Category Archives: Industry 411

How Survey Feedback Can Feed Your Bottom Line

Beyond Wire & Cable, Industry 411

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Can your electrical distributor benefit from a customer survey? At DWC, we are always looking for ways to provide exceptional experiences to our electrical distribution partners. This constant pursuit of growth and improvement in the products and services that we provide is driven by our valued customers. Many of our ideas for improvement come from… Read More

What’s in store for the 2021 Oil & Gas Market?

What the analysts are saying. The oil and gas industry has always been highly prone to the highs and lows of economic cycles. When times are good, the energy industry can serve as a powerful business driver for electrical distributors that offer an industrial product mix. The oil & gas downturn caused by COVID-19, however,… Read More

5 Time Management Tips for Electrical Distribution Salespeople

Beyond Wire & Cable, Industry 411

Any salesperson that works in the electrical distribution space knows that there never seems to be enough hours in the work week to check everything off your to-do list. On any given day, you’re likely being pulled in numerous directions while trying to get work done between meetings, emails, and administrative tasks. To help you… Read More

Some Encouraging Signs for the Manufacturing Sector

Like a lot of markets, the electrical industry has experienced a bumpy road in 2020. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been felt by the vertical markets that are supported by the electrical supply chain. Along with energy and construction, the manufacturing sector is among the segments that have been hard hit by significant… Read More

Wire & Cable Management Services – A valuable project partnership for shared success!

Industry 411, Value Adds & Services, Wire & Cable

As an electrical distributor, you depend on seamless logistics and a solid supply chain to maximize your operations. While sourcing the right products for your customers is key, being able to provide the right logistical solutions is an important advantage. The smooth flow of goods from your vendors, through your branch location, and ultimately to… Read More

Brandt Rocha Named New CDC Manager in Kansas City

DWC Events, Industry 411

Staffing up to serve you better! Distributor Wire & Cable (DWC) is happy to announce that Brandt Rocha has been tapped to serve as the new CDC Manager at our Kansas City Cable Distribution Center. Brandt joined DWC in 2019, working in a leadership capacity at two smaller distribution centers within the company. In KC,… Read More

The Ups and Downs of Oil & Gas

by Ted Jolly, Strategic Marketing Manager, DWC For many electrical distributors in specific locations around the country, the oil & gas industry is a key business driver. When drilling activity is robust, the demand for electrical products to support these projects increases. When activity declines, so do revenues for electrical wholesalers and other supply chain… Read More

The Baker Hughes Rig Count – The Barometer for the Oil & Gas Industry

Beyond Wire & Cable, Industry 411

Like many businesses, electrical distributors located in specific regions of the country are key suppliers to the oil & gas sector. From the North Slope of Alaska down to the Eagle Ford Shale Play in South Texas, the energy industry can be a significant market driver within the electrical supply chain. With recent declines in… Read More

Keeping Up Sales in a Down Market

With all that is happening in the news lately, a global recession is a distinct possibility. The coronavirus outbreak has forced a multitude of business interruptions which are certain to have an impact on our economy. It’s too soon to predict the severity or the timing of this, but it is possible to begin preparations… Read More

Project Partnerships

Beyond Wire & Cable, Industry 411

The supply chain solution to help you succeed! by Ted Jolly, DWC Marketing Manager When it comes to wire & cable, we’ve seen it all here at Distributor Wire & Cable (DWC). Most of the time, our Account Managers can look at a bill of materials and determine what type of project your end user… Read More

The Changing Role of the Master Distributor

A brief Q & A with MDM Magazine Recently, members of the DWC leadership team were interviewed by Modern Distribution Management (MDM) on the topic of how the landscape of master distribution is changing. We were honored to have DWC included among the three companies that contributed to the discussion (the other two companies were… Read More

Have a Master Plan!

