FROM THE TOP
By Tom Griffin, CPMR – ERA President
As we enter our third year of hope that our businesses will begin recovery in Q4, we remember that “hope is not a strategy.” We wonder how much excess inventory could have been purchased in 2020 and 2021, and will it really all be consumed by Q4 2025?
We also remember that 2021 and 2022 were amazing sales years, as we enter the tariff economy and wonder what that will bring. The good news for the many manufacturers that were among nearly 700 attendees of this year’s ERA Conference in Austin is by virtue of their decision to outsource their sales force to manufacturers’ representatives, their cost-of-sales figures remain aligned with sales regardless of what happens. Speaking of the conference, the energy and enthusiasm were high, and the outlook encouraging.
The reviews were positive, and we are all looking forward to a new venue at the Hilton in downtown Austin in 2026. This year’s content continued to impress, and our commitment to an educational event with practical takeaways will continue in the new venue. The EDS Leadership Summit will again be at the wildly popular Resorts World on May 19-23, 2025.
After searching the country for an acceptable alternative to the week prior to Memorial Day, the EDS Board could find no alternative to Resorts World that could provide the number of suites at the budget we require. EDS will again offer the SPARK development program to help new, upand- coming professionals to grow their abilities and advance their careers in the electronic components industry. Remember, you must be a registered EDS attendee to attend any of the meetings at the EDS Leadership Summit.
Please visit edssummit.com for more information on EDS and Spark. Right now, the markets are tumbling, the excess customer inventory is extensive and the future is uncertain. The only remedy we have is to arm ourselves with preparation and education.
Thank you for attending the ERA Conference — we will see you at EDS!
> Hope is not a strategy
By Tom Griffin, CPMR – ERA President
As we enter our third year of hope that our businesses will begin recovery in Q4, we remember that “hope is not a strategy.” We wonder how much excess inventory could have been purchased in 2020 and 2021, and will it really all be consumed by Q4 2025?
We also remember that 2021 and 2022 were amazing sales years, as we enter the tariff economy and wonder what that will bring. The good news for the many manufacturers that were among nearly 700 attendees of this year’s ERA Conference in Austin is by virtue of their decision to outsource their sales force to manufacturers’ representatives, their cost-of-sales figures remain aligned with sales regardless of what happens. Speaking of the conference, the energy and enthusiasm were high, and the outlook encouraging.
The reviews were positive, and we are all looking forward to a new venue at the Hilton in downtown Austin in 2026. This year’s content continued to impress, and our commitment to an educational event with practical takeaways will continue in the new venue. The EDS Leadership Summit will again be at the wildly popular Resorts World on May 19-23, 2025.
After searching the country for an acceptable alternative to the week prior to Memorial Day, the EDS Board could find no alternative to Resorts World that could provide the number of suites at the budget we require. EDS will again offer the SPARK development program to help new, upand- coming professionals to grow their abilities and advance their careers in the electronic components industry. Remember, you must be a registered EDS attendee to attend any of the meetings at the EDS Leadership Summit.
Please visit edssummit.com for more information on EDS and Spark. Right now, the markets are tumbling, the excess customer inventory is extensive and the future is uncertain. The only remedy we have is to arm ourselves with preparation and education.
Thank you for attending the ERA Conference — we will see you at EDS!