Distribution Talk

What happens when a self-described mad scientist tinkers around with vendor-managed inventory software? He creates an automated supply chain solution tailored to the needs and budgets of small-to-medium-sized industrial distributors.

Andrew Johnson, CEO of ShelfAware VMI, returns to chat with Jason about the practical, transformative power of the company's RFID-based tracking system. The pair also discuss ShelfAware's latest foray into blockchain automation of physical financial documentation, creating a more transparent and cost-efficient transaction "paper trail."

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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.

If this episode's title has you shaking your head or, worse, burying it in the proverbial sand, hold on. Give AI a chance, and it will supercharge your business. That's the message that Ian Heller, founder and chief strategy officer of Distribution Strategy Group, hopes to spread through his consulting work and Applied AI For Distributors, the massive, first-of-its-kind conference for wholesale change agents.

Jason chats with Ian about data-driven marketing, tips to help small companies develop their AI strategy, and what the industry as a whole can expect from the fascinating world of emerging AI tech.

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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: SupplyMover

Could your team pass the litmus test? If you left your distribution business in their hands for four weeks, five, six, would the shop survive in your absence? Jamie Arguello has the real-life data to prove that her business wouldn't simply survive; it would thrive.

We're revisiting a conversation Jason had with the CEO of Grady's Foodservice Equipment & Supplies in Pueblo, CO, as we emerged from the 2020 pandemic, and Jamie emerged from a personal health challenge. They chat about coming home to the family business, creating space for second chances, and the rewards of letting go so others can step up. It's a timely reminder about how to navigate difficult times both as a leader and a human.

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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: HMI Performance Incentives, providing innovative, data-driven B2B incentive solutions.

Professional vulnerability is a hallmark of outstanding leadership. That said, there's a reason so few leaders possess the characteristic: it's uncomfortable at best; terrifying at worst. Alison Bencsik, CEO of BAI Electronic Systems Distributors, a professional and commercial audio, video, and lighting supplier in Ocala, FL, doesn't know any other way to succeed. She's transformed vulnerability into a superpower, fueling improvements within the company and strengthening relationships across the AV/IT industry.

Jason caught up with Alison to discuss her unconventional journey to CEO, her strategy to get more women involved in distribution, and turning unguarded moments into organizational wins.

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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.

Your high-potential targets and most valuable accounts are hiding in plain sight. Bob Jordan and Donnie Williamson, vice president of analytics and analytics manager, respectively, at Modern Distribution Management (MDM), have the tools and expertise to help you locate them.

Jason chats with the pair about MDM's methodology and how it transforms reams of product, sales, and customer intel into valuable data, ultimately reducing costs and improving market share. The best part? MDM plays well with any distribution vertical, no matter the size.

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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: Connected Peers, connecting key employees in distribution's leading organizations.

Richard Crifasi may have the finish line in sight, but he's not ready to leave the track just yet. Even after decades in industrial and electrical supply distribution, he still gets a charge out of solving everyday customer problems and plotting long-range company goals.

Jason chats with his old friend about his circuitous career path and current role as a safety consultant, his perspective on working for privately held vs. public companies, and why no other industry can match distribution in its access to the good life.

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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.

Do you have a written step by step plan for what to do when you decide to transfer or sell your business? Do you know the best way to structure the transaction legally? How to minimize tax liabilities? To do the best by your family and employees?

That's where The Center for Financial, Legal & Tax Planning comes in. Roman Basi is an attorney, CPA, real estate broker, and title insurance agent at the family firm. The Center handles mergers and acquisitions of privately held companies, as well as succession, strategic, and tax planning for companies across the U.S.

"One of the best things that you could do as a business owner," Roman says, "is educate yourself on the process." And it's never too early to start!

From valuation, to tax analysis, to real estate, the potential pitfalls to a solid succession plan are plenty. Join Jason and Roman as they explore how to avoid them. "Preparation, knowledge and understanding – it's going to save you so many headaches when you do come down to that final point, when you're ready to transfer your business."

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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: Profit2, helping distributors charge the right price.

How do we provide more value to the members? It's the question at the forefront of every Association executive's mind. For Brendan Breen, President at Industrial Supply Association (ISA), the answer is to be the best networking association in the industry.

And that strategy has paid off! At this past year's convention, ISA got creative with how they delivered on the networking promise, adding a golf tournament, a 5k fun run, and facilitated networking lunches with assigned seats to their roster of top-notch keynotes and solid educational opportunities.

As for the immediate future of distribution, Brendan is optimistic. He recommends focusing on the fundamentals of distribution and channel performance to weather whatever slowdown may be on the horizon. The buzz of changes in the workforce demographics, opportunities in omnichannel customer experience, and AI automation are best undergirded by a rock-solid understanding of channel conflict, strategic pricing, optimizing rebate programs, and financial models for distributors.

Ultimately, Brendan and Jason agree that the industry's sustainability comes back to the people at its core, and how we connect with each other.

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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: HMI Performance Incentives, providing innovative, data-driven B2B incentive solutions.

Tim O'Keeffe is a work in progress, and proud of it. Under his leadership at Huyett (formerly GL Huyett), the fastener company has expanded from a distributor-only business to a manufacturer and master distributor. In the process, Tim's management style has shifted from dictator to democratic, and the company's culture has never been better.

Jason chats with the affable CEO about his leadership evolution, the work-from-home conundrum, and why his servant-style mindset starts in the parking lot.

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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.

When it comes to the lingo and logistics of wholesale distribution, bottled water and pre-packaged power snacks aren't that far removed from fasteners or PVC fittings. So says Chris Smythers, president and CEO of Merchants Grocery Company, a leader in the convenience distributors industry.

Jason chats with Chris about the challenges of convenience supply management, the value of striking out on your own (even when those endeavors fail), and the lifelong benefits of association membership.

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: SupplyMover, the only CRM, e-commerce, and sales enablement suite built for distributors.