipment and receive payment aligned with their market and business model while not costing the consumer anything at the service time. So, how do warranties help the distributor side of the relationship? Coverage is the perfect tie-in for what they're already doing, and, as Rich points out, with Trinity, distributors can select one warranty company to cover everything, regardless of manufacturer. "I like to say we are brand agnostic," he laughs. It's profitable peace of mind any way you look at it. Trinity also provides extensive training to distributors who want to provide comprehensive educational support to contractors as part of their value-add. Alternatively, these warranty programs can simply provide passive revenue streams, depending on a distributor's goals. Finally - and crucially - Trinity's ability to customize private label coverage is yet another reason to consider adding warranty options to the menu. A company-branded program can differentiate distributors in tight marketplaces by going above and beyond a manufacturer's primary offering. As Rich says, it's a great way to become known as a more innovative distributor than your competitors. CONNECT WITH RICH DANCHISIN Trinity Warranty [email protected] CONNECT WITH JASON BADER Jason Bader on LinkedIn Join Jason's professionally moderated, industry-specific peer-to-peer forums at Connected Peers. *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com

"It's very hard to get them to go along with it, to try the new idea, the new way of doing it. Now, once they try it, generally, they'll say, gosh, this is good!" -Gordon Graham After years of using Gordon Graham's methodology to power The Distribution Team, Jason finally sits down for a one-on-one with the man who revolutionized an industry. Known for his integrity and easy-to-understand logic, Gordon is the undisputed dean of distribution inventory management, having written the book on the subject in the late 80s. This conversation is as much a treat for fans of Gordon's work for those who're unfamiliar with his revolutionary approach. It seems ridiculous now, in an age of specialized systems, but, back in the dark ages of inventory management software packages, distributors struggled to make standard manufacturing programs work within their own verticals. You can thank Gordon for solving the issue. "One of the things that I developed was the way to handle the line-buying problem." He drew on his previous trials-and-errors to write a common-sense approach entitled Distribution Inventory Management For The 1990s. Gordon's appeal spread with the book's publication. Software companies that incorporated his methodology received his endorsement, a gold standard that distributors sought when installing or upgrading their management systems. Those that didn't receive Gordon's seal of approval got angry and tried to get even. Gordon refused to cave to the economic blackmail. As a result, he's still the trusted voice of authority and reason three decades later. Gordon saw the value in simplification. "That was one of the reasons I never did care much for the real high math approaches to inventory control," he says, "because, not that they don't get good answers, it's just that the people using the system generally will not understand how that computer got an answer." Still, as broadly appealing as his ideas were, and as much as he wanted to share them, Gordon knew when to bow out. "I had to admit that a lot of my stuff didn't work everywhere. And one of the things I had to be real careful was not trying to force it into where it didn't go." That speaks to Gordon's integrity and ability to remain humble enough to learn from his encounters with new systems or formats. Now 87, Gordon trades conference speaking war stories with Jason and remains keenly aware of how important it is to live life by your word and aligned with your faith. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE UID - University of Innovative Distribution CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: Jason Bader on LinkedIn Join Jason's professionally moderated, industry-specific peer-to-peer forums at Connected Peers. *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

"I think there's plenty of conversations that can be had with competitors that are valuable and are productive - just not pricing." -John Kelly Oh, the allure of those big government contracts! Not so fast… John Kelly, Chief Corporate Officer of Jo-Kell, a shipboard electrical and industrial automation specialist, sits down with Jason to discuss the great and the not-so-good aspects of working with the federal government. Jo-Kell has undoubtedly carved out a profitable niche for themselves with the US Navy. Still, as Jason learns, a lot of John's success within the company is due to his participation in AHTD - the Association for High Technology Distribution. "Early on, I decided on Marty and Suzy because it was something that would make me stand out less," John says, recalling the mundane but tricky situation every kid who's