This week, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell all but signed off on an upcoming rate cut. The market responded immediately, and a collective cheer went up among businesses and consumers alike.

But the question remains: how much of a cut will we see? And will there be multiple small cuts over time or a large single cut to supercharge growth? Oh, and does this mean a soft landing for the economy - no recession?

More importantly, what does this mean for wholesale distribution?

In this episode, Kevin and Tom look at all the implications of an upcoming rate cut (aside from the prospect of a lost bet and a steak dinner), including how jobless claims, business activity, and the general state of the economy factor into what's ahead.

And of course, we have a deep analysis of all this week's news in AI, B2B eCommerce, M&A, cybersecurity and supply chain!

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More and more, AI for B2B is more than a way to manage customer data: it directly impacts the customer experience. This week, Tom and Kevin dive into the transformative power of AI in wholesale distribution and manufacturing, exploring how it's reshaping the industry as we know it.

With recent advances pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve, businesses are faced with the challenge of balancing human intuition with machine efficiency. We dissect key insights from recent articles, including how AI is redefining customer interactions in the B2B space and its role as a digital bridge to Industry 4.0.

As AI continues to evolve, what does the future hold for customer relationships and production processes? Tune in as we explore the crossroads of human and machine, and what it means for the future of your business.

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As you may have noticed, the stock market took a nose dive last week, prompted in no small part to AI-driven tech stocks lowering revenue expectations. This has led many to wonder, is the AI Bubble about to burst?

On this week's episode, we take a closer look at whether AI is the technological revolution it has been touted to be. Will it cure cancer and lead to a life of leisure, or is it just another hammer in your tech tool belt, there to use when called for?

We also take a look at why branding is such an important key to B2B success. DTC marketers talk a lot about differentiation and identity, and find themselves mostly ignored in the B2B world...but do they have a point?

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Last week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission determined that Amazon—normally considered an eCommerce company—is in fact a distributor, and therefore responsible for faulty items sold on its site and packed and shipped through its fulfillment service.

Whoa! What will this mean for B2B eComm? Especially in light of the fact that B2B buyers are making purchases online more than ever before, according to the 2024 B2B Buyer Report from Sana Commerce, and it's their experience that determines their decision-making.

Meanwhile, U.S. labor costs increased moderately in the second quarter as private sector wages grew at the slowest pace in 3-1/2 years, providing evidence that inflation is firmly on a downward trend.

How do these events connect, and what does it mean for Wholesale Distributors?

On this week's episode, Tom and Kevin connect the dots from the latest economic news to provide insights to the newest developments in distribution, manufacturing, supply chain, M&A, cybersecurity, technology, and more.

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It's a milestone years in the making: Around The Horn In Wholesale Distribution's 100th episode!

And to celebrate, we're joined by seven VERY special guests - a veritable "Who's Who" of wholesale distribution:

✅ Ian Heller - Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Distribution Strategy Group
✅ Dirk Beveridge - Founder, UnleashWD and We Supply America
✅ Mike Marks - Founding Partner at Indian River Consulting
✅ Mike Hockett - Executive Editor, Modern Distribution Management (MDM)
✅ Marty McLaughlin - Founder and Managing Partner, Mosaic Partners
✅ Dan Schuberth - Chief Revenue Officer, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors
✅Paul Kennedy - President and CEO, Dakota Supply Group (DSG)

In this episode, our incredible panel does a mid-year review of the trends, challenges, and technologies impacting the wholesale distribution industry, as well as insights to what to expect through the rest of 2024.

On behalf of all of us at ATHIWD, we'd like to thank each and every one of you who has listened, subscribed, participated, or simply provided encouragement for the podcast. We would never have reached our 100th episode without you, and we look forward to the next 100 with all of you along for the ride!

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According to logistics execs, the trucking industry is turning a corner after a prolonged freight recession that succeeded the Covid boom in transportation rate and services. Could it be that innovation is driving a new era in logistics and supply chain management?

In this episode, we'll take a look at some of the innovations driving wholesale distribution and manufacturing, including some of the digital solutions that help maximize manual resources and enhance production accuracy, quality, and efficiency.

We also look at the workforce that will be both driving and benefitting from these innovations: Gen Z. Though their priorities may be different from previous generations, these workers may prove to be more loyal and focused than the others before them.

And don't forget: next week, we celebrate our 100th Episode! Join us for a live event with special guests you'll never forget!

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Inflation fell in June for the first time since 2020. Good news! Retail imports continue to rise despite supply chain challenges. Good news! Manufacturing technology orders grew in May. Good news! The Fed Chairman said, “reducing policy restraint too late or too little could unduly weaken economic activity and employment."

Uh oh...

This week's busy slate of economic data paints a different picture, depending on how you look at it, and Kevin & Tom are here to give it all some perspective. Will the Fed cut rates as predicted in September, and what will the result be for wholesale distributors and manufacturers?

Meanwhile, B2B marketing and eComm continues to evolve at a rapid pace. 53% of B2B organizations now say shifting revenue from in-person to online sales is one of their top priorities. But this occurs in an environment where more customers are saying personalization and emotional sentiment are missing from B2B marketing.

How can the two reconcile?

Join us as we count down to our 100th episode! We've got insights you don't want to miss.

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Is Amazon Business dominating the wholesale distribution landscape, or is it legitimately providing an indispensable supply chain management and eComm solution to B2B companies? In other words, are they a godsend to wholesalers, or are they the enemy?

In this week's episode, Tom and Kevin take a close look at some of the news stories surrounding developments at Amazon Business, and their effect on wholesale distributors and manufacturers, big and small. There's no denying that Amazon's purchasing and supply chain power is incredible, but is it the best solution for your business?

To complicate matters, ship backups that plagued seaports during the Covid pandemic are making a comeback, as vessel diversions because of attacks in the Red Sea trigger gridlock and soaring costs at the start of the peak shipping season.

Mix in the fact that only 16% of manufacturing leaders globally report they have real-time, work-in-progress monitoring across the entire manufacturing process, while B2B marketing leaders have their eye on AI as a new tool to improve the quality and quantity of their programs, and you have some complicated issues to work out.

But that's why we're here! Join industry experts Tom Burton & Kevin Brown for this insightful and eye-opening episode.

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