Distribution Talk

How cross-industry conversations help distribution professionals solve what's next On this episode of Distribution Talk, Jason welcomes back his friend and colleague Marshall Jones of Connected Peers, the virtual network they co-founded to encourage professional, productive relationships within the distribution community. This year, Marshall has taken over the program full-time, allowing Jason to focus his attention elsewhere (hello, AI!). AI has touched nearly every Connected Peers forum in 2026. While many distributors are cautiously experimenting with using AI for marketing and low-stakes planning, Marshall notes that some forum members are getting more curious about the tech and bringing their cohorts along. Recent discussions include: How do we utilize AI inside our WMS? How do we integrate AI agents into our customer service protocol? Which AI-driven packages are best for bolting onto the ERPs we already use? CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH MARSHALL LinkedIn Connected Peers *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth, and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited by The Creative Impostor Studios Special thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Motivate, INxSQL, and Connected Peers.

Selling your company is one of the most challenging aspects of owning a business. In this revisited episode, longtime colleague and Distribution Team Senior Advisor Marshall Jones shares his firsthand perspective on the mental, emotional, and procedural challenges of a business sale. Jason and Marshall review a client case study highlighting critical aspects of securing a successful (and profitable!) sale and tips for avoiding deal-breaking pitfalls. CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH MARSHALL LinkedIn *** For full show notes and services visit: https://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth, and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited by The Creative Impostor Studios Special thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Moblico, INxSQL, and Profit2.

Many distributors fall into the habit of making inventory decisions by gut instinct. Understandable? Yes, considering the vast amounts of historical data that purchasing teams must weigh against future marketplace volatility. Unavoidable? Also yes! Especially when purpose-built AI tools exist. Jason caught up with Conor Leen, co-founder and president of Lantern, to learn about the company's cutting-edge forecasting methodology and solutions to perennial supply chain pain points like overbuying, missed seasonal stock opportunities, and branch allocation mismanagement. The pair also discuss Lantern's "distribution first" origin story and service-oriented company culture. CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH CONOR Lantern LinkedIn *** For full show notes and services visit: https://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth, and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited by The Creative Impostor Studios Special thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Motivate, INxSQL, and Connected Peers.

What can distribution warehouse operators learn from the Roman Empire and United States Marine Corps? More than you might think, says Will Quinn, aka The Distribution Guy®. Jason caught up with Will to discuss the evolution of modern warehouse functionality and pragmatic strategies for improving company performance at the ground-level––from receiving and slotting to picking and packing. Will also shares insights from his latest book, Modern Warehouse Management: Steel-Toed Leadership That Drives Performance, a must-read field guide for distribution center leaders, warehouse managers, and frontline supervisors. CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH WILL The Distribution Guy® LinkedIn *** For full show notes and services visit: https://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth, and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited by The Creative Impostor Studios Special thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Moblico, INxSQL, and Profit2

It seems like everyone is using artificial intelligence these days, maybe even your top competitor. But widespread enthusiasm shouldn't deter you from putting AI tools through their paces. Nor should naysayers convince you that the tech is just a fad. So, how do you partner with AI to create distribution-focused solutions without abdicating your innate human expertise? You start by building better AI prompts. In this solo episode of Distribution Talk, host Jason Bader shares insights from his evolving relationship with generative AI, offering pragmatic tips for business owners and execs who want to gain confidence using models like Claude and ChatGPT. He also provides advice for avoiding the "machine mindset" trap—expecting predictable, repeatable outputs when using AI. For full show notes and services visit: https://www.distributionteam.com CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth, and achieve personal goals. This episode was edited by The Creative Impostor Studios Special thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Motivate, INxSQL, and Connected Peers.