News To Use To Drive Business, courtesy of vSync
Studies have shown that a near-obsessive focus on time management is key to long-term success for salespeople. Mediocre salespeople might find their time wasted as they get busy doing the wrong things, while the most successful salespeople develop systems, rules and disciplines to help them make the best decisions on how to spend their time.
Read full article on davekahle.com
Suppliers and distributors may be unwilling to share strategies, but good communication between the two parties is essential in terms of ensuring mutual success, an industry consultant writes. Respect and a high level of trust between the two are necessary, as are realistic expectations of one another.
Read full article on Industrial Distribution
Fifty-seven percent of manufacturing executives queried said they have a “somewhat optimistic” or “very optimistic” view of where the U.S. economy is headed over the next six months, according to a survey by accounting and consulting firm Baker Tilly. Seventy percent of survey respondents said their companies plan to maintain current staffing levels, while 20% plan to make staffing cuts and 9% intend to add personnel over the next six months.
Read full article on Modern Distribution Management
A majority of economists and forecasters surveyed by the National Association for Business Economics believe the U.S. economy is poised for an upswing this year. Of the 102 business prognosticators who were surveyed, 86% predicted U.S. sales would bottom out by the year’s end, while 14% predicted next year or later as the bottom. NABE member Sara Johnson, an economist at IHS Global Insight, sees rising “prospects for stabilization in the second half.”
Read full article on Purchasing .com
Testifying before a congressional committee, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke explained that the central bank has been pouring money into the economy to stimulate growth but said it could increase borrowing costs to curb inflation. “The (Fed) believes that a highly accommodative stance of monetary policy will be appropriate for an extended period,” Bernanke said.
Read full article on Reuters
Salespeople can become irrelevant to their customers when they spend their time only pitching products and not focusing solving customers’ problems and addressing their needs. The smooth ride before the downturn may have caused some to become complacent, yet it’s essential to create value for customers.
Read full article on The Customer Collective
Low demand for truckloads has led to few truck carriers adding to their fleets, according to a new survey. About 70% of industry participants in the survey reported plans to add less than 10% to their fleets over the next 12 months. Analysts predict truckload rates will increase once demand returns, partly due to tight capacity.
Read full article on Purchasing.com
U.S. industrial output for June declined 0.4%, marking the smallest decrease in eight months, according Federal Reserve data. “It’s still a tentative sign, but consistent with other reports showing that the recession may be near an end,” said Gary Thayer, senior economist at Wells Fargo Advisors, St. Louis. Consumer prices rose 0.7% for June, according to the Commerce Department.
Read full article on Bloomberg.com
Millions of American workers are about to get a federally-mandated raise on July24, but the recession has left many wondering if and how the economy will benefit.
Read full article in The Wall Street Journal
The U.S. producer price index jumped 1.8% in June, marking the largest increase since November 2007. Reliable Plant details how the index changed for various categories of goods.
Read full article on Reliable Plant
