Episode #129 – Disintermediation

Eric Dudas

Should you be concerned about impending changes to California Proposition 65? How can you position your distribution company to thrive in a world dominated by Amazon Business? And who won the FTR Busch Light 30 pack at this year’s MWFA Open? Industry expert, Carmen Vertullo offers practical advice to the fastener industry as it ponders modifications in labeling requirements that could impact all levels of the supply chain (15:09). Modern Distribution Management president, Ian Heller, discusses “the Amazon effect”, why distributors are terrible at marketing, and why you should be adding value as you serve your customers (1:39:36). Mr. Rich Cavoto of Metric and Multistandard reports on the recent MWFA table top and golf outing (57:16). FDI numbers remain strong, although the trend may be cracking, as Baird analyst, David Manthey and industry anchorman, Mike McNulty explain during the Fastener News Report (1:08:58). Plus, the Fastener Training Minute (1:32:17), and a bonus segment with more of Carmen Vertullo discussing Prop 65 affected materials in detail (2:26:05). Mindful of all of this, Brian and Eric decide to start sharpening hooks before they’re disintermediated. Run time: 02:34:08

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About the Hosts

Brian Musker

Brian Musker

Known as the “hardest working man in the online thread game”, Brian Musker earned his advanced engineering degree with a thesis on fastening technology many years before entering the fastener industry with the launch of the FCH Sourcing Network in 2006. Today, he is known as the developer of the industry renowned “FCH Scrubber” software that cleans and cross-matches fastener inventory for distributors across the industry. He is also a strong advocate for his beloved breakfast spread, Vegemite.

Eric Dudas

Eric Dudas

Eric Dudas got the idea of launching Fully Threaded Radio in the early days of podcasting as he pondered how to promote the FCH Sourcing Network to an industry that wasn’t doing much with traditional social media. Fifteen years later, the show has a life of its own and has opened more doors than he could have imagined. More recently, he’s been working to build the NFBBQA (National Fastener BBQ Association) to help fastener professionals better enjoy cooking meat over fire. He also enjoys chicken ranching at his small farm in semi-rural northeast Ohio.