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I recently attended an EFC Young Professionals Network (YPN) event held in Toronto where a panel of four industry leaders spoke to the group about lessons learned on their path to leadership, while sharing insights on the changes needed to address the emerging marketplace.
Wholesale sales were down 1.2% to $64.3 billion in August, largely offsetting the 1.4% gain in July. Declines were recorded in five of seven subsectors, representing 85% of wholesale sales.
Total investment in building construction increased 1.4% in August to $15.5 billion, with gains in both the residential (+1.8% to $10.6 billion) and non-residential (+0.5% to $4.9 billion) sectors. On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), investment in building construction increased 1.2% to $13.0 billion.
Read more: Investment in Building Construction Up 1.4% in...
By Jeff Mowatt
Ever experience the awkwardness of having to call a customer to remind them to pay their bill? You walk a fine line of diplomacy. Being a pushover won't get the customer's attention.
The electrical and lighting industries were shocked this week with the announcement that Signify purchased the recently renamed Cooper Lighting Solutions from Eaton.
Read more: Looking into the Impact of Signify's Acquisition...
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.
By Michelle Branigan
Business is good, the orders are rolling in, and you’ve hired enough staff to keep up with demand. When business is going well it can be an invigorating and exciting time for all employees — those who have been around for quite a few years and those who are just kicking off their careers, perhaps are even in their first job. As the business grows there is a need to ensure that your HR policies reflect expectations for how things are done at your organization.
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. How big is this going to get? Some reports have this trend becoming the core of our future economy.
Among six positions, branch manager salaries are at the top, and about double the salary of inside sales reps. See how four other positoins fare.
Mentorship has come into my life at different phases and in different forms. At home, I looked to my older brother to help me navigate the world.
Read more: The Power Behind a Female Network: My Experience...
Industry Knowledge Fast Tracked!
By Carol McGlogan
We are on the cusp of a major tidal wave hitting our industry; the onslaught of 10,000 new employees are set to replace the current base who are over 55 years of age and are on the horizon of retirement. This talent refresh brings on many opportunities for progress to address evolving customer needs, new product solutions and supply chain digitization. New skills and new ways of thinking will propel us forward. However, the challenge this talent pool will have is to understand the industry that they have settled in. This challenge is further magnified as the time required to absorb industry knowledge is compressed due to the accelerated exit of industry knowledge.
“Talent-Agility” for an Emerging Workforce
By Swati Vora-Patel
The Electrical industry is facing a runway of crossroads — and digital innovation intersects each one of the crossroads. Digital advancements in technology are transforming everything from product development and manufacturing to supply chain management and customer purchasing behaviours. While all of these changes have digitization at the core, there’s another factor that our industry needs to bring front and centre: People.
Value of Building Permits Rose 7.4% in December
The total value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities increased 7.4% to $8.7 billion in December. Increases were reported in five provinces, led by Ontario (+10.5% to $3.4 billion) and Quebec (+15.8% to $2.2 billion). For 2019 overall, municipalities issued $102.4 billion worth of permits, up 2.6% compared with 2018.
Value of residential permits up
The total value of permits for multi-family dwellings was up 15.9% to $2.9 billion in December, mostly due to large projects in the census metropolitan areas (CMAs) of Montreal and Vancouver.
Changing Scene
What Distributors Need to Know about the IDEA Connector Launch
On January 31,2020, the new IDEA Connector will go live to over 6500 distributor locations with updates being fed daily by the IDW. Distributors will gain access to IDEA Connector’s Production Environment on February 14, 2020 to verify their migrated extracts and custom maps before they are fully cutover in a phased approach from the IDW to IDEA Connector beginning March 22, 2020.
The IDEA Team is working to ensure a smooth launch. If you are a distributor customer, you’ll receive communications on your cutover date and what you’ll need to do to prepare.
Southwire Appoints new Human Resources Manager
Southwire has appointed Rahila Dhansi to the position of Manager, Human Resources. In her role, Rahila will be responsible for overseeing Southwire Canada’s HR plans in ways that support our mission and strategy.
Rahila holds a Bachelor’s degree in Employment and Industrial Relations from the University of Toronto and is a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) under the Human Resources Association.
Graybar Canada Appoints Jason Taylor as Executive Vice President and General Manager
Graybar Canada announced the retirement of Executive Vice President and General Manager, Brian Thomas, effective March 1, 2020. Upon his retirement, Jason Taylor will be appointed Executive Vice President and General Manager, assuming leadership of Graybar Canada.
Thomas started his career with Graybar Canada, and its predecessor Harris & Roome Supply, in 1987. Throughout his 39-year career in the electrical industry, Thomas held a variety of sales and senior management positions before being promoted to Executive Vice President and General Manager in 2016.
Peers & Profiles
Sean Bernard of Ideal Industries Discusses Taking on YPN National Chair for EFC
By Blake Marchand
Sean Bernard is the Intelligent Controls Manager, Canada for Ideal Industries. Sean resides in Whitby with his wife, Melissa and their daughter, Everleigh.
Sean joined Ideal Industries mid-2019 after 13-years in lighting, working for companies like Phillips, Franklin Empire, and Standard Products. Throughout that time, he made his way from inside sales, to outside sales and up into management.
Looking Back
Has no content to show!Copper $US Dollar price per pound
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