Distribution Talk

Buzzwords can shut down conversations quicker than their end users care to admit. But, when Edward Kuo employs terms like "collaborate" and "innovate" to describe his role as executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN), he can back them up with decades of association experience and a successful track record of advocating for an entire industry, not just the members of his organization.

Jason and Edward chat about the value associations provide businesses beyond their membership, the challenges of attracting younger workers to a career in distribution, and the art of bringing industry competitors together for the good of all.

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For full show notes and services visit: https://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 by The Creative Impostor Studios.

Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: Connected Peers, providing virtual communities for wholesale distributors.

An enterprise resources planning (ERP) system is great…until it's not. But, before you sign on the dotted line for your first warehouse management system (WMS), have you given serious (and honest) thought to how your growing pains might manifest in that pricey new platform?

Casey Winans has. He's the founder and CEO of Fullstride, an independent advisory firm purpose-built to ensure smooth transitions from ERP to WMS. Jason chats with Casey about the art and science of a successful upgrade and how to perform an internal review of warehouse processes and employee engagement before making the move to WMS.

CONNECT WITH JASON

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For full show notes and services visit: https://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 by The Creative Impostor Studios.

Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, an integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

You've defined the company's core values, but have you gotten specific about the behaviors that support those lofty goals? Brian Blaushild, the president of Famous Supply, has, and his commitment to these fundamentals is reflected in the company's superb culture.

Jason caught up with the fourth-generation leader to learn more about the Famous 40 Fundamentals and how those principles have impacted everyday operations at the multi-branch HVAC supplier. The pair also discuss promoting from within and the meticulous succession plan that prepared Brian for the top job at Famous.

CONNECT WITH JASON

LinkedIn

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***

For full show notes and services visit: https://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 by The Creative Impostor Studios.

Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, an integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

There's a reason for all the chatter around artificial intelligence on Distribution Talk: early adopters gain a competitive edge that's hard to beat. Jason Bader welcomes Jason Sullivan, founder and CEO of Distro AI, to expand on the AI conversation.

They discuss Distro AI's process for leveraging vast amounts of raw data (think: key industry insights and thousands of product SKUs) to create rep-friendly, real-time recommendations that boost sales and customer satisfaction. The pair also preview AskA2L, Distro's intuitive AI chat feature purpose-built for HARDI.

CONNECT WITH JASON BADER

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Email

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For full show notes and services visit: https://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 by The Creative Impostor Studios.

Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: Moblico, helping businesses do more business on mobile devices.

Search for a list of soft skills, and you'll come across essentials like reliability, resilience, and creativity. But there's one character trait that list-makers should put at or near the top: curiosity. Jason Mattinson, president of Riverside Steel, Inc., credits his inquisitive streak for repeatedly placing him in the right place at the right time.

Jason met the Ohio-based engineer-turned-steel-fabricator at an industry event and knew that his story––and attitude––would resonate across verticals. The Jasons discuss the benefits of early-career training within a large multinational corporation, taking calculated career risks, and fostering a relentlessly curious mind.

CONNECT WITH JASON BADER

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***

For full show notes and services visit: https://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 by The Creative Impostor Studios.

Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, an integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

Hollywood loves to cast artificial intelligence as the villain. In reality, AI is more likely to win best supporting character accolades from those in the c-suite, says Nelson Valderrama, founder of Intuilize, the AI-driven firm specializing in helping distributors use analytics to optimize pricing, purchasing, and inventory management.

Jason chats with Nelson about AI's ability to sift through reams of data to unlock profitability, strengthen B2B relationships, and enhance employee productivity, not overtake humans.

LinkedIn

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***

For full show notes and services visit: https://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.

Distribution Talk fans already know that Jason's a big proponent of artificial intelligence. If you're still on the fence regarding the benefits of AI for distribution, it's time to transition away from shock and awe and into fearless adoption. A great place to start is Applied AI For Distributors, the only annual conference with sessions for both AI aficionados and the AI curious of the distribution industry.

Jason chats with Ian Heller and Jonathan Bein, PhD., co-founders of Distribution Strategy Group and creators of the event. They discuss the astounding evolution of AI from both a customer- and employee-facing perspective, simple tactics for building widespread staff confidence in the tech, and the exciting topics on tap at this year's conference.

CONNECT WITH JASON

LinkedIn

LinkedIn

LinkedIn

For full show notes and services visit: https://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 by The Creative Impostor Studios.

Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: Connected Peers, providing virtual communities for wholesale distributors.

"Distribution has a PR problem." Fans of Distribution Talk will recognize that quote as one of Jason Bader's favorite industry laments. It's more than a pithy soundbite, however. The phrase is shorthand for the talent acquisition and development issues facing most small-to-mid-sized wholesale distributors.

One answer? A tiered progression plan.

On this rare solo episode, Jason discusses strategies for attracting next-generation new hires and offers tips on creating a tiered progression plan that will energize your entire staff.

CONNECT WITH JASON

LinkedIn

***

For full show notes and services visit: https://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 by The Creative Impostor Studios.

Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, an integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

Do you know which activity is sabotaging your company's potential? All of them. Busywork across every department––from order processing to inventory management––is a real drag on employee morale, customer relationships, and the bottom line. Conventional software won't save you, but AI could.

In this episode of Distribution Talk, Jason chats with Michael Delgado, founder of Canals AI, about bringing the power of AI to small and medium-sized wholesale distributors. They also discuss the investigative process that led to Canals AI's distributions-focused design, use cases, and the one significant difference between your current software package and artificial intelligence.

CONNECT WITH JASON

LinkedIn

LinkedIn

***

For full show notes and services visit: https://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 by The Creative Impostor Studios.

Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: INxSQL Distribution Software, an integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

Leave it to Dirk Beveridge, keynote speaker, best-selling author, executive film producer, and founder of UnleashWD, to reference ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus, comparative mythology expert Joseph Campbell, and Tatooine farmboy Luke Skywalker in the same conversation. When you're in the company of this self-professed advocate of distribution and champion of positive leadership, all of the philosophical and cultural references make perfect sense.

Jason caught up with Dirk to discuss his latest endeavor, Force For Good, a live virtual event created to empower every individual in distribution today, whether they work on the warehouse floor, in the customer service center, or up in the C-suite.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn

***

For full show notes and services visit: https://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 by The Creative Impostor Studios.

Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode: Profit2, helping distributors charge the right price.