Partnering with a master distributor can make your wire & cable product line more profitable. For electrical distributors, having the right supply chain solutions in place is an important factor that leads to higher profits. The right supplier partnerships can streamline order processes, maximize resources, and positively impact your bottom line. A strategic vendor alliance… Read More

Q&A with Travis Williams

DWC Events, Industry 411

Get to know DWC’s new CEO Q: What was it about the opportunity to join DWC that appealed to you for this next chapter of your career? When I was approached, a few things about DWC really stood out to me. First and foremost – the culture. This is a great opportunity to work with… Read More

DWC Appoints Travis Williams as Chief Executive Officer

Beyond Wire & Cable, DWC Events, Industry 411

Distributor Wire & Cable (DWC) is excited to announce the appointment of Travis Williams as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. Travis will assume leadership of the company and spearhead DWC’s strategic and operational direction moving forward. Travis replaces company founder, Bryce Huett, in this role, as Bryce has recently stepped away from day-to-day business to… Read More

The 2020 Vision for Copper

Uncertainty and growth fears loom large for the red metal. Looking back at 2019, copper prices were heavily impacted by concerns over ongoing trade negotiations and a global slowdown of manufacturing activities. These geopolitical and trade concerns contributed to uncertainty in the marketplace that kept overall pricing at bay. A strong supply side contribution… Read More

Changing our Name – Changing the Game!

DWC Events, Industry 411, Tray Cable

You may have noticed a new look to some of the emails and communications that you’ve received from us recently. DWC is now DWTC That’s right, DWC has added the letter “T” to our name to be known as “Distributor Wire & Tray Cable” (DWTC). We are excited about this new moniker and what it… Read More

Build Better Customer Relationships

Beyond Wire & Cable, Industry 411

Simple tactics for distributors to expand trust, affinity and profits from your best customers. As someone who works for a company focused on providing incredible service, I’ve witnessed firsthand how important it is to connect with customers. Building relationships is key to learning your customers’ needs and expanding the level of trust that they have… Read More

DWC’s 7 Year Sabbatical

Beyond Wire & Cable, Industry 411

An excellent perk to reward hard work! For any company, hiring, developing, and retaining good employees is essential to business success. A staff of seasoned, experienced professionals who have mastered their work over several years is better equipped to provide outstanding service to customers. When a company operates with a revolving roster of new hires,… Read More

Good Service is Good Business

Customer Service Tips for Electrical Distribution Sales Teams In the current climate, customer experience is one of the main battlegrounds for inside, outside and counter sales teams (often out-ranking factors like product and price). This can be especially true within the field of electrical sales, where customers are more informed than ever before, have expectations… Read More

Prepare to Have a Relaxing Vacation This Summer!

Beyond Wire & Cable, Industry 411

For many, the summer season is vacation season. It’s the time of year when you and other staff members at your electrical distributor might consider taking some time to travel and be with friends and family. Because work doesn’t simply stop while you’re away, taking a vacation can often be stressful. However, with a little… Read More

Health & Wellness in the Workplace

Beyond Wire & Cable, Industry 411

The modern day work environment is evolving and many electrical distributors are increasing their focus on employee wellness. Distributor Wire & Cable (DWC) advocates its employees to Live Healthy inside and outside of the workplace. A company wellness program can promote productivity and retention while increasing morale and engagement. Start a stretching or exercise routine… Read More

5 Books that Every Electrical Distributor Salesperson Should Read

As the old saying goes – readers are leaders. If you have a sales role at an electrical distributor and you’re committed to improvement, you likely realize the importance of developing your skill set to be more effective. Books are one of the best knowledge resources to hone your craft. While new titles are constantly… Read More

Why Company Culture Matters For The Electrical Distributor

Your electrical distributor has a unique vision, operational style, and its own way of doing things. These elements, among others, help form your company culture. Culture impacts different aspects of your organization. It plays a key role in determining the way your business operates, and how it’s perceived by your customers. From your hiring process… Read More

Get In There Early!

For project business, becoming involved in the planning stages can lead to increased profitability for the electrical distributor. In the increasingly competitive world of electrical distribution, sales are often lost if salespeople wait around for orders or RFQs from contractors and/or end users. Increasingly, distributors must become engaged early to best position themselves to secure… Read More

5 Ways to Add Value as an Electrical Distributor

In most markets, electrical distribution is a highly competitive space with wholesalers in direct competition for counter sales and project business. A wide range of factors determine which distributors get the order among contractors, integrators and end users. One of the best ways to capture market share in a competitive arena like this is to… Read More

