Branch Leadership Blueprint for Distribution
If you work in wholesale distribution, you already know that strategy may be written at headquarters, but execution lives and dies at the branch. That reality sits at the heart of Foundations of a Giant: A Branch Boss’s Blueprint for Wholesale Distribution, a new book built around one core idea: strong branch leadership is still the most reliable competitive advantage in the channel.…
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It’s year-end Inventory Planning and Adjustment Season
As we enter the final stretch of 2025, I am having daily conversations with many distributors and manufacturers about their in-stock inventory positions. Industrial and…
2025 Q3 Pulse of Industrial Supply Report
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been sharing quarterly reports from distributors and manufacturers in the industrial supply space. For the most part the earnings,…
ISA Fall Summit in Memphis Recap
Yesterday, we wrapped up a fun and productive Fall Summit in Memphis, TN. The weather was perfect, Beale Street was awesome, and staying at the…
Grainger – Slow Growth in Q3. Indicative of Industrial Market?
Grainger reported 3Q 2025 results on October 31, 2025, with sales of $4.7 billion, up 6.1%, or 5.4% on a daily, constant currency basis. Overall,…
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ISA Fall Summit in Memphis Recap
Yesterday, we wrapped up a fun and productive Fall Summit in Memphis, TN. The weather was perfect, Beale Street was awesome, and staying at the Peabody Hotel with their famous ducks was like going back in time with all the history that surrounded you. I was writing this column that going “back in time” thought was top of mind. For…
Grainger – Slow Growth in Q3. Indicative of Industrial Market?
Grainger reported 3Q 2025 results on October 31, 2025, with sales of $4.7 billion, up 6.1%, or 5.4% on a daily, constant currency basis. Overall, the results show continued steady growth and profitability amidst muted market demand. While the current government shutdown may have some impact on Grainger, given that about 4% of sales are to the federal government, it…
Distribution Solutions Group – Strength in All Segments
Distribution Solutions Group, which serves the MRO, OEM and industrial technologies markets, announced their 3Q 2025 earnings results on October 30, showing a stronger than expected 10.7% growth in total sales, to $518 million. DSG Delivers Growth Organic sales grew 6% and 3.1% sequentially, over 2Q 2025. It was highlighted that all segments grew, led by Gexpro Services and $23.3…
Fastenal – Strong Revenue Growth and 3 Consecutive Months of Double-Digit Organic Sales
The Winona, Minnesota based wholesale distributor of industrial and construction supplies, announced 3Q25 earnings on October 13. Revenue grew 11.7% from prior year to $2.13 billion and gross margin grew 40 basis points to 45.3%. Revenue growth was driven by increases in customers and unit sales, especially in customers spending >$10k per month, and market share gains. However, SG&A expenses…
ISA State of the Channel Report launches at Fall Summit
At the ISA Fall Summit, we are launching our New ISA State of the Channel Report. This comprehensive report will cover a lot of ground for Industrial Channel Leaders.
ISA Member News – Turner Supply Acquisition News
Turner Supply just announced the purchase of certain assets of Benchmark Industrial Supply, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.
Applied Industrial Earnings show solid growth
Applied Industrial noted that organic daily sales returned to positive YoY growth for the first time in over a year, with underlying trends improving each month of the quarter and into early FY26.
Part 3 – All good things in distribution start when a pick ticket prints in the warehouse
From 2000 to 2025 a lot has changed in the distribution channel – smart phones, instant access to data, end customers who want self-service tools and full-service support, and many other changes (with AI being another fundamental and impactful change).
