July 2007               return to newsletter contents page

PROFIT Survey to Return in 2008

AVDA will once again offer distributor members the opportunity to participate in the annual 2008 PROFIT Survey. One of the most important benefits AVDA members enjoy is the annual PROFIT Report. Conducted by Dr. Al Bates and the team at Profit Planning Group, the PROFIT Report is the best source for financial benchmarking information in the industry. The information in the report – on gross margin, operating expenses, average collection period and the like – is arranged to provide direct comparisons with your firm. However, the information is available only to those firms that participate in the study.

Attendees at the annual Profit Report review held at the AVDA 2007 Annual Conference last April rated the session as one that delivered some of the best information about how to distributors can improve their business’ profitability by a series of 1% improvements.

In return for your participation, you’ll receive:

• The PROFIT Report – A financial and operating profile of the entire industry.

• Profit Improvement Profile – A confidential report sent directly to you comparing your firm with similar businesses.

• Profit Toolkit Online – A Microsoft® Excel-based tutorial which is designed to assist your financial planning. Access is included with the Profit Improvement Profile.

The detailed industry benchmarking information in the PROFIT Report and in your Profit Improvement Profile is available to AVDA members for only $850. New members who have not previously participated will receive the discounted rate of $425. This is a fantastic bargain.

Be assured that your proprietary company data is kept strictly confidential. The information is aggregated with the other respondents and analyzed in terms of sales size, line of business, and the like. Only the employees of Profit Planning Group ever see your individual data. In over 20 years of conducting such surveys, they have an unblemished record of maintaining confidentiality.

Look for your survey in the mail in late January 2008.