Claim OwnershipAround the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast
Subscribed: 6Played: 57
Subscribe
© 2025 Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast
Description
Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution is the weekly podcast sponsored by LeadSmart Technologies that takes a deep dive into the topics impacting manufacturers, wholesale distribution, independent sales agents, and the global wholesale supply chain.
Hosted by Kevin Brown, a 30-year veteran of wholesale distribution, and Tom Burton, a recognized thought leader in SaaS platforms for distributors, each episode reveals a unique perspective and valuable information about wholesale distribution. Debuting in February 2023, the ATHIWD podcast springboards from Kevin & Tom's popular LinkedIn and Facebook Live shows, bringing their industry insights to a wider audience.
Whether it's M&A, SaaS and cloud computing, B2B e-Commerce or supply chain issues, we peel back the onion into the topics that impact your business most.
128 Episodes
Reverse
Is the Fed too late to cut rates—and what does it mean for distributors? In this episode of Around The Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the week’s economic headlines and explore how interest rate cuts, tariffs, and global supply chain volatility are reshaping the manufacturing and wholesale distribution landscape. From AI-driven sales playbooks to the hidden risks in employment data, Kevin and Tom reveal the trends that matter most for distributors, manu...
What happens when AI adoption, tariffs, and interest rate cuts collide with the future of wholesale distribution? In this lively episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton tackle the jobs report, the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling, and why AI regulation needs a federal playbook, not 50 state ones. You’ll learn how LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ is cracking the code on CRM adoption, why decentralized data may surface economic truth faster than the Fed, and what e...
What do college football, tariffs, and AI pilots gone wrong have in common? In this week’s Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton connect cultural trends, economic contradictions, and digital transformation in wholesale distribution. From the E³ Model (Experience, Efficiency, Effectiveness) to LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ and the failure rate of corporate AI pilots, this episode explores why distributors must move from siloed data to customer intelligence platforms ...
What happens when AI-driven workflows, tariff pressures, and shifting B2B buyer expectations collide? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton explore the trends redefining distribution: from AI co-pilots for sales and customer intelligence platforms to Fed rate cuts, tariff extensions, and the rise of Millennial and Gen Z buyers. You’ll learn why reframing CRM as a Customer Enablement Tool is critical, and how distributors can prepare for agent...
Is your CRM really driving revenue growth, or just storing notes no one reads? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton pull back the curtain on how AI-enabled customer intelligence platforms like LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ are transforming sales enablement, workflow automation, and decision-making in distribution. You’ll hear fresh economic insights, a candid look at tariff strategy, and why agentic AI workflows could be the future of...
When the U.S. jobs report is off by tens of thousands, what does that mean for leaders in wholesale distribution? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton break down the latest economic numbers—and why massive revisions to jobs data should concern every distributor, manufacturer, and revenue leader. Beyond the headlines, they explore how faulty metrics distort strategy, trigger bad decisions, and create pressure across supply chains and sales teams. But it’s not just about problems. The ho...
Is your business ready for the AI economy, tariff turbulence, and the rapid rise of programmable payments? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, co-founders Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the week's most pressing trends, from stablecoin legislation to humanoid robotics, from AI-fueled job disruption to smart supply chain control towers. Perfect for manufacturers, distributors, and B2B leaders navigating the evolving intersection of tech, trade, and trust, this episo...
What happens when data-driven decision-making meets the chaos of tariffs, AI disruption, and a retiring workforce? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton sit down with Mark Gilham of Enable to unpack the big shifts impacting manufacturers, distributors, and the global supply chain. From trade policy to pricing strategy, sales transformation to skilled labor shortages, this wide-ranging episode explores how wholesale leaders can future-proof their organizations using AI-enabled tools, sma...
What do tariffs, AI adoption, and digital readiness have in common? They’re all reshaping the future of wholesale distribution. In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the forces shaping the industry from rising cybersecurity threats to the real reason distributors aren’t seeing results from generative AI tools. This episode blends actionable economic insights with digital transformation strategy and is a must-listen for Revenue Le...
