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Breaking news from ISA...

ISA Monthly Economic Reports: July 2008 (members only)
08/22/08 – The Economic Indicator Survey Results reports are a monthly breakdown of the findings of the ISA Quarterly Economic Report. These reports tie together the business activity on 10 key measures and business expectations of all channel members, manufacturers, distributors and purchasing agent customers. These unique reports can be used in short-term business planning. All information in the report is based on an index. An index of 50 is neutral. Indices over 50 indicate a business expansion in the individual items being reported. An index of less than 50 shows a contraction.
Distributor Report • Manufacturer Report

Materials Market Digest: August 2008 (members only)
08/21/08 -- U.S. mills continue to operate at 88-89 percent of capacity and, excepting for steel service centers, demand is strong. Steel price increases are still commonplace and meet little or no buyer resistance. Scrap costs continue to escalate, especially in the better grades such as bundles and busheling. U.S. exports of ferrous scrap are at record levels, in large part because of scrap “hoarding” via export taxes in countries that would otherwise be scrap exporters.

ISA/NAW launch health insurance program
08/11/08 -- The Industrial Supply Association (ISA) and the National Association of Wholesaler Distributors (NAW) launched a health insurance program for ISA members. The ISA/NAW Health Insurance Program offers both comprehensive group health insurance plans with flexible benefit options and fully insured and comprehensive group Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans. Each is designed for the exclusive use of NAW and ISA members and all members are eligible to participate.

UID is open for registration!
08/11/08 -- Attention, industrial distribution professionals committed to ongoing education and professional development. The industry's premiere distribution-specific education program, the University of Industrial Distribution, is holding a second session this year scheduled for Dec. 2-5, 2008.

ISA Economic Outlook Report -- July 2008 (members only)
08/04/08 – The ISA Economic Outlook Report details the industrial production outlook, focusing on major macroeconomic indicators and the current business cycle. ISA members can use the report to learn how end-user industries are performing. ISA members can also chart their business trajectory with regard to the Conference Board's Leading Indicators, the Institute for Supply Management's Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), EcoTrends Leading Indicator, corporate bond prices, U.S. money supply, retail sales, housing starts and industrial production. The report is conducted by Alan Beaulieu of the Institute for Trend Research (ITR).

2008 ISA Profit Report (members only)
07/03/08 -- The recently completed 2008 ISA PROFIT Report provides the most comprehensive set of benchmarks available for financial performance in the industry. The report suggests that the industry was not immune to the economic challenges that emerged during the last half of 2007. However, some firms continued to prosper despite sales and margin pressures.
• Read the supplement to the 2008 ISA Profit Report.

Let's make things worse: Cutting prices in a down market
(members only)
by Dr. Albert D. Bates, Profit Planning Group

06/12/08 – In periods of economic growth price cutting is a serious problem. In tougher economic times, price cutting morphs into an absolute disaster. However, when sales volume is soft, firms almost instinctively resort to reducing prices in an effort to “keep things going” even if they are going poorly.
• Click here for the supporting exhibit.

2008 Employee Compensation Report
06/12/08 – The 2008 Employee Compensation Study is now available. This valuable report is conducted every two years and is the most extensive compensation report ever conducted for the durable goods distribution industry. ISA and 30 other distribution associations participated in the cross industry survey, which makes Volume II a much more powerful analysis. Click for more.

New educational opportunities announced
06/12/08 – Click here to learn about upcoming education opportunities for ISA members, including a Webinar on inventory management by Jason Bader and a 2 1/2-day seminar focused on sales by Don Buttrey.

New member video

06/10/08 – Check out our new promotional video recently unveiled at the new member breakfast at the Industrial Supply Conference & Trade Fair.

Y.E.F. Executive Development Retreat
06/09/08 – This year's Executive Development Retreat will emphasize authentic solutions for real-world leadership problems. Our guide will be a business owner with a lifetime of adventurous leadership experience: professional speaker and climber, Jim Davidson. Jim will share leadership and teamwork challenges from his 26 years of expedition climbing and he'll encourage the EDR attendees to analyze and resolve some unique leadership challenges.
• Click here to download the Executive Development Retreat brochure.
• Click here to download a registration form for the Executive Development Retreat.

ISA names 2008 Value-Added Partner Award winners
06/06/08 – Bruckner Supply Company and Saint-Gobain Abrasives honored for their efforts to generate more than $4 million in cost savings at Pratt & Whitney.
Click here to play the American Eagle Award video

ISA sponsors three Sales Training Programs by Dave Kahle -- The Growth Coach
06/03/08 – Dave Kahle will educate, inspire and stimulate you with specific and practical ideas to grow your buisness and improve yourself.

UAB Student Wins 2008 Buffington Scholarship
05/20/08 – UAB student Dave Karr was named recipient of the $10,000 Gary L. Buffington Memorial Scholarship.

2008 American Eagle Award winners named
04/10/08 – Congratulations to T&A Industrial Distributors (Distributor Award), Seco Tool (Manufacturer Award), The Tooling Support Group (Independent Manufacturer Rep Award) and Haggard & Stocking Inc. (Corporate Citizenship Award), winners of the 2008 American Eagle Awards.

The Dr. Is In: Help for Dealing with Uncertain Times
04/07/08 – Given the uncertain economic times, many companies could benefit from some outside financial advice. Dr. Al Bates of the Profit Planning Group has agreed to chat with any ISA Distributor Members FREE OF CHARGE. The session can be for up to 15 minutes, on any topic of concern.

There are, however, a few rules:
•  Your company must have participated in the 2008 PROFIT Survey, the best source for financial benchmarking. You can only call after you have completed the survey.
•  You will need to fax in your questions so that Dr. Bates can be prepared to talk intelligently without wasting your time.
•  You will have to work with Dr. Bates to set up a mutually beneficial time. Be aware this may be after normal working hours.

Simply fill out the operational questions on the survey and attach a copy of your income statement and balance sheet and send it to the Profit Planning Group.
Click here to participate!

ISA Guide to Measuring Customer Satisfaction
03/25/08 – How do you know if you are achieving more as a company? What signs indicate that you may be having problems? How do you know if you are meeting your customers’ needs?