39th Annual Convention Opens in Phoenix
FEATURE
The Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association opens its 39th annual convention Sunday in Phoenix.
While the STAFDA’s 1,040 distributor members – who have 5,646 branches – generally handle more than fasteners their top fastener categories are: #9 Threaded fasteners with 73% of STAFDA distributors selling; #12 Drywall Screws at 71%; #19 Threaded Rod at 63%; and #28 Blind Rivets 45%.
• The top product categories for STAFDA distributors are (1) drill bits handled by 83%, followed by (2) blades (82%) and (3) hand tools (81%).
Other top 10 STAFDA products are abrasives, portable electric tools, anchors safety equipment, cords/cables/lights an adhesives & sealants.
• Last on the list of 35 product categories are cable installation tools at 24%.
• STAFDA points out that the 5,646 branches totals more than 2,200 Home Depot locations plus 1,830 Lowe’s stores combined.
The convention opens with conferences on Sunday. STAFDA’s traditional “State of Distribution” and Associates’ presentations will be Monday morning, followed by the trade show Monday afternoon and Tuesday.
Each year the STAFDA president gives the “State of Distribution” speech. This year that will be Rod Gowett of Milpitas,CA-based Acme Construction Supply. Robin Roberts of Latham, NY-based Protective Industrial Products will give the Associates’ speech.
The State of Distribution speeches in recent years by primarily fastener distributors are posted in the Fastener History section of GlobalFastenerNews.com:
2008 FIN – Peterson at STAFDA: Economy Requires Distributors to Reinvent Themselves
During the 1980s, with “smokestack” customers closing or moving, “we re-invented ourselves as a supplier of aircraft fasteners and military specification hardware. Later, All-West added electronic hardware as electronics manufacturing expanded in the Pacific Northwest.
2010 FIN – Devers: Economic Uncertainty is the Current Problem
The “Great Recession” began in 2007, but these days most STAFDA distributors find “business can show signs of improvement one month and turn stone cold the next.”
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