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Insights & Updates
Product updates, industry insights, and best practices for steel service centers and metal distributors.
The Steel Distributor's Guide to Tariffs and Trade Policy
Section 232, anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties, and trade cases. What service center operators need to understand about trade policy.
How to Build a Culture of Accountability at a Steel Service Center
Accountability is not about blame. It is about every person in the organization knowing what they own, measuring whether they delivered, and caring enough to improve when they did not.
How to Build an Effective Inside Sales Team at a Steel Service Center
Inside sales is not a stepping stone to outside sales. It is a distinct role that requires specific skills, tools, and management. Done right, inside reps generate more revenue per dollar of compensation than any other position.
How EV Manufacturing Is Changing Steel Demand
Electric vehicles use different steel products than conventional cars. The shift to EVs is creating new demand for specific grades and forms that service centers should understand.
How to Train a New Warehouse Employee at a Steel Service Center
Training a new warehouse employee used to take 3 to 6 months of shadowing. Modern systems cut that to 4 to 6 weeks. Here is the training plan.
How Steel Service Centers Can Benefit From MSCI Membership
MSCI (Metals Service Center Institute) represents the majority of the North American metals distribution industry. For service centers that are not members, here is what you are missing.
How to Use Steel Futures and Hedging to Manage Price Risk
Steel futures on the CME allow service centers to lock in margins regardless of where spot prices go. Most distributors do not use them because they do not understand them. Here is the basics.
The Aging Workforce Problem and Why Technology Is the Only Answer
The average age of a steel service center employee keeps climbing. Younger workers are not lining up to learn a DOS-based inventory system from 1997.
How Inflation Affects Steel Service Center Economics
Rising costs across labor, energy, insurance, and interest rates compress service center margins even when steel prices are stable. Here is how to manage in an inflationary environment.
How to Price a Steel Blanket Order Without Losing Your Shirt
Blanket orders lock in pricing for months. In a volatile market, getting the terms wrong can cost or make you tens of thousands of dollars.
What We Learned Talking to 100 Steel Service Center Operators
A synthesis of patterns from conversations with service center operators. What keeps them up at night and what surprised us.
How to Set Up a Steel Service Center From Scratch
Starting a steel service center requires $2 to $5 million in capital, deep industry knowledge, and a plan for how you will differentiate in a crowded market. Here is what the plan looks like.