B2B eCommerce Blog * eCommerceandB2B.com

The Customer [Question] is Always Right

The benefit of the digital age is that we can do so much communication. However, what happens when your customers get stuck? How quickly can you help answer a question? And, what’s the value you can provide? Best practices: prominent toll-free number in the header and/or footer easy access to send an email live chat […]

How to Make Smarter eCommerce Software Decisions

One of the most common things I hear from distributors and manufacturers in the first couple of conversations is: We don’t know what we don’t know. First of all – it is okay – you are completely normal. How are you expected to understand what has taken some of us years to understand? To help you […]

New study reveals that Millenials have no effect on B2B companies

US – A new study performed by Headinda Sand Research confirmed Monday that Millenials will in fact not change a thing in B2B companies. The study looked at manufacturers, distributors, and techology companies, then the study looked at their actual buyers, purchasing departments and researchers and concluded that Millenials past buying patterns and expectations apply […]

Competing with Your Company Culture

I had the pleasure to be interviewed by tED Magazine to respond to their recent article Amazon Business Vs. Large Distributors—What’s the Threat?. In this article, I talk about how distributors can compete with behemoths like Amazon Business. Along with my colleague Jason Hein at B2X Partners, we talk through the challenges Amazon faces in acquiring new businesses: […]

Are You Ready to Face Amazon Business?

I sat down with the CEO of the digital platform software company BloomReach to discuss Amazon Business’ competitive threat to B2B. One year after launching, Amazon Business surpassed $1 billion in sales. As B2B commerce shifts to online, you are being forced to compete in unknown territory and in a fast-changing landscape. During this period […]

What’s your trade slang – Platt.com?

We love the Platt.com site. It is not sexy or cool. It even looks a little dated. So, why do we love it? Because it is hyper focused on the customer and helping them do their job. What’s Your Trade Slang? Landing on the Product Detail Page (PDP), there is a lot to talk about, but […]

Branch Locations: Leverage Your DigitalBranch to Help Your Customers Find You Offline

Many of your customers will be using Google to search for your physical branch locations. In fact, when looking at most Distributors website analytics (like Google Analytics or PIWIK), the locations pages are often some of the most requested pages on your site!

Grainger’s Tactics to Drive Registration

Grainger has made significant site enhancements over the past few months to drive user registration and encourage users to sign in to use My Account functionality. Grainger recognizes the need to learn more about its customers and nurture those relationships to build long-term, repeat buyers by driving registration and sign in.

New DigitalBranch Community for Distributors

B2X Partners Launch DigitalBranch.co – First-of-its-kind Platform for Driving Independent Distributor E-Commerce Success New platform is an innovative approach to helping independent distributors in industrial, electrical, plumbing, PVF, janitorial/sanitation and HVAC drive their eCommerce business. Ashburn, VA (June 01, 2017) B2X Partners, a leading digital agency focused on B2B eCommerce for the independent distributor, launches […]

New Report Assesses the Current Landscape of Mid-Market B2B E-Commerce Software

Expert Report Launches to Help B2B Businesses Choose E-Commerce Software May 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE E-Commerce Agency B2X Partners launches a new report titled “eXpert review: Mid-Market B2B E-Commerce Software,” which assesses the leading e-commerce software solutions, with an eye to helping mid-market B2B businesses find their next e-commerce software solution. With B2B businesses looking […]

Who are the top B2B e-commerce software vendors for the mid-market?

Does this describe your organization when it comes to e-commerce? Do you find yourself asking these questions? “I don’t know what I don’t know!” “What vendors should I even look at?” “I don’t even know what questions to ask of a vendor!” “They all say the same thing – how do I differentiate between them?” […]

[Video] The Foundation of B2B E-Commerce

The Basics and Foundation of B2B E-commerce are simple to understand but hard to implement. In this video, learn how many distributors break down the problem of eCommerce within their organizations. The Foundations of B2B eCommerce As referenced in the video, if you haven’t already downloaded the guide to selecting eCommerce software, you can download […]

How to Deal With Channel Conflict in B2B E-Commerce

Channel concern over implementing a direct e-commerce channel continues to be a polarizing topic in most B2B organizations. Existing channels are tough to change Why are they so hard to change? […]Simple – your existing channels are bringing in the revenue you have now. That is important. And one of the channels that will inevitably be […]

The Four Horsemen: Google, Amazon, FaceBook, and Apple

Every year I watch Scott Galloway’s talk at DLD. It is brilliant and insightful. Things are changing and fast. Watch this video and comment below. Advertising is becoming a tax that only poor people pay – Professor Scott Galloway

Plumbing, Electrical, MRO, and HVAC/R distributors beware

Without change, small and mid-size distributors are going to soon have a big problem. Big distributors have invested in their eCommerce platforms and are seeing growth and loyalty build in their customer base. But it is no longer just the usual suspects of Grainger, MSC, Watsco, and Ferguson. Big box retailers like Home Depot are […]

Small and mid-sized distributors, you CAN compete online

B2B e-commerce isn’t just for the biggest companies. Small and mid-size distributors and other business can build online sales if they follow the right steps, B2B e-commerce expert Justin King says. Most B2B companies are taking a hard look at their e-commerce and digital strategy. But most have realized that building an e-commerce site is […]

A new chapter, my own gig

6 years ago I was asked to join Endeca, the pioneer of on-site search and navigation, to bring a new commerce platform called hybris into North America. At the time, hybris had only one or two U.S. accounts and Endeca and hybris were to be a combined powerhouse in the burgeoning B2B eCommerce space. No one […]

Dear distributors, don’t over analyze, just START!

Most distributors are in the process of either starting an eCommerce initiative or improving an existing one. However, in the midst of process and following a plan, many distributors are getting bogged down in the minutia. The details tend to overwhelm and even paralyze them. My summary of this article – you don’t have to […]