grown up in the family business has had to address. "If I called them mom and dad, I'd be the different one." Choosing to stand out at holiday family gatherings rather than at the office has worked out well for John. Although Jo-Kell deal primarily in circuit breakers, they're known extensively for an ability to source everything from sand to altars. Non-stock procurement is an underrated part of distribution but, as John points out, "There's a reason why [your customers] go to you for that, and there's a value to that." Before the Navy can ask for anything, their suppliers must meet layers of requisite processes and certifications. "Getting that set up and then, going through the audits every year and having not just our company's approved, [but] we have individual people that are approved to be these inspectors...it's a lot of work," John says. Contrary to popular opinion, that $500 toilet seat earmarked for a Navy destroyer isn't the same as a $10 item at the local home store. Testing and traceability make up the cost differential - a lead most news stories miss in favor of a headline denouncing the high price tag. Over the years, however, John's learned to take news cycle and government budgets in stride. No matter who's in control in Washington there's always s level of consternation when it comes to when and how much the Navy can spend. John says his energy is better spent on meeting performance benchmarks and overseeing an upcoming acquisition, his first-ever. He's grateful to his fellow AHTD members - his competitors - for their wisdom and support. "Everybody wants to see other people succeed," he says, busting the myth that competitors can't share best practices or help each other out. CONNECT WITH JOHN KELLY: John Kelly on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: Jason Bader on LinkedIn Join Jason's professionally moderated, industry-specific peer-to-peer forums at Connected Peers. *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com

"We try to live by the golden rule, not only in every day dealing with customers and vendors, but also in our acquisition processes." -Mark Patton Want to know the secret to talent development, mergers and acquisitions, or working with private equity partners? It's not classified information; it's culture. In this episode, Jason speaks with Mark Patton, CEO of Colony Hardware, about managing the myriad relationships that fuel his company's multi-territory success. "What we've really focused on is growing the business, and in order to grow and scale a distribution business like ours, I think you really need to focus on expanding the footprint." Since joining the company ten years ago as (COO and CFO), that's precisely what Colony has done: 40 locations in close to a dozen states, all east of the Mississippi except for their Texas outposts. The company's success has a lot to do with Mark's keen financial acumen. Earlier in his career, he completed GE's financial management training program and, later, his MBA. He's quick to cite a robust talent development track as another reason for the organization's success. "When we're interviewing for the training program, we kind of use a panel approach; it's just so important to get that good cultural fit." The importance of good cultural fit extends to every aspect of Colony's operation, including newly-merged entities. "We always do a fairly significant onboarding event [for ERP migration, for example] when we have a new group." That transparency eases fear of the unknown amongst new members and fosters goodwill throughout the acquired organization. And when it comes to acquisitions, Mark prefers them to greenfield startups, even though he's enjoyed success at Colony with both. "I love doing acquisitions," he says, adding, "we probably pass on as many acquisitions as we actually consummate because it has to be a really good cultural fit." In fact, a company's culture - not necessarily its price - can mean the difference between proceeding with an acquisition or establishing a start-up instead. As for private equity relationships, here too, Mark aims for the right fit. "I think 15 % or more of the US economy now is controlled by private equity," he says, "so, there, our relationship is they are a shareholder." Good financial partners bring a valuable perspective to the company. They also hold management accountable. While that may sour some owners against private equity, Mark speaks the truth: capital ultimately drives expansion. "You got to borrow it, you got to invest it yourself, you got to earn it, or you have to go get other partners and shareholders." MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Predictive Index CONNECT WITH MARK PATTON: Mark Patton on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: Jason Bader on LinkedIn Join Jason's professionally moderated, industry-specific peer-to-peer forums at Connected Peers. *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: HMI Performance Incentives, providing innovative, data-driven B2B incentive solutions.

