This Week in IDEA | March 2, 2011

EW Examines How Distributors are “Minding the Storefront” Online

The February cover story of Electrical Wholesaling examines how well distributors are leveraging web-based ordering and managing their online presence. Challenges and complexities are discussed by industry technology experts including commentary from our very own Mike Wentz.

“Storefronts in the late ‘90s had strong bad-end systems, but they were seen as just extensions of those back-end systems. They were severely limited in their user interfaces and not designed around the way a customer might use it or want to interact.”
-- Mike Wentz, IDEA

“Nearly half of all distributors support web-based ordering – a figure that is expected to grow to about three quarters of distributors by 2015.”
– Guy Blissett, IBM

“A B2B site has all the complexities of special pricing agreements that you don’t have with a B2C site, because the B2C customer is basically a cash customer.”
– Andy Berry, Infor Global Solutions

“You can go an awful long way with existing customers using traditional marketing and advertising to promote the website.”
– Jason Hatfield, Activant Solutions

Read the Electrical Wholesaling article, “Minding the Storefront” online at www.ewweb.com>

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IDEA Appoints Michael Wentz to Director, Sales and Marketing

Wentz brings over 30 years of distribution and technology experience in the electrical industry

IDEA announces the appointment of Michael Wentz to Director, Sales and Marketing.

Wentz spent five years leading sales and marketing initiatives at Activant Solutions before joining IDEA in 2010 as the national sales manager.

“Mike has exceptional talent, and remarkable depth and breadth of knowledge in the electrical distribution channel and technology space. He is a well-respected professional of utmost character, and the industry is fortunate to have him join the leadership team of professionals focused on serving the men, women and businesses in the electrical supply chain,” said Robert Gaylord, president and CEO, IDEA.

During his tenure as national sales manager, Wentz increased IDEA’s focus on providing optimum solutions for distributors and manufacturers that are part of established communities. Results from his efforts have been realized by businesses in the electrical industry and beyond.

“In my new role at IDEA, I will leverage my domain expertise to help distributors and manufacturers of all sizes meet the business challenges of today. Trading partners must understand that providing enriched product information electronically has become just as important of a business driver as on-time deliveries. I am eager to lead the sales and marketing team and collaborate with IDEA’s community to further our mission of driving cost out of the supply chain,” said Wentz.

Wentz’s appointment comes after Rita Hagopian Deurdulian left the company to join her husband in an overseas post with the Foreign Service. Deurdulian spearheaded IDEA’s marketing department in 2005, and led the company through a corporate rebranding.

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Ask NAED on YouTube and Meet their New Publisher

NAED recently kicked-off a new video segment in which members can ask questions and receive video responses from Tom Naber, president and CEO. They also announced the new publisher of tED magazine who previously served as publisher of Industrial Distribution.

Ask NAED then View/Share their Responses

NAED launched a new online video segment called, “Ask NAED.” The goal of these videos is to hear directly from NAED members about their concerns and questions, so they can work together to create the tools that best address the challenges faced by companies and the entire industry. Watch the first “Ask NAED” video>

And with each video, you can find more information on NAED President and CEO Tom Naber’s blog.

If you have a question for NAED, , tweet it, or catch them at one of the upcoming conferences so they can get your question on video for a future “Ask NAED” segment.

NAED Announces the New Publisher of tED Magazine

NAED has named Craig Riley as the publisher of tED magazine. Riley has been with tED as an electronic media specialist since 2009.

Riley previously served as publisher of Industrial Distribution magazine, where he worked for nearly 20 years. Before that time, he worked in sales roles for Purchasing magazine and Applied Technology’s Maintenance Technology magazine.

tED magazine is circulated monthly to more than 25,000 readers in the electrical distribution industry. Over the past 10 years, the magazine has added more editorial, been redesigned twice, increased advertising revenue, and advanced its online presence with multiple sites and newsletters. During this time, the magazine has also been recognized both nationally and regionally for editorial and design excellence.

Riley’s appointment comes after the previous tED publisher, Michael Martin, left to become CEO of the National Wood Flooring Association, based in St. Louis.

Read the official press release at naed.org>

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New B2B eCommerce and Synchronization Customers

IDEA welcomes two new IDX customers and 18 new IRD CERICOMX customers. Read more about these companies and how you can begin trading with them electronically to expand your business.

New IDX Customers

The Ware Group of of Jacksonville, FL, a part of the Johnstone Supply Cooperative, became an IDEA customer in February. The Ware family brought Johnstone Supply to Florida in 1981. Over the course of the next 29 years, the Ware Group has become the leading HVAC/R wholesaler in north and central Florida. They will take advantage of the cost savings and reliability of Industry Data Exchange (IDX) to exchange B2B documents electronically. Find out more at www.johnstonewaregroup.com.  

Simcona Electronics Corporation of Rochester, NY also became an IDEA customer in February. Simcona is a leading national supplier of electro-mechanical, wire & cable as well as communications and security products to OEMs throughout North America. They will take advantage of the cost savings and reliability of Industry Data Exchange (IDX) to exchange B2B documents electronically. Find out more at www.simcona.com.  

New IRD CERICOMX® Customers

As a 1SYNC Data Pool On-Board Solution (OBS) partner, IDEA implements suppliers that subscribe to the 1SYNC data pool using the IRD CERICOMX® Data Synchronization Platform. IDEA was recently assigned 18 suppliers:

• W. F. Young, Inc. 
• Flukers Cricket Farms 
• Pure Fishing 
• YOLO Colorhouse 
• Florida Tile, Inc. 
• J & F Designs
• GBS Partners Inc.
• LAFCO
• Funacho, Inc
• BioLet Toilet Systems, Inc. 
• Java City
• Hospitality Mints 
• U.S. Sugar Co., Inc.
• Diamond Cosmetics
• Anika Laboratories Inc.
• TJ&H Chilluns
• Sunny Sky Products
• Rana USA, Inc.

These companies will be trained to use IRD CERICOMX®, an online catalog that suppliers use to register product data with the GS1 Registry® and GDSN via the 1SYNC Data Pool. Suppliers also use this solution to publish product data to demand partners including retailers such as Lowe’s and Walmart.

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