Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

So...did some big event happen recently? A change in administration means a change in policy, and in some cases, a BIG change. What does this mean for wholesale distributors and manufacturers? On this week's episode, we start with the Federal Reserve's recent decision to cut interest rates by a quarter point, marking the second cut of the year. What are the the implications of this move...

Is another rate cut coming? And what's happening with China's first manufacturing expansion in months? And is that a reduction in inflation we're seeing??? The latest data indicates that the U.S. economy grew at a slower-than-expected pace of 2.8%, alongside inflation figures and job growth statistics. The conversation highlights the potential for an interest rate cut in the upcomin...

Did you hear the news? There's an election coming up... We're not flashing our yard signs on this week's episode. Rather, we're taking a look at what the future may hold for wholesale distributors in an ever-changing political, technological, and financial landscape. We kick off by discussing the current economic landscape, including weakening manufacturing in Japan and its imp...

Not to sound like a broken record, but the almost-daily advancements in AI make it nearly impossible for wholesale distributors to ignore the coming tide. Now, with Swarm AI's latest development, is the dam about to burst? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution , we take a look at this and all the latest trends impacting the wholesale distribution and manufacturing indus...

With all the hype around the AI revolution, one question remains: is AI actually helping wholesale distributors and manufacturers?  This week, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton explore this question while diving into the latest industry trends impacting manufacturers, wholesale distributors, and the global supply chain.  From inflation’s effect on interest rates to the evolving geopolitical landsca...

The massive dock strike on the eastern seaboard dominated the news this week as it threatened to literally upend the United States economy. But just as quickly as it sent shockwaves through the world of wholesale distribution and manufacturing, it came to an abrupt end. Or did it? The strike is suddenly "on pause" as dockworkers return to their jobs with a tentative agreement on wages, d...

Well, well, well...somebody owes someone a steak dinner... This week, world markets could finally exhale as the Fed announced a 50 basis-point cut to interest rates. To some, it was larger than expected, while to others, it was either late or never should have happened at all. This week, Kevin and Tom unpack the big move and what it means for wholesale distributors and manufacturers. But this week...

Supply chain optimization has never been more critical in today’s wholesale distribution market. A stunning 83% of businesses are now focused on creating customer-centric supply chains to improve service and offer flexible delivery options. In fact, the market is set to skyrocket almost $50 billion over the next eight years. This week, Kevin and Tom are joined by James Gilman , President of Perime...

Markets are confused. Investors want rate cuts because they are a tailwind for growth. But rate cuts tend to be driven by negative economic data, and the economic data is...weird. So is a rate cut coming, and if so, how much should it be? and what will this mean for wholesale distributors? This week, we cut through the economic confusion to bring you informed perspective on the economy, rate cuts,...

This week, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell all but signed off on an upcoming rate cut. The market responded immediately, and a collective cheer went up among businesses and consumers alike. But the question remains: how much of a cut will we see? And will there be multiple small cuts over time or a large single cut to supercharge growth? Oh, and does this mean a soft landing for the economy - no recess...

More and more, AI for B2B is more than a way to manage customer data: it directly impacts the customer experience. This week, Tom and Kevin dive into the transformative power of AI in wholesale distribution and manufacturing, exploring how it's reshaping the industry as we know it.  With recent advances pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve, businesses are faced with the challenge of...

As you may have noticed, the stock market took a nose dive last week, prompted in no small part to AI-driven tech stocks lowering revenue expectations. This has led many to wonder, is the AI Bubble about to burst? On this week's episode, we take a closer look at whether AI is the technological revolution it has been touted to be. Will it cure cancer and lead to a life of leisure, or is it jus...

Last week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission determined that Amazon—normally considered an eCommerce company—is in fact a distributor, and therefore responsible for faulty items sold on its site and packed and shipped through its fulfillment service. Whoa! What will this mean for B2B eComm? Especially in light of the fact that B2B buyers are making purchases online more than ever before, acco...

It's a milestone years in the making: Around The Horn In Wholesale Distribution's 100th episode! And to celebrate, we're joined by seven VERY special guests - a veritable "Who's Who" of wholesale distribution: ✅ Ian Heller - Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Distribution Strategy Group ✅ Dirk Beveridge - Founder, UnleashWD and We Supply America ✅ Mike Marks - Fou...

According to logistics execs, the trucking industry is turning a corner after a prolonged freight recession that succeeded the Covid boom in transportation rate and services. Could it be that innovation is driving a new era in logistics and supply chain management? In this episode, we'll take a look at some of the innovations driving wholesale distribution and manufacturing, including some of...

Inflation fell in June for the first time since 2020. Good news! Retail imports continue to rise despite supply chain challenges. Good news! Manufacturing technology orders grew in May. Good news! The Fed Chairman said, “reducing policy restraint too late or too little could unduly weaken economic activity and employment." Uh oh... This week's busy slate of economic data paints a differe...

Is Amazon Business dominating the wholesale distribution landscape, or is it legitimately providing an indispensable supply chain management and eComm solution to B2B companies? In other words, are they a godsend to wholesalers, or are they the enemy? In this week's episode, Tom and Kevin take a close look at some of the news stories surrounding developments at Amazon Business, and their effe...

It's the new FOMO: Fear of Marketing Overload. Ass new tech development promise to revolutionize the marketing landscape of B2B, how do you keep up with new platforms, new methodologies, and of course, new advancements in AI? In this week's episode, Tom and Kevin sort the truth from the hype to help wholesale distributors and manufacturers make sense of data, technology, and strategic th...

Best Practices. It's a term we hear all the time and use just as frequently. But as we constantly try to define and codify what those best practices are, one of the major questions is, "Am I getting the big picture here, or am I leaving something important out?" To ensure we're looking at best practices from a macro view, we brought in a guest from Bavaria: Max Meister from Lud...

Ready or not, AI is making a huge impact in wholesale distribution and manufacturing (and in our opinion, it's definitely better to be ready than not). In this week's episode, Kevin and Tom look at that basic challenges facing businesses that want to—or at least know they should—adopt AI. We start by discussing the most common issues businesses face when integrating AI into marketing str...

If you're looking for insights to the current state of wholesale distribution, there's perhaps no greater authority than Eric Hoplin , Chief Executive Officer at the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors. In this episode, Eric sits down with us for a very special hour to provide his unique perspective on a variety of topics.   From the impact of technology, to mergers and acqui...

The wholesale distribution landscape is changing fast, and in this week's episode, we've got the insight and information to help you make heads or tails of it. We're joined by Dr. Jonathan Bein, Managing Partner at Distribution Strategy Group and a seasoned entrepreneur who leverages his marketing, technical, and sales expertise to develop clear value propositions based on economic...

AI is changing the landscape of B2B eCommerce faster than we can imagine...and sometimes, faster than businesses can keep up with. In this episode, Kevin and Tom discuss the challenges—and improvements—AI can pose to the economy, supply chain, manufacturing, distribution, e-commerce, marketing, cybersecurity, and more.  We start by taking a deep dive into the recent announcement by OpenAI regardin...

As AI advances on a seemingly daily basis, wholesale distributors have a new tool to establish thought leadership, create marketing innovations, and deepen partnerships with manufacturers. But how does this new tool work?  And is it authentic? On this week's episode, Kevin and Tom take a closer look at the impact of B2B AI on content creation, and the importance of authentic thought leadershi...

Do you know what a buying signal is? Could you read one if you saw one? And if you can recognize them, what do they tell you? If you're a little lost, you're not alone.  Buying signals refer to the various behaviors, content consumption, and social interactions that indicate a potential buyer's interest and engagement with a product or service. In this episode, we look at how findin...