"And I'm in there -- the hat on backwards, t-shirt, and jeans ripped. I've got no job, but I'm keeping my word, right? That I was going to take care of this person no matter what." -Ward Bassett Ward Bassett understands how quickly one's luck can run out -- and what it takes to persevere when everything goes sideways. Ward's early life played out like a classic teen adventure film befitting someone born grasping a silver spoon. Then tragedy struck, leaving him to make sense of life. Today, Bassett Salon Solutions' CEO credits a crash course in humility and enviable timing for his second chance at success. Jason chats with Ward about his unusual origin story, what he's learned about acquisitions from the school of life, and the mantra that's fueled his entrepreneurial spirit from day one. "Help people get what they want, and you will always have what you need," Ward says, reciting his father's oft-repeated advice. "I just never forgot that." His dad knew of what he spoke. The senior Bassett founded Bassett Racing. At age 19, Ward's future in the high-octane sport of motocross was bright. Then, his father's untimely death set Ward adrift. "Any money left behind, I blew," he admits. Broke and carrying a massive chip on his shoulder, Ward found himself in a karate dojo, far from college-bound but somehow on the right path. The circuitous journey from hair model to successful salon products distributor has a lot in common with Ward's early days in motocross. He applied himself to both pursuits and took advantage of his access to the industry's smartest people. Those connections provided him with a better education than any college program. To this day, he recommends owners surround themselves with people outside their business and even their industry, like a CFO coach, to provide unbiased support. Still, no matter how much he'd learned on that job, life teaches new lessons—case in point, Bassett's one and, so far, only industry acquisition. Before setting up his own operation, Ward had sat in on multiple buyouts, but it wasn't until he drove the entire process from the owner's that he realized all the little things he didn't know. "We certainly had some ego going in," he admits. No regrets, though. He'd do it all over again, only wiser about it next time. Humility and an uncomplicated approach—what some might still call luck—are the critical ingredients of Ward's success. Now, he's paying it forward by supporting causes near to his heart. Check out his motocross-themed video for ChildHelp USA, then visit the foundation's page for more information. CONNECT WITH WARD BASSETT Bassett Salon Solutions LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: Connect with Jason Bader on LinkedIn. Join Jason's professionally moderated, industry-specific peer-to-peer forums at Connected Peers. *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

"My theory is that "status quo" kills the future." -Paul Glover In a rush to put distance between this year and the last, what opportunities have you left behind? Paul Glover, the "no BS" work performance coach, is back, with a new webinar and an urgent directive: stop referring to 2020 as the worst year ever!* He sits down with Jason to discuss keys to building more robust, engaged environments that will thrive in the next normal. "Well, obviously everybody is happy to see 2020 in the rearview mirror. But, after having lived it and taking some time to reflect, I'm calling b***s*** on considering 2020 as a throw-away year!" If you caught Paul's last appearance on this podcast, then you already know he's the definition of dynamic. He's also knowledgeable, and he's watched the status quo kill bottom lines more thoroughly than any pandemic. "In the times of good, we develop really bad habits," he says - as individuals and organizations. Cast your memory back a decade or so. Although not without their hardships, the last 8-10 years have corrected much of the subprime crisis of 2008. Sure, innovation remained a big-picture buzzword, but the day-to-day? We've all gotten comfortable with our processes, as humans are wont to do after such a massive collapse. And then... 2020 served up a once-in-a-lifetime disruption with vast potential - and a limited shelf-life. "The chaos is yours to take advantage of," Paul says, referencing the title of his latest webinar. Thanks to the pandemic, most companies already have a head start at an organizational renaissance. From the warehouse to the C-suite, employees have proven their adaptability. Even those steadfastly reluctant to change in the past have mastered new tech and rigorous safety regulations. "How about if we build on that by saying you've shown me that you have the ability to do more," Paul says. "And...reward that! Help them grow!" Now the big question: How? Paul suggests crafting a thoughtful plan that considers ground-level processes as well as sky-high wishes. Just remember that the status quo is always lurking, ready to derail best intentions with bad habits. The next normal, he says, requires both forward-thinking and hindsight. "We have such a tendency to want to rush to the future. But you can't leave that experience behind." Bring those lessons with you and pay 2020 the respect it deserves. Two ways to get ahead of the next normal: Join Paul's next webinar The COVID Crisis Would Be A Terrible Thing To Waste and Jason's professionally moderated, industry-specific peer-to-peer forums at Connected Peers. *All points of view are relative, of course. Our intent is not to diminish anyone's personal suffering or disregard genuine struggles that business owners have faced since the pandemic began. We wish only to provide some positive context. CONNECT WITH PAUL GLOVER The No BS Work Performance Coach LinkedIn Twitter Facebook CONNECT WITH JASON BADER: Connect with Jason Bader on LinkedIn. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: DT041 - Paul Glover DT013- Martha Brooke DT054 - Martha Brooke Herb Kelleher *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. http://www.distributionteam.com

