We are in the middle of year two for Distribution Center Magazine. It has been great fun so far and we really believe we are hitting our stride for distributors. We have met a lot of you at industry events and hope to meet even more in the near future.

Our goal is to provide distributors with the best and most up-to-date information. Our hope is that the information covers everything that will help distributors run their businesses better. That can come in the form of articles about new technology, business management, or legislative updates. For instance, this issue includes coverage of a federal tax guide for small business, how to achieve supply chain optimization, and a question and answer session with Nancye Combs about conducting effective performance reviews.

We have been helped greatly by our partners in this endeavor — the Heating, Air-conditioning, Refrigeration, Distributors International (HARDI). They have really helped us immensely in the launch of this magazine and we appreciate it.

But to be honest, what do we know? Whenever I meet face-to-face with distributors they tell me how much they love the magazine. I never get one complaint… and I don’t buy that for a minute. It is hard to tell someone to their face that the work they are doing is lacking in any way. I mean, I am even nice to my in-laws in person.

However, it is much easier to tell people via email. If technology would have been more prevalent when I was growing up I might have broken up with a few girls via email.

That being said, I am interested in hearing what you — the distributor — has to say. Are we doing too much of one topic while not enough of something else? We want to produce a magazine that is of the most value to the reader. So let us know if there is too much HARDI content or not enough? Too many products or not enough? We truly want you to be involved in the process.

Please let us know what you like about the magazine and what you want to see more of in these pages. We can take the criticism if you believe we are off the mark. In truth, I will probably take credit for any praise we get while saddling editor Angela Harris with the responsibility of any complaints.

So please provide any feedback by emailing me at kylegargaro@achrnews.com. Of course, you can always talk about us on our social media sites — Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus. See what I did there? I got you to our social media sites.

Thanks for helping us out. 

Talking About Yourself Is OK

Where are you? You don’t talk about yourself enough. I look at your website and I don’t see where you are talking about your company. There is information on products and the history of the company, but company news beyond that is somewhat pathetic. No offense. Not only are you not sending it to this media outlet, but you aren’t making it available on your website.

You deserve more. The things you do and the successes you have are important to your industry peers. They are important to your customers too. Your company can be included on the cover of this magazine in places like Counter Talk. On the inside, what happens at your company is prime news for the News and Notes section. There is even room for photos. Who knows, these submissions might even end up being a full story.

Let’s not forget about the online opportunities. Much of what is sent in often finds a spot somewhere at www.distributioncentermag.com. There we are looking for news, guest bloggers, and web-exclusive stories that your company could provide.

One of our biggest attempts to help you talk about yourself is the beginning of our new Golden Warehouse Awards competition. In it we will honor warehouses and distributorships endeavoring to be the best. To be chosen, you must first enter. Nominations open this month at goldenwarehouse.distributioncentermag.com.

It’s time to start talking about your company. Share what’s going on and how you are making the best of HVAC wholesale distribution.

Send all announcements, questions, guest blog entries, and anything else you can think of to Angela Harris at angelaharris@distributioncentermag.com.