Distribution Business Articles

The Southeastern United States has been gripped by a severe gasoline shortage that has all but ground commerce to a halt. The shortage began nearly two and a half weeks ago as Hurricane Ike battered East Texas and the refineries located in Houston. After the storm cleared out and waters receded, southern states were told that production would increase shortly and that reserves would be able to meet demand. 

Having a wife that works in the healthcare field, I am quite familiar with the wide variety of nursing uniforms and medical scrubs that healthcare professionals are required to purchase in order to work on site in both hospitals and clinics. I am also familiar with the difficulty of finding a good selection of quality scrubs and have oftentimes heard horror stories of having to use "leftovers" at the hospital that are too large or small. Lets face it, if you work in the healthcare industry, your focus shouldn't have to be on locating scrubs.

With the current instability in the United States economy and the economic crisis wave spreading across the ocean to the other major world markets, no industry is immune. This morning, the Japanese markets were effected due to fears that Americans would be unable to purchase products by Sony, Toyota and Honda. All three of Japans largest exports saw their values decline. 

Due to the current economic crisis, many Americans are having difficulty affording many of our day-to-day necessities as well as luxury goods. Today the stock market fell an additional 500 points on the news that an economic "bailout" bill was rejected in congress! This economic meltdown will likely influence Capitol Hill lawmakers and the average person to reexamine the rent to own industry. 

Due to the current economic instability as well as increasing fuel prices, many regional distributors are being passed over for the larger global suppliers. Oftentimes, the smaller regional distribution services are passed over due to lack of shipping lanes as well as flexibility (in terms of rates and times). Not only do larger suppliers have the advantage of greater influence and reach, but can oftentimes outbid the smaller outfits due to the aforementioned circumstances.

For nearly ten years, Blue Nile has offered an unparalleled selection of certified diamonds from both the Gemological Institute of America as well as the American Gem Society Laboratories and has been named "Forbes Favorite Online Jeweler" the last eight years straight. In addition to offering a wide selection of the highest quality Diamonds, Blue Nile offers a beautifully detailed website with a wide variety of educational tools and guidance to assist customers in finding that special stone for that special occasion. In fact Blue Nile has been involved in over 150,000 proposals since 1999. 

With the current economic upheaval many industries who have been feeling the pinch have begun a series of predatory pricing campaigns, but not the Canadian National Railroad Company. In fact, CFO Claude Mongeau was quoted as saying, "I don't see things changing. They might be slowing a little bit in a tougher economic environment, but I don't see things going back to the old days.

The American Truckers Association has crept their way into the middle of the Wall St. crisis by insisting that the United States government take a more proactive role in solving the current upheaval. In their eyes, not only will their sector be affected by the instability, but that the problem will create a spiderweb of upheaval across may industries.

Whether you are a student, teacher or someone who works professionally with clay, AMACO/Brent has a revolutionary new device called The Quick Center. This new clay centering device allows artisans of all backgrounds the ability to throw clay without the difficult process of free-hand centering. As long as people have been working with clay, they have had to find center in order to spin correctly. Now, thanks to Quick Center, an artist can focus on their art rather than the painstakingly centering clay on the wheel.

Last week, I posted an article regarding American Airlines avoidance of more layoffs as their industry continues its "legacy" of financial distress. The post, which received a comment regarding high paying salaries related to not only the industry but the profession (pilots), was quite thought provoking. 

Having spent the better part of the last three years working exclusively from my laptop, I have to say that I am truly amazed at the technological innovations in that relatively short period of time. I've spent quite a bit of time working from my MacBook Pro and Vaio before that, but have recently been interested in learning a bit more about Toshiba laptops. In fact, the L300-13R is of particular interest due to its customizability and sleek design.

Even shipping giant FedEx couldn't avoid the blood bath on Wall St. this week as earnings fell 22%. Interestingly enough, the global shipper met their forecast and even attributed the lackluster performance to tightening global markets and stunted growth. Over the last year shares have fallen from $1.58 to $1.23. Granted, that isn't too alarming, especially since their revenue increased $.75 million last year alone.

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Anyone that has done business in logistics or warehousing in the Dallas - Fort Worth area will have no doubts that the area is taking off in logistics, gaining respect and prominence as one of the primary areas to do business in the United States.

My first experience there happened several years ago, when Motorola shut down their facility in Harvard, IL (60 miles west of Chicago in cow country formerly the home of the CEO Chris Galvin) moved their cellular operations to Fort Worth.

As much as I like Illinois (my own home state) back then Ft worth was cheaper for lots of reasons but mostly labor.

These days they have a new advantage in cost, high oil prices and the proximity to shipping freight via rail.

North Texas' rail networks are a big factor in competition for warehousing, according to the study written by the University of North Texas' Dr. Terrance Pohlen.

"The strategic location of the area has attracted many businesses seeking short transit times from a single point to the U.S. market," Dr. Pohlen said.

"Intermodal freight from Asia can reach the metroplex within three weeks as opposed to four weeks to arrive in Houston or the East Coast.

"Trucks departing Dallas-Fort Worth can reach over 75 percent of the U.S. population within a two-day drive time."

