Article: Councils launch sales ammo: strong distributor advisory councils help target suppliers' market research, R&D and public relations efforts.

Strong distributor advisory councils help target suppliers' market research, R&D and public relations efforts.

Distributor advisory councils provide manufacturers with ammunition they need to win the battle for customer loyalty. But, as an American Supply & Machinery Manufacturers' Assn. (ASMMA) survey shows, large firms use this ammo more than small firms do (see chart).

Of the 302 firms ASMMA polled, not one with sales under $1.5 million has set up a formal mechanism for getting insights from distributors. On the other hand, 20% of firms with sales from $20 to $50 million have advisory groups, as do 49% of the firms with sales over $50 million.

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