Recession? What recession?

摘要

Industrial distribution's Big 50 distributorships took various paths to increased sales in 2007 and, except for those primarily serving the construction market, most said the economic downturn hasn't severely affected their businesses. "We're just not seeing the softness that everyone keeps talking about," says Steve Cloud, president of IBT, No. 41 on our Big 50 list. Cloud isn't alone in his assessment of the economy. Jim Timble, chairman of Bearing Headquarters (No. 49), is even more blunt. "I think all this recession talk is more election-oriented than anything," he says. "We don't think the downturn will affect the industrial sector." Other executives used terms such as "solid year" and "very satisfied" when asked to assess 2007 and the start of 2008. Russ Frazee, COO at FCx Performance (No. 42), which sells instrumentation, gauges, fittings and related products, says 2007 was a "very strong year" and that 2008 is shaping up even better. He says he sees no signs of a recession, at least in the market sectors FCx sells into, which include the chemical, refining and pharmaceutical industries. "Business is there," he says. "You've just got to go get it.