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Whether you are shipping cell phones, radios, car parts or weight loss pills, freight is cheaper through this new Logistics Meca. And that growth becomes a self fulfilling prophecy as the local workforce develops a rapidly growing proficiency in working in logistics.

World financial markets went haywire this week due to widespread ffears stemming from the instability of Wall St. this week. The Dow Jones Industrial Index plunged over 500 points Monday, rebounded slightly on Tuesday then plummeted an additional 450 points Wednesday only to receive modest gains the next two days to end down a little over 100 points for the week. 

Too often people who find themselves in criminal court are unaware of their rights. It is important to understand that not only are you allowed representation, but that you can find experienced, professional and diligent representation without becoming a case number or potential "cash cow". 

Here is the word on the recent strike in Namibia in regards to the Skorpion Zinc mine.

Anglo American's Skorpion Zinc mine in Namibia has not been affected by a week-long rail and road strike, which ended early on Wednesday, a spokesman told Reuters on Friday.

"The Skorpion mine is not affected by the TransNamib truck strike," the spokesman said in an email.

The strike at TransNamib Holdings Ltd., a Namibian transport operator, disrupted road and railway transport in the country.

Skorpion Zinc is Africa's largest zinc mine, producing around 12,500 tonnes of zinc per month.

It should be noted, that its not always possible to tell just how much impact a strike of this nature has on operations until a few quarters have passed and the financial statements can be reviewed more holistically.

Otherwise, taking statements like this at face value is about as useful as believing in the benefits of infomercials or acne treatment pitches on from a dermatologist just back from a luncheon with a drug rep.

On the same day that a terrorist attack on the US Embassy in Yemen took place and on the same day that terrorists attempted to bomb another section of Nigeria oil pipeline, Uganda was working to avoid a trucker's strike.

In Uganda they are not preparing to strike because of high oil prices, they are striking because of the poor state of the customs parking yard, structures claim is causing damage to their rigs.

 

They are also protesting alleged harassment by Ugandan revenue security guards.  These agents are accused of extorting high sums of money and harassing truck drivers. The strike had been averted last Wednesday, with the promise of negotiations which have preceded, but it looks like the strike might still occur.

A similar strike was also threatened five months back, for the same reasons, but nothing has been done in that time. It's unknown how much impact a strike in Uganda would have on the local economy, on the shipment of food or fuel or other supplies or even of imports or exports ranging from food and medicine to steam cleaners.

Have you ever dreamed of taking an all inclusive trip to Jamaica? How about if you could take that vacation and at the same time throw all of your inhibitions out the window? Hedonism Resorts in conjunction with SuperClubs offer an incredible array of amenities for newlyweds, wedding parties as well as anyone else who just wants to get away to beautiful Negril or Runaway Bay, Jamaica. These all inclusive resorts, designed to stimulate the little devil in you, include all gratuity and well everything else. In fact, the only thing you have to concern yourself with is "where, when and with who"! Who knows, you might even run into a Jamaican olympian, after all they have been known to frequent Hedonism Resorts in both Negril and Runaway Bay.

There has been a lot of attention being paid to the failing financial markets in the United States and around the globe of late, and ultimately the fate of many lie in the hands of a few. Unless you've been living in a cave, you undoubtedly heard about the worst decline of the Dow Jones Industrial Index since Sept. 11, 2001 occurred on Monday with the index plummeting over 500 points. Well, there was a slight rebound yesterday and another gigantic plunge today to the tune of 449 points. 

There is a wide variety of energy bars on the market nowadays, but many of these oftentimes don't deliver what they promised. It is important to find an all natural energy bar that delivers great taste, good nutritional value and doesn't knock your calorie count all out of whack. For over ten years, Promax has been delivering quality nutritional supplements and products to enhance your health conscious lifestyle. Currently, Promax offers a wide variety of high protein, low calorie energy bars at a great value.  

ABF Freight has announced quicker transit times for their North American network Tuesday amid fears of recession. Apparently 24,000 U.S. "station to station" lanes will be sped up. ABF's goal is to utilize 1,300 new next-day lanes as well as implement about 21,000 new second day lanes in more than 400 zip codes. This plan will reduce transit times in over 25% of their lanes.

Whether you are a small business owner or a human resources manager for a fortune 500 company, it is imperative to know who is working for you. Background checks are essential in today's hiring environment to protect your company from potentially harmful employees and incidents. In addition to negating potential risks and liabilities, accurate employee screening and pre-employment background checks will ensure protection from liability damages and negligent hiring lawsuits.

Predicated on sales of its generic brands and gasoline discounts, Kroger has announced 2nd Quarter profit increases of 11.9% since this time last year. Kroger, the largest grocery chain in the United States, has benefited from the aforementioned sales and discounts to see its diluted share prices increase $0.38 to $0.42 over the past year along with its earnings $267.3 million up to $276.5 million in that same period.

Feel Good Watches, makers of the finest luxury timepieces, offer the style and sophistication many celebrities and sports stars have come to know. Whether you are searching for a selection of world renowned Swiss manufactured patek phillipe watches or perhaps a lovely array of brietling watches, you are assured to find whatever your hearts desire. In addition to their wide selection, Feel Good Watches is a name you can trust to deliver the highest quality selection along with professional service and superior knowledge of these prestigious timepieces.