"By working together, you can really improve the quality of the solutions that you bring to bear against, you know, the problems that you deal with day in, day out." - Marshall Jones As years go, 2020 didn't leave much behind to recommend it...or did it? Amidst the difficult aspects of the last ten months, distributors managed to string together small but mighty bright spots. In this episode, Jason is joined by business partner Marshall Jones to discuss their favorite takeaways from the last year. The pair also debut an exciting new leadership forum focused on peer support. If you're ready to commit to 2021's promise or simply looking to banish a few overexposed phrases, Marshall and Jason have you covered. Last year's silver lining is easy to find - if you know how to look. Instead of searching for a considerable gain, Marshall urges owners and management to add up their small wins instead, then build upon them. "Everyone that survived this [2020] walks away with a really strong sense of accomplishment. They've learned a lot about themselves and their teams and their strengths and what they're capable of doing." But what should leaders do with that information? How do they transform 2020 hindsight into 2021 insight? And who can they turn to address the challenges that lay ahead? Peers. Connected Peers, to be precise, our professionally moderated, industry-specific peer-to-peer forums. Our new concept fosters growth for members and their companies by harnessing the power of experience sharing. "These peer to peer networks have been fantastic," Marshall says. "They really create an opportunity for professionals within the distribution industry that really are often alone in their companies." With Connected Peers, leaders can interact with their counterparts in other companies and even in different verticals to share best practices, exchange ideas, and fend off stagnation in an environment of inclusive collaboration Thanks to last year, members of Connected Peers forums have an entirely new catalog of professional experiences from which to share and learn. Masterful pivots, tech triumphs, quick-changes. The pandemic hastened in months transformations that, historically, have taken years to complete. "In the past, for us to find these innovations," Marshall says, "we've had to have a recession or a depression to get us to make these changes." Not this time. Distribution adapted to incredible pressures in months or, in some instances, weeks. That's the kind of in-the-trenches expertise Connected Peers aims to harness. Listen in to learn more about this incredible forum as well as the words Jason hopes to banish in 2021. CONNECTED PEERS *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Connect with Jason Bader on LinkedIn. Connect with Marshall Jones on LinkedIn. http://www.distributionteam.com

"The old sales process is dead and, frankly, good riddance. " ~Jason Bader Can a decade-old film about baseball provide fresh ideas for distribution? In this rare solo episode, Jason talks with you about driving company growth using the intelligence you already have at hand. As a self-professed data junkie, it's no great leap for Jason to pull cues from Moneyball while discussing the lessons he's learned at his day job as a consultant. The 2011 true story follows Billy Beane, the general manager of a middling baseball team, as he becomes first in the major leagues to embrace economic algorithms as a tool for uncovering value - in his case, underrated and, therefore, underpriced players. The gut instincts of seasoned field scouts couldn't override empirical evidence: intelligent analysis saves money and wins games. In baseball, the data begins with an analysis of past performance. In distribution, past transactional data provides the foundation upon which to build new customer avatars and expand current client profiles. T his data allows businesses to grow sales by understanding what people are currently doing versus what they could be doing in the future. Business intelligence prompts smarter questions and provides more precise answers. That information translates into more efficient and more profitable sales teams. If COVID has taught us anything, it's that the old ways of courting and calling on customers are dead. And good riddance, too. The worldwide reset has forced companies to address wasted time and energy, own up to mediocrity in their sales process, and get serious about their survival. All distributors have to do is extract (and use!) the data they've already collected. Just like Beane did with his 2002 Oakland A's. *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. http://www.distributionteam.com This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Connect with Jason Bader on LinkedIn. If you need any help out there in your distribution business, reach out to Jason. Thank you for helping drive this podcast over the year. Have a safe and happy holiday. And, hey, let's look forward to 2021. Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

