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Tariffs, acquisitions, association news and one play to steal from an operator who already tried it. Written by people who spend all day inside distributors’ businesses.
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Inside every issue
What moved in distribution, and what it means for you
The four or five items that change how you would run next month, in the same sections every time.
- From the Proton teamThe month at a glance: what caught our attention, in a few bullets.
- Things SKU should knowTariffs, acquisitions and association news, and what each one means for you.
- In our earsThe month’s podcast conversation with an operator, and the part worth stealing.
- AI, captain!What AI is really changing for distributors, and the evidence behind it.
- New on the shelfWhat shipped at Proton this month.
- Tool timeA tool you can run against your own numbers.
Archive
Every issue so far
6 of 7
- No. 07 · July 2026Permanent tariffs, two mega-deals, and proof that marketing helps the branchesJul 31, 2026
- No. 06 · June 2026Kevin Short on master distribution, NAW’s AI symposium, and McKesson’s $179 million DCJun 30, 2026
- No. 05 · May 2026Wholesale inflation surges, AI joins the team, and Replenex’s case for selling on valueMay 31, 2026
- No. 04 · April 2026How Ewing grew from 12 to 268 stores, AI winners pull apart, and Nexans buys Republic WireApr 30, 2026
- No. 03 · March 2026Jeff McLendon’s $4B acquisition playbook, SRS dives into HVAC, and quote entry automationMar 31, 2026
- No. 02 · February 2026Inside sales teams that actually work, and the Supreme Court tosses the tariffsFeb 28, 2026
- No. 01 · January 2026From $15M to $2B without burnout, a $2.4B steel deal, and Proton’s new Orders pageJan 31, 2026
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What actually moved in distribution that month: tariff and policy changes, acquisitions and what they mean for you, what the associations are arguing, what shipped at Proton, and one play you can steal from an operator who already tried it.
The trade press, quarterly calls from the publics, acquisition and SEC filings, association policy briefs, tariff notices, and the arguments worth having on LinkedIn — condensed into the four or five items that change how you would run next month.
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