Due to a recent surge in retirements, American Airlines has cancelled their initial plans to layoff dozens of pilots. The understaffed airline was reported to have drawn up plans to eliminate nearly 8% of their current workforce (about 6,800 jobs). This announcement comes as the DOW Jones Industrial plummeted over 500 points yesterday via the collapse of Lehman Brothers and buyout of Merrill Lynch. 

If you are planning on hiring an architect to design the home of your dreams, but are concerned that their cost may be out of your price range, there is hope. HousePlansandMore.com offers a variety of professionally designed house plans and other tools at an affordable price, allowing you to avoid the cost associated with hiring an architect. In addition HousePlansandMore.com is a division of HDA Inc., a respected leader in the industry.

If you are looking to avoid travel given calamities and high fuel and travel costs, consider the benefits of video conferencing over IP as well as the benefits of used voip gateways.

The Eurotunnel may reopen soon.  That is a relatively remarkable development, after a 1000° inferno shut down the busy transportation system that moves people between the United Kingdom and the European continent.

Train services those two reopen first with freight and that will be followed within a day or two by limited to normal passenger travel.  This is not the first fire that the tunnel has experienced, this is actually the third fire that the tunnel has experienced since it opened in the mid-1990s.

That said not everything is fixed in the tunnel yet. Almost all of the 27 lorries of the brands bound train were burned and need to be rebuilt along with sections of the tunnel.

This was not the first, and it will probably not be the last fire within this tunnel. 

It is to be hoped, that the repetitive nature of these fires within the tunnel might help authorities to continue focusing on ways to improve safety, decrease the potential for fires especially those that might be triggered due to breaking systems within the trains themselves, and also continue to focus on evacuation options, and the means of putting out the fires once there started.

With fires blazing 1000° or more, it is amazing that more catastrophic results did not take place. There is truly some amazing engineering that went into this tunnel, and it would be a shame to see it destroyed them stand as a testament to man's failure.

With the looming global economical crunch on the horizon (if not already here), USA InterCargo has announced that they will be centralizing their global transport and logistics company in Carmel, IN. The company, which ships nearly 1,200 vehicles a month all across the globe, is currently housed in three locations (Savannah, GA, New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA). The centralization and streamlining of their business is due to the doubling of their volume each year since 05'.

We've been discussing a wide variety of shipping options of late, but haven't really delved into the crating and packaging industry. Regardless of whether you're shipping industrial equipment or a priceless piece of art, it is important to utilize industry professionals to ensure the safety and timely delivery of your goods. Industrial Craters & Packers has over 38 years of experience specializing in onsite packaging and custom crating of a wide variety of industrial and personal goods.

After UPS's freight lane efficiency increase announcement merely a week ago, FedEx has just  announced that they will be upgrading their next-business day delivery service. But wait, there's more! Not only is FedEx increasing their expediency on the East Coast, but is also ramping up their European efforts as well. 

There are many reasons a person might receive a structured settlement. Whether it is a big payday from hitting the lottery or a court decision regarding wrongful death or perhaps medical malpractice, there are many issues to take into consideration when determining the best method of payout. With almost twenty years of experience assisting clients with their settlement needs, Stone Street Capital is an industry leader fully staffed with knowledgeable professionals who will help you explore all of your options.

Hurricane Gustav slammed into the Louisiana coastline yesterday amid fears that the powerful hurricane could put a virtual halt to oil production in the northern Gulf of Mexico for the foreseeable future. Fortunately, Gustav was much weaker than forecasters originally thought and oil production was virtually unharmed in its wake. After Tuesdays trading day wrapped, the price on a barrel of oil dropped $5.75 to $109.71 per barrel, continuing a drop of nearly $40 since the July high. Gasoline prices still remain high at $3684 per gallon on average, and have been declining slowly the last two months.

Pepsi and Coca-Cola are at it again, this time the cola giants are battling it out over the new sweetener "Stevia". Stevia, refined from a South American plant and used as a natural sugar substitute, offers the ailing beverage industry a no-calorie sweetener that may return health-conscious consumers back to the market. 

UPS has enhanced their heavy freight division networks once again in the last few months to deliver quicker delivery services for their customers. Expected to decrease transit times for over 1,200 traffic lanes out of the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, UPS Freight President Jack Holmes claims, "These enhancements will add value for customers by improving the velocity of our network."

It is no secret that it is becoming more and more difficult to afford day to day commodities as well as luxuries due to the recent financial market instability. Regardless of your line of work, the American dream is still a viable option for the educated consumer. Purchasing a home can be an intimidating endeavor, especially if you are creating your own custom floor plan.

Yesterday, both Eastman Logistics and World Logistics have signed an intent for merger letter. The merger, scheduled to take place in the coming weeks, is expected to increase the non-asset based Eastman Logistics revenue nearly $10 million dollars by this time next year. It is unclear at this time what effect the merger may have on World Logistics' employees.