"Your best customers are subsidizing your worst customers." ~Franke Hurtte Talking shop with Frank Hurtte is akin to auditing a masterclass in distribution longevity: no matter the vertical, he's always ready with a personal anecdote and answers to some of today's most challenging problems. Frank has successfully parlayed 28 years in direct distribution into a consultancy, as well as a byline on multiple books and hundreds of industry articles. He shares some of that expertise with DT listeners for free - a tactic he says distributors themselves should abandon now before it costs them their entire business. "The people I work with are people that add some value to everything that they sell." Frank dubs these clients knowledge-based distributors, men and women who trade in more than just boxes of stuff. They're product specialists, and it's beyond time to stop giving away that knowledge for free, in essence, devaluing the customer service they bring to the table. *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. http://www.distributionteam.com This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Connect with Jason Bader on LinkedIn. Connect with Franke Hurtte on LinkedIn. *** "The small guys got to do something to differentiate themselves," Frank says. He suggests the best way to survive amidst the big players in the industry is through product information and customer service - two benefits Amazon isn't interested in providing. The trick, of course, is to know when, how, and who to extend the value to - and at what cost. Frank counters pushback from those who balk at charging for expertise with trademark earnestness. "Unless you get a handle on that, you're going to be a former, really-popular-but-out-of-business distributor." Far less controversial a topic, but equally important to a company's success, is participation in distribution associations. Frank champions active membership, citing engagement as one of the best ways to cultivate resilience in yourself and the industry as a whole. "Somebody's [within the group] going to have a solution out there, and it's good to build that network of friends that can help you through those situations." Frank sees the knowledge shared among members as a real difference-maker to a company's culture and its bottom line. "That's the trade secret." Listen in for more of Frank's trade secrets, including his favorite resources: Value-Added Selling by Tom Reilly and Paul Reilly; and Dr. Albert D. Bates of Distribution Performance Project CONNECT WITH FRANK HURTTE: The Distribution Channel The Distributor's Fee Based Services Manifesto on Amazon [email protected]

"You just have to play the niche and work with what you can and take the good with the bad." Ed Flemmons Ed Flemmons takes poolside particulars seriously. As president of Pool Contractors Supply, Inc. headquartered in Memphis, TN, he maintains a firm grip on the company's financials as well as its future. Not one to lounge around, Ed's responsibilities extend to his buying group, where he heads the largest cooperative of independent pool and spa distributors in North America. Jason and Ed discuss changes to the industry (hint: the faces are getting younger); and promoting value at both ends of the supply chain. "There's a variety of components that add value to the distribution chain." Ed works every component, twice. First, from his post as president of both PCS, Inc., the family business he married into over thirty years ago. Second, on behalf of WINDO Group, Inc, the Wholesale Independent National Distributors Organization of which he is also president. Each position benefits significantly from his master's degree in finance - an ace in the hole where bankers are concerned. *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. http://www.distributionteam.com This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Connect with Jason Bader on LinkedIn. Connect with Ed Flemmons on LinkedIn. *** Ultimately, Ed says real satisfaction comes from fostering relationships, whether with contractor clients, manufacturers, or group members. "I'm generally concerned about our group members, and I think that shows to them too. It's something that I just take personally because I feel like I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure everybody's successful and make sure the group's successful." Family businesses like PCS often stand (or fall) on the relationships forged between generations. With his brother-in-law's recent retirement, Ed found himself a new partner: his nephew. "I had to back off and do some real soul searching because anytime I'm in a partnership, I want somebody that is the polar opposite of myself." The "opposites" idea didn't go precisely according to Ed's plan, however. "It's difficult when you...we didn't get to choose each other; we were family first and business partner second." The pair have since settled into their complimentary C-suite roles, underscoring Ed's commitment to strengthening relationships across the board.

