The Thomas Blog

Carrying Forward Nearly 130 Years of American Manufacturing Excellence

When Thomas was founded in 1898, it championed “Made In America,” a phrase that takes on greater weight today in light of the world’s persistent and significant supply chain disruptions. 

As I step into my role as General Manager of Thomas, I'm struck by both tremendous responsibility and extraordinary opportunity to lead a brand that has been the backbone of American manufacturing for nearly 130 years. I am excited to take the helm of Thomas and lead a great team that is committed to modernizing this iconic brand while preserving its foundational mission of advancing American manufacturing. 

The Importance of Marketing and Advertising for Manufacturers During Times of Uncertainty 

The global manufacturing landscape is undergoing transformations that are fundamentally changing the way businesses operate. From the effects of COVID-19 and natural disasters to the rise of AI and shifts in trade policies, the industry has shown remarkable resilience in navigating an ever-evolving environment. In response to these challenges, manufacturers have reimagined and adapted their operations, embracing innovative ways of doing business.

Thomas Promotes U.S. Manufacturing by Connecting Industrial Buyers and Suppliers

Supply chain reshoring and the growing number of sourcing options for industrial buyers have led to new and evolving challenges for U.S. manufacturers. With more options than ever before, buyers can feel overwhelmed when searching for suppliers that meet their needs, while suppliers need a way to differentiate their offerings and stand out from the competition. Thomas has been helping industrial buyers with supplier discovery for 127 years, forging connections that drive U.S. manufacturing forward.

Here’s how Thomas’ services and solutions simplify procurement and support business growth.

5 Tips for Following Up on Leads

Following up on leads is a critical step in converting your Thomas prospects into long-term customers for your business. Make sure you're staying top-of-mind, nurturing relationships, and demonstrating value throughout the sales process. Here are five best practices for successful lead follow-up:

7 Ways Thomas Can Help You Supercharge Industrial Sourcing

Here at Thomas, we've been powering North America’s largest and most active network of B2B buyers and industrial/commercial suppliers for more than 120 years. We understand the challenge of finding the best and most reliable suppliers.

That's why we developed the Thomas Network to help you search for qualified manufacturers, distributors, and service companies. Searching on Thomas is free, and for the best experience we recommend that you register so you can have full access to view suppliers’ certifications and download white papers. We know you're busy, so let us quickly walk you through our top eight features you can try today:

How to Find U.S.-Based Suppliers

American manufacturers have increasingly been looking to optimize their production and sourcing processes by bringing them closer to home. These reshoring efforts involve moving production or shifting sourcing from overseas back to the U.S., which can reduce shipping costs, shorten lead times, improve sustainability and help companies avoid supply chain issues brought on by geopolitical uncertainties and sheer distance.

When it comes to reducing reliance on foreign supply chains, many companies have been shifting business away from China. Imports from China declined by 20%, or $105 billion, in 2024, according to the 2024 Reshoring Index from global management consultant Kearney.

Apple is among the prominent manufacturers that have moved business away from China. The technology company’s suppliers have spent an estimated $16 billion to shift production away from China to India, Mexico, Vietnam, and the U.S.

In addition to companies reshoring, there are a growing number of initiatives in the U.S. aimed at building up domestic supply chains for products ranging from rubber to batteries.  

Product Marketing vs. Demand Generation: Their Key Differences

Marketing products and planning campaigns to create customer demand can be essential to a marketer's strategy for attracting new customers. In product marketing, the focus is on showing a product or service to potential customers by highlighting its benefits. On the other hand, demand generation aims to create interest and produce new potential customer contacts through various channels and marketing strategies.

Lead Generation vs. Lead Nurturing: Their Key Differences

Lead generation and lead nurturing are two pivotal processes in the customer acquisition journey. Lead generation is the process of engaging and converting people into prospects who have shown interest in your company's services or products. It's the first step in building a sales pipeline. On the other hand, lead nurturing involves developing buyer relationships at every stage of the sales funnel and the buyer's journey. It focuses on listening to the prospects’ needs and providing the information and answers they need.

Lead Generation vs. Customer Acquisition: Their Key Differences

Lead generation and customer acquisition, because they are so closely related, are sometimes referred to as the same thing, but they are very different. And even though they are interconnected, they serve distinct roles in the sales process. Lead generation focuses on attracting potential customers and gathering their information, setting the stage for initial engagement. On the other hand, customer acquisition takes these leads and converts them into paying customers, solidifying their relationship with the business.