The Thomas Blog

What's Driving Manufacturing Growth?

ThomasNet’s latest Industry Market Barometer® survey of North American manufacturers highlights the growth of the industry: manufacturers are continuing to experience an upward trajectory, with more companies expanding, hiring, adding new product lines or services, and investing in future growth. Nearly eight out of ten (76%) manufacturers surveyed are now selling overseas, and the bulk of respondents are increasing production capacity, optimizing existing operations, and upgrading facilities in preparation for what’s to come.

7 Ways to Show Email Marketing More Respect

Poor email marketing. It’s the most direct way to communicate with your online prospects, but it never gets the respect it deserves — overshadowed by buzzier platforms and undercut by spam abusers. That’s a shame, because in a landscape of ever-changing ways to reach your customers, email provides one of the only consistent links. A prospect may shut down their Facebook profile or grow tired of Twitter, but it’s unlikely that they’ll abandon their inbox.

Trim the Fat From Your Marketing Plan, and 4 More Resolutions for 2015

Did you ever notice how New Year’s resolutions start to sound like a broken record, year after year? The same promises, the same commitment out of the gate… the same reasons for abandoning them a few months later.

This year, I wanted to put a spin on those tried-and-true resolutions to give you a list of marketing goals you can set — and stick to.

Heading Into 2015 With More Focus on the User and More Stories to Tell

Last year was more about making the most of the marketing tools at hand rather than any revolutionary breakthroughs, and I see more of the same in 2015.

It puts us at an advantage: instead of chasing customers to the next “hot” social network or trying to figure out the best way to use a new platform, we have a better idea of where our audience is, and how we should communicate with them. Here’s where I think the focus will lie for the next twelve months:

2014: The Year In Industrial Marketing

From ice buckets to selfies, there was no shortage of big events, trends, and news to define marketing in 2014. As digital media continues to expand the opportunities for the industrial b-to-b space, the line between marketing in general, and the specifics of our industry, is becoming increasingly blurred – and there’s more and more overlap in what’s effective. So today, I’ll take a look back at some of the biggest stories and developments in marketing in the last year, and what they mean to you.

How Manufacturers Can Improve Lead Time? Ask These Questions

Whenever a buyer purchases a product, whether it be industrial, wholesale, or over-the-counter, one of the most important factors is lead time.

The fastest manufacturing and delivery services are always in high demand, and leaders from all levels of business are interested in providing faster lead times. It can be tricky, though, when your company is a distributor.

A manufacturer can always implement lean manufacturing methods to increase lead times, but what if your business relies on other manufacturers to provide products for customers?

Best Engineering Toys - Your Holiday Gift Guide

The holiday season is upon us!

Each year I get the inevitable question from other parents about the best engineering toys for their kids, so this year I thought I’d try and get in front of it and help with a few recommendations.

When I look at STEM focused toys, I feel that they need to be approachable, easy to use, have a high replay value or a mind blowing “WOW!” moment. Introducing the next generation of engineers to the basic concepts should to be fun and engaging, not frustrating and confusing.

5 Reasons to be Thankful for NASA

With Thanksgiving officially here, many people are left to reflect on another year gone by and remember what they’re most thankful for. This year was an exceptionally great one for me, so deciding on what I’m most thankful for is a piece of cake (or pie…).

Next Steps to Address the Skills Gap in U.S. Manufacturing

Numbers don’t lie: U.S. manufacturers are losing up to 11 percent of potential earnings due to the lack of skilled workers. With 63 percent of manufacturers expecting future growth, but a pending wave of retirements, there’s an urgency to close the skills gap.