"I've always been about time management and efficiencies and finding ways to do the right thing quickly. ~Greg "In your career, there's 5% of your time in service to your industry. Period. End of the story. And people need to hear that. ~Mike How do two affable guys with several successful businesses between them find time to record three podcasts a week and run a leading trade organization? For Michael Colligan and Greg Ehrich, the duo behind Get A Grip On Lighting podcast, their secret sauce is a commitment to serving the lighting industry. It's been a while since I appeared as guest number one on their show; now, Mike and Greg are here to return the favor, shedding light on how they keep these interconnected parts running smoothly. "I have a couple of different angles. I love distribution, I love contracting, and all these things dovetail together," says Mike of the businesses he runs when not behind the mic - although he's often managing business even while recording. The show he created and that he and Greg now co-host, is the official podcast of The National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors (NAILD). It's a great fit, not least because Mike and Greg embody what it means to innovate in all areas. *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. http://www.distributionteam.com This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Connect with Jason Bader on LinkedIn. Connect with Michael Colligan on LinkedIn. Connect with Greg Ehrich on LinkedIn. *** Through their individual companies, each had championed advanced lighting technologies like CFL and LED, getting on board when cool lighting was just getting hot, paving the way for their collectively bright future endeavors. "It's kind of like your card in the door everywhere because everybody needs lighting," Greg says. Even during the pandemic, the pair continue to innovate. Connection is key for both men. Separately, each is driven to find the best fit for their customers and the planet. Together, Mike and Greg have committed to giving back to an industry that has provided an abundance of opportunity to forge relationships. Podcasting and live streaming trade show events (remember those?) are two of their activities. The other is participation in the industry's trade organization. Participation is probably too soft a word for what Mike and Greg do. Rather than stopping at board participation, they signed on to oversee the organization's interests and advance its standing. And they created an entire management company to tackle the job. "We wanted to bring it to the next level," Greg says, and they've done just that, with enhanced education options and a fresh appeal to the next generation of industry leaders. With all they've accomplished to date, it's hard to believe that Mike and Greg have the same twenty-four hours in a day as the rest of us. It's not magic; it's time-management. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Distribution Talk e17 - Commodity vs Consultation w/ Brenda Puckett Get A Grip On Lighting e1 - w/ Jason Bader Get A Grip On Lighting e45 - Women In Lighting w/ Brenda Puckett Get A Grip On Lighting e132 - Disrupt Or Die w/ Brenda Pucket CONNECT WITH MICHAEL COLLIGAN & GREG EHRICH: Atlas Lighting Premier Lighting Get A Grip Studios Podcasts Get A Grip On Lighting NAILD Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

"Clients are looking for meaningful information from their customers about what they expect and what they perceive and what's going on in the world." ~Martha Brooke Martha Brooke is back with more sage advice for survey-wary CEOs. A lot has changed in the world since I last chatted with the founder of Interaction Metrics way back in 2019. This time, she's sharing valuable insights around pandemic-era company reviews and translating data into actionable improvements. "[COVID19 is] just such a sea-change that will affect us forevermore. Some things, we're not going back to and, so, this is just a great time to find out: how do we set new strategies that continue to raise the bar on sales and on employee performance?" While some businesses are suffering through pandemic fatigue, Martha and her team are busy compiling data-driven answers for companies willing to ask the correct questions. She, like her clients, is after evidence; details not spilt over cordial lunches (remember those?) or friendly customer service calls. No one's going to provide the intel your business needs to thrive in today's climate over lunch, no matter how honest the conversation. *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. http://www.distributionteam.com