Welding & Gases Today Magazine asked North American distributors to reveal how they are surviving in the current economic climate.

Dewitt, NY – In order to survive the current economic crisis, many members of the Gases and Welding Distributors Association developed new approaches.
In the current issue of Welding & Gases Today Magazine, the leading provider of information to the welding and gases supply business, several distributors discussed 10 ways to “Beat the Business Slump.” Those strategies are:

• Expanding your market
• Focus on training
• Purchase more inventory
• Pump up sales tactics
• Improve internal processes and procedures
• Make it easy for customers to find you
• Offer new products and services
• Get the right people in the right seats
• Lead with a strong battle plan
• Sell the added value of distribution

Each segment includes quotes from distributors detailing what they are doing to survive or even thrive in what is widely considered the most difficult economic period since the Great Depression.

Many distributors are focused on finding new customers or developing new sales strategies.

“Ten small customers, instead of one large customer, that is our target,” said Marvin E. Rodgers III, president of Alliance Welding Supplies in San Jose, CA.

Others are using the downtime to improve employee performance through training or to examine their internal processes to make them more streamlined.

“A slowdown is a good time to re-examine the day-to-day operations to make sure we’re as efficient as possible, not ‘accidentally’ doing things right, but making sure things are being done correctly and with a purpose,” said Ike Spriensma, the president of Lake Welding Supply in Muskegon, MI.

The distributors forecast can be found in its entirety at Welding & Gases Today Online.
For more information, contact Carole Jesiolowski, Editor of Welding & Gases Today, (315) 445-2347; e-mail editor@weldingandgasestoday.org.

About GAWDA
Founded in 1945, the Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA) is the premier source for manufacturing knowledge, education and networking. Through its member journals (http://www.weldingandgasestoday.org), e-magazines, newsletters and industry wiki (http://www.gawdawiki.org), GAWDA connects suppliers of gases and manufacturers of related equipment as well as manufacturers of welding equipment and distribution leaders, for the purpose of safely delivering optimal solutions to the users of those products. GAWDA publications are the industry’s voice for all matters related to the latest technology and the most up-to-date processes spanning welding equipment and products and services related to industrial, medical, specialty and cryogenic gases. A 501(c)3 organization, GAWDA members are located throughout North America.