NAW SmartBrief: Offshoring could have contributed to global recession

News and Trends Unemployment rate dropped to 9.5% for June The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 9.5% for June, according to the Labor Department. The jobless rate decreased for the month in 39 states and Washington, D.C., while five states reported an increase in unemployment. Nevada reported the highest unemployment rate of 14.2%, while North Dakota reported the lowest unemployment rate of 3.6%. The Wall Street Journal/Real Time Economics blog (7/20) Consumer confidence drops to near all-time low The ABC News Consumer Comfort Index dropped by one point to -45 for the week ended July 18. The index stands nine points below its all-time low, and found that Americans under age 35 were more pessimistic about the economy. According to the telephone survey of about 1,000 Americans, 11% of respondents rated the economy positively. RTT News (7/21) Offshoring could have contributed to global recession The global recession spelled less demand for transportation, and the U.S. logistics industry contracted by 18.2% in 2009. Offshoring may contributed to the recession by lengthening shipment times for inventory. "Orders in the pipeline placed months earlier were fulfilled and delivered well into the recession despite market conditions at the time of delivery," said Rosalyn Wilson, senior business analyst with consulting firm Delcan. IndustryWeek (7/21) Other News United Rental rebounds with Q2 profit of $12M Reuters (7/20) Wyoming, Mich., grants tax exemption to Gordon Food The Grand Rapids Press (Mich.) (7/20) Top 10 Margin Killing Myths Every B2B company would like to maximize their margins, but relatively few B2B companies are focusing on the most-powerful means to achieve this objective: pricing. Why? Learn about the top 10 myths in B2B pricing that tend to cause the most damage and how to take steps to avoid them. Download your copy today. Best Practices 6 tips for managing workers who know more than you do In many professions requiring special skills, the highly trained professionals doing the work may know more about their jobs than their leaders. Managers should demonstrate passion, form strong networks, and work to update and refine their own skills, writes Marshall Goldsmith. Harvard Business Review online/Marshall Goldsmith blog (7/20) 9 rules every business leader should live by There are nine key lessons that every chief executive must master if they're to expand their company without tripping themselves up, writes Janine Popick, CEO and founder of VerticalResponse, in this two-part article. High on Popick's list: Hire an amazing lawyer and an even better accountant -- and sack people who fall short sooner rather than later. "There's something to be said for trying to help employees who aren't up to snuff, but at some point you have to let go," she notes. Inc.com (7/15) , Inc.com (7/19) The HP Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless All-in-One Now $299 After $100 Instant Savings. Buy Now>> Sales Why sales managers should consistently recruit new talent Given the long cycle to hire and get a good salesperson to top productivity, sales mangers should always be recruiting and looking for top talent, writes Dave Brock. "A manager should always have at least half a dozen people they would like to hire, if the occasion presents itself," he writes, noting that that approach can result in finding a more talented replacement months sooner than traditional hiring practices. The Customer Collective (7/19) Small Business Manager 5 tips for handling a cash crunch Cash flow is key for businesses, but predicting its ebbs and flows can be difficult. Unexpected events such as a big customer falling behind on payments or a lull in business can have a huge effect. If business owners find themselves in a cash crunch, they should review their line of credit, step up collection, and get out and sell, writes Colleen DeBaise. The Wall Street Journal (7/19) Featured Content Top 10 Social Media Tools To Find Your Referral ChampionsJohn Jantsch Lifestyle Employee Benefits with PaybackJulie Rains How to Add Multimedia to Your BlogZachary Sniderman Growth in Small Business Hiring Isn't as Much or as Fast as We Would LikeAnita Campbell Spending Wisely: What to Do When Profits SoarScott Allen Executive Life Smartphone software aims to keep drivers safe on the road A mobile-software offering from Global Mobile Alert hopes to prevent car accidents and keep drivers safe by issuing audio alerts about excessive speed or upcoming driving-related issues such as approaching traffic lights. The application, available in the Android Market, costs $54.99 for an annual subscription or $4.99 a month. Wireless Week (7/19) Column: Some travelers are committed to avoiding body scans With installations of full-body scanners expected to triple by the end of the year, New York Times travel columnist Joe Sharkey says the devices will soon be an unavoidable feature of air travel. "The rationale for this is clear," he writes. "Nonmetallic explosives pose a major security threat." Still, Sharkey warns, based on reader reaction to his columns, a minority of travelers remains committed to avoiding the machines at all costs -- even if it means reducing their air travel. The New York Times (free registration) (7/19) NAW Insider Become Lean and Become More Profitable and More Effective Becoming lean in distribution is more important than ever in today's challenging economic market. Applying lean concepts makes sense because becoming lean means becoming a more effective distributor. And becoming lean will lead to higher profitability. "Lean Operations in Wholesale Distribution" focuses on the lucrative operations area and discusses steps distributors must take to design and manage a lean culture. Order the new NAW Institute book "Taking Charge of Distribution Sales" The wholesale distribution industry makes things work in our economy, and distribution sales managers make things happen at distribution firms! Sales management is a hands-on job that is subject to real-time performance appraisal by salespeople, customers, suppliers, distributor general managers and owners. "Taking Charge of Distribution Sales" provides real-world ideas, methods and direction for distributor sales managers. Order your copy today. Learn more about NAW -> Join NAW | Business Products | Publications | Meetings | Govt. Relations