This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Connect with Jason Bader on LinkedIn. Connect with Martha Brooke on LinkedIn. *** Candor comes from open-ended inquiries and double-blind collection instead; well crafted, expertly analyzed information, organized by an unbiased third party. "One of the reasons to work with a customer experience research company like mine is, we don't give a damn," says Martha. "We're just there to report the evidence." Too often, owners shy away from the kind of evidence Martha uncovers. They fear answers that require complicated solutions. Sure, customers do come back with pie-in-the-sky requests ("create an app!" "open a branch closer to me!"). More often, Martha says the feedback leads to small tweaks companies can undertake in hours, not months. Additionally, she points out that customers will only continue wanting more from you, a byproduct of the information-rich times in which we live. Best to implement low-hanging changes and get ahead of the curve while planning for those long-term improvements. Owners looking at this year's bottom line for excuses to delay customer intelligence-gathering might want to rethink that game plan. Martha suggests repurposing survey information to extend the cost benefits. The data, she says, has myriad uses: on marketing collateral, your website, and social media channels. "Not all data is worth gathering but... surveys are not expensive." And the investment can establish essential baselines for post-COVID strategies. Listen in to Martha's first appearance on Distribution Talk here. Get Interaction Metric's Five Standards For Excellent Customer Listening here. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Peter Drucker Five Standards for Excellent Customer Listening CONNECT WITH MARTHA BROOKE: Interaction Metrics [email protected] LinkedIn

"I think it's just an apt message for this time, to share with our team, with each other that, hey, we're counting on you to just continue to grow." ~Mason Greene Few industries have weathered more storms during the pandemic than foodservice. From restaurants to suppliers, the pressure on this vibrant vertical to provide will not ease any time soon. Jason chats with Mason Greene, third-generation president of Hotel & Restaurant Supply, about how he's fostering responsibility and encouraging innovation amidst challenges. "When I stop and think about it...it's a great opportunity in the space we have," says Mason about distribution in general and the foodservice vertical specifically. *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. http://www.distributionteam.com This episode was edited & mixed by The Creative Impostor Studios. Connect with Jason Bader on LinkedIn. Connect with Mason Greene. Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry. *** Throughout the conversation, Mason routinely circles back to the relational aspect, how much the business has given him and how much he enjoys paying that forward. In addition to overseeing a multi-showroom company known for quality service in sales, warehousing, and design-build, Mason currently serves as chairman of FEDA. He credits the industry organization afforded him space to gather intel and make long-lasting connections. "It's definitely a phenomenal experience and I'm thankful to be able to serve in that way and grow in that way." He's incredibly proud of FEDA's young leaders program, with its mission to develop talent and engage the next wave of professionals. Creating an environment in which young talent feels welcome is a win-win for the future of distribution. That said, attracting accomplished recruits requires commitment from leadership. Mason points out that generations often maligned as "job-hoppers" are merely looking for environments that value their tech-forward approach. "A young person can really come in and make an impact, you know when they bring in those skills and ideas." Mason recently tapped new tech to streamline protocols from the office to the showroom, but he's quick to point out that the systems upgrade was more than just a software improvement. "[It's] an investment in our people." Providing first-rate tools signaled to Mason's team that they can continue to count on his support of their long-range goals, even now. That's created a ripple effect. "I hear our customers saying we're counting on you," Mason says. Vendors, too. He's doing everything he can to strengthen relationships all along the chain and ensure mutual success as everyone in the industry rides out the storm together.