Wire & Fables: The Kingdom of Copper

Industry 411, Wire & Cable Facts

Once upon a time, in The Kingdom of Copper, there was a bustle amongst the royals and the nobles. Stories about wire & cable were being told, and uncertainty spread quickly. The Kingdom knew it had to be stopped, and they began their journey to set the record straight with tales from Wire & Fables.… Read More

DWC STRIKES DEAL WITH GLOBAL SUPPLIER

We are proud to announce an exclusive partnership with Tele-Fonika for medium voltage cables in the U.S. Western territories. As a Master Distributor of specialty wire and cable, we are looking forward to distributing Tele-Fonika’s premium quality cables to our customers. Both of our companies are growing quickly and pride ourselves in quality and customer service making… Read More

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC as most commonly known was discovered by sheer accident in the 19th century. First in 1835 by Henri Victor Regnault and then in 1872 by Eugen Baumann. But it wasn’t until 1926 when the B.F. Goodrich Company developed the method to plasticize PVC by blending a number of additives with it… Read More

Chilean Earthquake & Copper Pricing

The country of Chile, located in South America, was rocked by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded on February 27, 2010. The 8.8 magnitude earthquake had a devastating effect on the country and could mean another sharp increase in copper over the coming months. Chile is one of the largest producers of copper. Estimates… Read More

Who Is A Master Distributor?

The term “Master Distributor” is thrown around a lot these days in the electrical industry, yet it seems that many people are unsure of what it actually means. Over the next few minutes we will try to clarify the meaning of being a master distributor. We will go over the qualifications of being a master… Read More

Wind Energy Becoming Focus For Wire & Cable Industry

Due to the increasing popularity and need for alternative energy sources, Distributor Wire & Cable has decided to stock inventory specifically used for the wind farm industry. Beyond just a business decision, DWC also viewed this as part of their efforts towards being socially responsible. “Although we’re not a pioneer in this growing form of… Read More

The History of Copper

The chemical element Copper, with the symbol Cu and the atomic number of 29, is one of the first known metals and possibly the most important discovery in the evolution and development of the modern day human race. This pinkish or peachy colored metal is one of a few to occur naturally in nature as… Read More

Shielded Cable: Types of Shielded Cables

Shielded cable is offered in a variety of wire and cable products such as shielded tray cable, shielded cat 5 cable and VFD cable. The most common reason for a shielded cable is to cut down on cross talk between conductors, neighboring cables and any other electromagnetic energy that the cable encounters. A shielded cable… Read More

Wire Striping: Stripe Wire and Striped Cable Services

With the ever increasing expansion of global technology in our world today it has become necessary for countries including the U.S. to seek out and obtain newer more productive and cost effective products or even services from around the world. It no longer takes days, weeks, or months to obtain some of the best and… Read More

Copper Prices: How copper prices move up and down

The single most important ingredient determining the cost of wire and cable is the current price of copper. Copper is a commodity like any other metal therefore its price is driven up or down by a myriad of factors. This article will help explain some of the most common factors that drive copper prices and… Read More

Copper Wire Verse Aluminum Cable

This article is used to explain the differences between copper and aluminum. The two most commonly used conductors for wire and cable. Silver is the best conductor; however its high price makes its use limited to situations where high conductivity or low resistance is required. Both copper and aluminum have specific applications where one is… Read More

CV Cured VS. Mold (Lead) Cured Rubber

The debate continues regarding the use of the newer Continuous Vulcanized (CV) cured rubber or the older lead cured rubber in the construction of mining cables, with mixed results. In recent times there has been a strong push to bring CV cured jackets into the mining industry for a number of reasons including its characteristics… Read More

Low Smoke Zero Halogen: LSZH Cable

Low smoke zero halogen, or LSZH, refers to using compounds in the cable jacketing manufacturing process that are halogen free. Materials that contain halogens emit potentially harmful gases when burned. Halogen free cable, on the other hand, is made up of a compound called polypropylene, which will not produce a toxic smoke during combustion. Halogens… Read More

Circuit Types for Fire Alarm Cable

There are two different types of fire alarm system circuits, NPLFA and PLFA. NPLFA can operate at up to 600V with unlimited power output. A PLFA has limited voltage and power which is dictated by the listed power source.Â Basically this means that there are easier installation requirements for the PLFA circuit, however listed below… Read More