The National Fastener Distributors Association’s is pleased to announce the 2020 recipient of its Fastener Professional of the Year award is Don Nowak of Falcon Fastening Solutions (Charlotte, North Carolina).

The Fastener Professional of the Year award was created by NFDA to honor individuals and companies that make a substantial positive impact on people’s lives. The inaugural award in 2017 was presented to Robbie Gilchrist of Capital Marketing (High Point, North Carolina). In 2018 Jim Ruetz of AIS (Franksville, Wisconsin) was honored and in 2019 Kevin Queenin of Specialty Bolt & Screw, Inc. (Agawam, Massachusetts) received the award.

From the NAW Blog

“Technology is capable of doing great things. But it doesn’t want to do great things. It doesn’t want anything. That part takes all of us.” — Tim Cook, CEO, Apple

FASTENER FAIR FRANCE
THE SECOND EDITION SHOWCASING RECENT INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS AND TRENDS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER

On 27 and 28 May 2020, industrial fastener and fixing professionals will converge on Fastener Fair France for a second edition packed full of innovations and trends. This international exhibition is the only one in France devoted to fastener and fixing technologies.

From the NAW Blog

Are you ready to participate in a digital value chain driven by customer demands for the virtual ordering of products and services, which provides for instant transparency and ever-increasing benefits while at the same time lowering costs?

EFC International is pleased to announce the addition of air filter clips and specialty air filter fasteners, manufactured by Springfield Spring & Stamping, to their product line.

Springfield Spring & Stamping is a manufacturer of standard and custom air filter holding frame clips in the United States. The product line is complementary to EFC’s current HVACR product offerings including wire routing components, caps, plugs, clamps, rivet-nuts, panel fasteners, specialty nuts, bolts and screws.

From the NAW Blog

Many distributors think they need to look like Amazon to compete in today’s market. After all, more than 197 million people visit Amazon every month to shop the more than 12 million products available, according to BigCommerce. But just because Amazon is a household name doesn’t mean that distributors need to emulate its every move to be competitive in the digital distribution game.

From Industrial Distribution Magazine

The MRO products distributor has been named to Training Magazine's list of 125 companies honored for employer-sponsored training and development.

From the NAW Blog

Distributors are in a strong position to enable the future of business for customers, and they can build on their reputation for customer service and support, including product advice, training and ad hoc recommendations for improving customer operations. But much more is needed. Distributors must have in-depth knowledge of the customer’s market dynamics and competitive challenges, and they must offer foresight about what the future holds. Commitment starts at the top, and leaders must establish new processes for working with customers and metrics that are about achieving customer success measured in terms that are relevant for customers. Successful distributors will build a culture that goes beyond responding to customer requests. They will suggest innovations, line up resources for execution and work to implement plans.

From Industrial Distribution Magazine

Launched Sept. 3, Earnest Machine-owned Zirks aims to slash lead times with an at-sea warehousing approach.

From the NAW Blog

Distributors need to collect data fast. If distributors can compile lots of data quickly, they’ll be able to provide AI-enhanced customer service and draw customers away from competitors. However, if distributors are slow to aggregate data, the competition (i.e. other distributors, or online-only players like Amazon) will claim their customers first.

Don Buttrey's popular Sales Professional Training Camps return in 2020 with four sets of dates:

• March 3-5
• May 19-21
• August 4-6
• November 10-12

Click here for details and to register

From the NAW Blog:

It’s 2019 and more than 197 million people visit Amazon each month to browse more than 12 million products, according to BigCommerce. The numbers go up every day. But distributors don’t need to be afraid of Amazon. They need to innovate and sell to customers the way today’s customers want to buy. It’s that simple.

A Caliper Talent Management Article:

Did you know that 64% of job applicants don’t respond to bad Job Descriptions? Learn how Caliper says to write job descriptions that work:

A Caliper Talent Management Article:

Are you still relying on annual reviews to manage Employee Development? Caliper shows you why coaching is the way to go.

EFC International is pleased to announce the addition of a new product line, Normont Motion Technology. Normont products include gas springs, dampers, and custom motion control solutions. The product line is complementary to EFC’s current motion control product offerings including components from ITW Motion such as rotary dampers, linear dampers, air dampers, hinge dampers and latches.

Normont is a leading manufacturer of industrial, automotive, and aerospace gas spring & hydraulic dampening solutions. These products can be found in numerous applications for automotive, truck, bus, heavy machinery, ATM machines, riding mowers, emergency vehicles, recreational vehicles and many other industries.  

NAW’s archive of past webinars provides you with the best content from distribution's leading business and supply chain experts! 

Discover these two on-demand webinars that feature first looks at NAW's brand-new study:
Innovate to Dominate: The 12th Edition in the Facing the Forces of Change® Series

Welcome to the Age of B2B Innovation

News from NAW:

In another of our many efforts to restore sound labor policy after years of pro-labor activism, NAW has joined in another amicus brief in a case before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).  In this case, the Board is considering whether inappropriate employee activity and conduct should forfeit the protection of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), and whether handbook rules that prohibit that behavior should be permissible.  Specifically, the Board is considering whether employee activity/behavior that is – among other things – profane, sexually explicit, racially insensitive, degrading, repugnant, bullying, uncivil, etc., should be considered protected activity.  Click here to view the brief.

From the NAW Blog:

Over the last many years, distributors have faced down one challenge after another including the emergence of big-box retailers, disintermediation by manufacturers, the financial crisis of 2008 and more. Distribution survived because of the strength of their customer relationships and an ongoing commitment to gain efficiencies by investing in business systems and information technology. Faced with new disruptive threats, this trend is continuing as distributors invest in e-commerce platforms and a wide range of digital tools.

An Update from NAW:

Last week the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued their notice of proposed rulemaking on updates to the current hours of service rules.  Based on NAW’s initial assessment it appears that FMCSA agreed with many of the points NAW made in our submitted comments on October 9, 2018 (click here to read NAW’s comments).