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Total investment in building construction increased 2.2% in May to $15.2 billion. Gains in the residential sector (+2.8% to $10.4 billion) led the increase, while the non-residential sector edged up 0.9% to $4.8 billion. On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), investment in building construction rose 1.8% to $12.7 billion.
Today, more than ever, the need for an unvarnished look at customer opinions is of unparalleled importance. Sounds like hype? It’s not.
Read more: 12 Reasons Why Distributors Need to Amp-up Their...
How would you describe your marketing team? Is it an army of one or significantly understaffed? Are your marketing people overworked and underpaid? Are they struggling because they’re underqualified or undertrained?
Technology is our greatest ally and accomplishment, but do the costs outweigh the benefits? In my opinion, they absolutely do! As consumers we use technology in almost everything we do.
Account management and technical sales are the skills having the the largest effect on compensation in outside sales.
Read more: Outside Sales Skills and Their Effect on Median...
Aztec Electrical Supply is one of the most dynamic, fastest growing electrical and automation distributors in Canada. The supplier has four Ontario locations, in Concord, Cambridge, Burlington and Mississauga.
Three years ago, we at the Impact Centre initiated the Narwhal Project to conduct research to discover the root causes of Canada’s challenges in creating a world-leading innovation economy. We thought it would be useful at this juncture to summarize our findings. This report highlights some of the issues we have identified.
The colour orange signifies joy, happiness and creativity. However, it also represents fire and, given that the colour is between yellow and red on the colour spectrum, it is from a business perspective between caution (yellow) and “bad” (red).
Following a record $9.5 billion in April, the value of permits issued by Canadian municipalities declined 13.0% to $8.2 billion in May. Increases in six provinces and all three territories were not enough to offset the decrease in British Columbia.
Wholesale sales increased 1.7% to $65.3 billion in April, the fifth consecutive monthly increase. Higher sales were recorded in five of seven subsectors accounting for 86% of total wholesale sales.
Looking into the Impact of Signify's Acquisition of Cooper Lighting
The electrical and lighting industries were shocked this week with the announcement that Signify purchased the recently renamed Cooper Lighting Solutions from Eaton.
The former Eaton Lighting division was scheduled to be spun off from Eaton via an IPO late this year / early next year. While rumored earlier this year to be up for sale, rather than being spun off, there were no takers for the business. Although, it was reportedly considered by some. According to Signify, discussions with Cooper Lighting, and Eaton, began a month ago. The interest could have been provoked by the Q3 slowdown in the lighting market with Signify sensing an opportunity to make an acquisition, perhaps at a discount.
The Age of Servic-ization
By Rick McCarten
For a long time now, many experts have been pointing out how companies should be expanding their service offerings beyond their product sales. Companies are wrapping services around their product and packaging — everything from special deliveries, warranties, repair and technical assistance to 24-hour service. This “servic-ization” helps differentiate companies from their competitors. How big is this going to get? Some reports have this trend becoming the core of our future economy.
Carol McGlogan — A Marketing Specialist, Inspirational Industry Leader, and More
By Line Goyette
With Industry 4.0 on our doorstep, we are facing significant technological and resource changes, some of which question our industry’s core values. Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, digitization, transport electrification, diversity and inclusion are among the inescapable changes that will affect our industry head on, both in its best practices and its business models. We have several advantages to help us deal with the changes, including an unwavering advocate for our industry: Carol McGlogan. She is the first woman to hold the position of Electro-Federation Canada’s (EFC) President and CEO.
IDEAL Nationals Underway in Run Up to Inaugural International Championships
The IDEAL Nationals are underway with an 18 member Canadian Team supported by the IDEAL Industries Canada crew. This year over 55,000 electrical contractors and electricians competed worldwide so this is the cream of the crop competing here in Orlando .
The 2019 IDEAL National Championship is a highly charged, no-holds barred competition to determine the best electrician in North America and includes teams from China, Australia and Mexico.
To make it to Orlando, contractors have to qualify first and numerous qualifying events were held throughout Canada.
GDP Rose 0.1% in August
Real gross domestic product edged up 0.1% in August, following no change in July. Goods-producing industries were up 0.2% after two months of declines, led by a rebound in manufacturing, while services-producing industries edged up 0.1%. Overall, there were gains in 14 out of 20 industrial sectors.
On a three-month rolling average basis, real gross domestic product rose 0.5% in August, compared with a 0.8% increase in July.
Changing Scene
Viscor, ILSCO Canada, Liteline, and NSi Industries Take Top Honours at the 2019 IMARK Canada Product Stampede
During the recently held IMARK Canada 2019 meeting in Niagara Falls, executives from 14 of the leading manufacturers in the Canadian electrical and lighting industry participated in the IMARK Canada Product Stampede on September 13th.
Select manufacturer executives had precisely five minutes to present a key product with superior growth potential to the members of IMARK Canada. Distributor member executives then rated each supplier based on the quality of the presentation and the perceived sales potential of the product being demonstrated.
OmniCable Canada Toronto's Open House
OmniCable would like to thank the electrical distributors and industry partners who attended OmniCable Toronto’s open house on October 23, 2019. OmniCable opened its Toronto branch back in April 2019. Toronto is OmniCable’s first branch outside of the United States. The Toronto facility, which is approximately 50,000 square feet, is OmniCable’s 13th branch and services electrical distributors throughout Canada.
During the open house, attendees toured the facility, met OmniCable Canada and US teams, enjoyed light refreshments, and walked away with giveaways.
ILSCO Canada Appoint Adanac Sales for British Columbia
ILSCO Canada has announced the appointment of Adanac Sales as agency of representation for the ILSCO brand in the province of British Columbia.
This partnership exemplifies ILSCO’s dedication to collaborate with companies that share ILSCO’s commitment to providing excellent products and service to the electrical industry in British Columbia.
ABB Holding Course in Tough Markets with Q3 2019 Results
Total orders -1%1, order backlog +3%
- Steady revenues and book-to-bill2
- Operational EBITA margin2 11.7%, +20 basis points; impacted 70 basis points by stranded costs
- Income from continuing operations, net of tax $422 million, -1%
- Net income $515 million, -15%
- Operational EPS2 $0.33, -7%3
- Cash flow from operating activities $670 million, +19%, solid cash delivery expected for the full year
- Björn Rosengren appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective March 1, 2020
Peers & Profiles
Stephanie Medeiros — Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure, ABB Canada (Part 2)
By Blake Marchand
For Stephanie Medeiros, this is an exciting time for Canada’s electric vehicle industry because it is approaching a tipping point. “One or two percent of vehicles in Canada are electric, but you’re going to see this change rapidly. There are different factors that come with that, but to make it a reality you need to have a charging infrastructure in place. One of the factors involved with that is establishing standards for charging, as well as settling on a uniform method for charging — ultimately, constructing a landscape that closely resembles that of internal combustion.”
City Electric Supply Branch Manager, Jon Llewellyn – Embracing an Evolving Industry
Jon Llewellyn is the Branch Manager City Electric Supply’s Nanaimo, BC location. “I've worn many hats within this great organization,” Llewellyn told Canadian Electrical Wholesaler. Beginning as a Van Driver, Jon worked his way through several different positions at City Electric Supply after a 10-year career in the trades as a Drywaller. Starting as a driver, Llewellyn would move into the warehouse, and on into Inside Sales, which would turn into an Account Manager position before he would land in his current role as Branch Manager. The ability to learn on the job is an essential skill in an evolving industry, particularly one that is heavily technical. Something Llewellyn has certainly embraced.
Looking Back
Copper $US Dollar price per pound
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