One of the most significant changes in the digital space is that people are becoming so conditioned by the digital experience in their personal lives, they are beginning to expect the same level of ease and satisfaction when dealing in a professional capacity.  For example: A procurement pr

Think of some household items you often use — Bounty paper towels, Dawn dish soap, Jif’s peanut butter? The products are almost synonymous with the company name.  Building this recognition takes time and effort with brand marketing, but goes a long way in establishing trust with prospects and

Recently, “steel” was one of the most sourced products on the Thomasnet.com platform. Sheet metal and metal stamping facilities are rising and contributing to the growth of this market. But it also comes as no surprise when steel and metals represent an important supply source to the aerospace, avi

Did you know that the Department of Defense (DoD) spends more than 60 percent of the federal procurement budget eligible for small businesses? In the 2017 fiscal year, DoD awarded more than $60 billion in prime contracts to small businesses. From anonymized sourcing activity across Thomasnet.com,

As companies in the industrial sector look for ways to win new customers and keep loyal customers, they need to find ways to stay top of mind in a competitive landscape. From producing videos, creating valuable guides, to being everywhere your buyers are —  a recognizable brand in addition to

Consumer landscapes are continuing to change while businesses are adjusting for the new normal. Manufacturers and industrial companies across the world are working hard to maintain and strengthen their supply chains. Companies who preferred to source internationally to save on costs, are seeking ot

With the economic downturn, tariffs, and trade impacting the supply chain, a lot of the discussion has focused on the importing of goods and services. However, U.S. exporters must recognize the risks that may occur when attempting to seize the trade potential in foreign clients and customers.

As the cancellation of trade show events this year causes a ripple across industries, manufacturers and industrial companies who were planning on attending or exhibiting at the events are left with extra budget. Despite the cancellations, there are still opportunities for manufacturers to make mean

Many manufacturers are experiencing changes in demand, slow down, or a spike in services. For the industrial cleaning services sector, there are opportunities to set themselves apart from competitors. Here are some business best practices industrial cleaning services and manufacturers can adopt to

We hear from our manufacturing customers that they want to break into a new industry or find a hidden market. But without finding out what the Total Available Market is, you could be going after something that’s not there. Luckily for those looking to tap into the private label industry, there’s an

At Thomas, we understand that having an easy way to search, evaluate, and connect with top suppliers is key to getting your job done. After speaking to thousands of industrial professionals, we are excited to launch the new Thomas Account to meet your sourcing needs. Thomas Account is equipped wit

The total industry market for CNC machining is expected to continue growing through 2024. But reaching target customers isn’t the same as it used to be for CNC machine shops. Industrial buying habits are simply changing. So what can CNC machine shops do to help increase sales? The first step to in

Even if you think your operation couldnt get better, theres always room for improvement. With a few tweaks to your process, you can see distinct improvements in quality while maintaining a lean manufacturing process. 1. Define Quality Standards How will you define quality at your facility? The an

If youre keeping up with the latest manufacturing lead generation strategies, you may have already heard that up to 88% of businesses ultimately buy the part after downloading a CAD model. CAD files are proven to generate high-quality sales leads. But are you fully embracing them as a marketing ass

How Manufacturers Can Build a Strong Direct to Customer Sales Model For many manufacturers, leveraging a network of distributors and resellers has historically been the simplest way to get their products to the end-users. Working with third-party distributor groups has provided logistical support &

Small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are an essential and valuable part of the supply chain, offering levels of flexibility, cost competitiveness and responsiveness that some larger suppliers often cant match. SMBs are typically more flexible and responsive than their larger counterparts, and

The prevalence of information and connectivity on the internet has been tremendously advantageous for both consumers and industrial buyers. Search engines and social media make it easy to find reviews about products, services and companies within a few clicks. But what happens if that information i

Driving qualified buyers to your website is critical to increase interest, drive leads, and grow your business. As you probably know, a page-one result on Google doesn’t happen right away — just because the content is online doesn’t mean traffic will immediately visit the page. There needs to be a

After you’ve worked to build your online presence, increase your brand, and drive traffic to your website, the next step to growing your manufacturing business is converting that traffic into leads. You’ll notice there are different groups of leads that may come through. There’s a difference betwee

Buyers often encounter different challenges every day, and each phase of the buying process has opportunities (using inbound marketing!) for suppliers like you to position yourself as the best partner.  Inbound marketing is defined as the data-driven approach to marketing that attracts people