What if the economic slowdown didn’t spell disaster—but a window of opportunity? In this episode, Senior Economist Taylor St. Germain of ITR Economics joins the show to unpack what a “soft landing” really means for distributors—and how to strategically navigate uncertainty, inflation moderation, and shifting customer demand without panic or paralysis. If you're a distributor wondering how to protect margins, forecast accurately, or align your strategy to economic signals, this con...
How will distributors thrive in the age of digital transformation, AI disruption, and customer experience redefinition? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Ian Heller sits down with John Gunderson and Kevin to unpack the seismic shifts reshaping B2B sales strategy, channel alignment, and customer segmentation. With insightful commentary and bold predictions, the team explores the future of CRM-ERP integration, why distributors must evolve beyond legacy thinking, and ...
How are global supply chains bouncing back amid recession fears, and what role does generative AI play in rewriting the future of B2B sales, marketing, and cybersecurity? In Episode 146 of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton of LeadSmart Technologies unpack the economic shifts, digital commerce trends, and AI-infused transformations shaping the future of manufacturing and distribution. From tariffs and freight to text-based orders and AI-powered s...
What happens when a fourth-generation industrial distributor embraces digital transformation? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are joined by Max Meister of Ludwig Meister GmbH to explore what it really takes to modernize sales, systems, and mindsets in a legacy-driven industry. From CRM reimagination to cultural adoption strategies, this episode is a masterclass in building a future-ready distribution business without losing your human edge. What You’ll Learn&nbs...
Are U.S. tariffs helping or hurting your business model? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unravel the legal, economic, and operational chaos triggered by shifting U.S. tariffs, AI adoption, and distribution tech disruptions. From trade court rulings to Mexico’s manufacturing boom, they explore what every distributor, manufacturer, and channel leader needs to know to navigate today’s volatility with foresight and resilience. W...
What happens when wholesale distribution meets a shifting global economy, AI-driven technology, and a full-court press on organic growth? In this extended episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, co-hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are joined by industry leader Paul Kennedy, President & CEO of DSG and Chair of NAED. Together, they dive into the economic, geopolitical, and operational dynamics shaking up manufacturing and distribution in 2024. 💡 What You’ll Learn: How tari...
In this dynamic episode of Around The Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton dive deep into the critical shifts happening in the global economy, supply chain volatility, AI’s role in distribution, and how forward-thinking companies are thriving amid uncertainty. With Kevin just back from Denver following the SHIFT event hosted by Modern Distribution Management and the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, the conversation is rich with fresh insights,...
Are We on the Brink of a Tariff Reversal...or Global Supply Chain Shock? In this special episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Tom Burton and Kevin Brown unpack one of the most urgent developments in global trade: the escalating U.S. tariff war and its potential impact on supply chains, wholesale distributors, and global markets. Broadcast early to accommodate Kevin’s work with the University of California Irvine’s entrepreneurship program, this “shortened” but ins...
In this power-packed episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are joined by AI strategist Brooks Hamilton for a deep dive into the forces reshaping the global supply chain, manufacturing, and distribution landscape. Broadcasting during one of the most turbulent economic moments in recent memory, the trio breaks down the immediate and long-term effects of shifting tariffs, AI adoption, and digital transformation on the B2B ecosystem. Brooks brings...
So this whole tariff thing is no big deal, right? This week, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton take you through the evolving landscape of tariffs, supply chains, international trade dynamics, and their ripple effects on the wholesale distribution and manufacturing sectors. Against a backdrop of shifting policies between the U.S. and China, the hosts deliver a candid analysis of how these global changes translate into real-world impacts — from supply chain adjustments to pricing pressures and econo...
In this powerhouse episode of Around The Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton welcome back Economist and Analytics Expert Alex Chausovsky from the Bundy Group for a deep dive into the macroeconomic forces shaking up the world of wholesale distribution. With 7 keynotes in 7 days, Alex brings timely, boots-on-the-ground insight into what industry leaders are thinking, fearing, and forecasting. The trio takes on the “Big Four” disruptors—tariffs, inflation, recession...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States