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Anyone working in the electricity sector in Canada knows the reality of how few women we have in nearly every area of operations. As women have continued to grow their participation in the workforce over the past half-century, male-dominated industries like ours have must continue to make the necessary changes to diversify their workforces.

Everybody has been to the grocery store and seen the growing number of self-checkout kiosks and the growing number of people using them. Grocery stores are catching up to the self-help services that banks have been doing for years. Online storefronts are just another extension of this service — allowing us to self-serve from home.

Last month, as Wesco International Inc. intensified its pursuit of another electrical equipment distribution company, the Station Square-based firm found itself the target of a potential takeover bid.

Survey Says The vast majority (74.6%) of vice presidents of sales are highly experienced, which is likely due to the senior nature of the position.

Supply Chain It’s no surprise that technological trends are profoundly impacting distribution organizations all around the globe. These life- and business-changing megatrends benefit distributors in many ways, enabling them to improve efficiency and reduce cost.

Smart Cities The influx of people into large cities and conurbations is unabated. In 2018 there existed 33 megacities worldwide with a population of more than 10 million. According to estimates by the United Nations, in 2030 there will be no less than 43 cities with a total of 5 billion people.

CEW GDP Decline Real gross domestic product edged down 0.1% in October, the first decline in eight months. Goods-producing industries were down 0.5%, the second consecutive monthly decline. Services-producing industries were essentially unchanged as increases in most sectors compensated for declines in wholesale trade and retail trade.

Total investment in building construction decreased 0.5% from September to $15.5 billion in October. Investment in the non-residential sector was up (+0.5% to $4.9 billion), while the residential sector decreased (-1.0% to $10.6 billion). On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), investment in building construction was down 0.4% to $12.8 billion.

With the fast pace to digitalization, companies are forced to make quick decisions that can expose their business. Executives find themselves in a dilemma between moving forward or building a resistance to change and exposure. The easy route is to keep your cards close to your chest, and to not move forward.

Years of Experience by Percentage, VP Sales The vast majority (74.6%) of vice presidents ofsSales are highly experienced, which is likely due to the senior nature of the position.

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The Winds of Change — Blowing in the Right Direction

By John Kerr

The past nine weeks have been to say the least a challenge across the electrical industry. From agents to suppliers, from end users to the electrical channel, all have been affected, all have been forced to think differently and all have begun the journey to retooling the way we operate.

This is the third report in our series quantifying and exploring how electrical wholesalers have had to adapt and how they are looking to find a way forward. For this we have taken a different approach from our previous reports in that we have incorporated the results from our recent survey alongside personal interviews and discussions with electrical distributor teams across Canada

Darkest Before the Dawn, Part 2

By John Kerr

I spoke in my previous article about my father’s quote darkest before the dawn. Well, he had another saying clearly brought forward by his growing up in the depression. He would say, “Money is not everything. It just helps,” and at a time like this when there are so many storylines of effort above and beyond the call, and so many initiatives underway by electrical distributors, there will be a rallying right across the country. The electrical distributors are moving, reacting, and more adaptable than ever before.

The current situation we find ourselves in is to say the least fluid, dynamic and somewhat disconcerting for many, but underlying it is a focused, disciplined approach to addressing the new norm and new reality. Some branches remain closed, some open with minimal staff, and others rotating staff and working differently than ever before.

Recent public reports by Wesco and Rexel have indicated drops approaching 23% through mid April and clearly ones that demonstrated a slowdown from mid March. Our discussions with both distributors and end users/contractors alike confirm their buying and purchasing activity were curtailed more aggressively in early April.

Over 106 electrical distributors responded to our recent survey with 73% from corporate and branch management.

Electrical Safety in the Home is More Important Than Ever Before

By Gurvinder Chopra

This June, Canadians will commemorate Electrical Safety Month; June also marks the fourth month of the COVID-19 pandemic national lockdown. For many Canadians, working from home has become the new normal. As confinement continues, the demand for constant power feed to connect to the world we now live, work, and play in at home has grown substantially. Homes are being equipped with new technologies that offer plenty of benefits, but they also place high demand on electrical systems at home, potentially causing serious safety risks.

Moving from Survivability to Thriveability

By David Gordon

In talking with distributors and manufacturers it is clear that many are actively in the planning and pivoting mode, moving from survivability to thriveability. They’ve stabilized their business financially, emotionally (from a staff viewpoint) and operationally. Now they are looking at “doing business,” and more financially secure ones are identifying ways to take share.

This doesn’t mean that others are not planning and pivoting. Some didn’t miss a beat; others typically don’t do much planning and live in the moment.

Value of Building Permits Declined 13.2% in March

Building Permits - March The total value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities decreased 13.2% to $7.4 billion in March, with declines reported in seven provinces and two territories. The $1.1 billion national decrease was the largest since August 2014. This reflected notable drops in Ontario (-12.9%), Quebec (-18.1%) and British Columbia (-19.4%), which coincided with efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Value of residential permits down

The total value of residential permits decreased 13.1% to $4.6 billion in March.

Savant Systems to Acquire GE Lighting

Savant Systems has announced it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase GE Lighting, a ...

Darkest Before the Dawn, Part 2

Changing Scene

Peers & Profiles

Looking Back

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