Survey results from MyBuys and the e-tailing group reveal customer-centric marketing - the ability to engage consumers in one-to-one conversations across the customer lifecycle and all touch points - increases buyer readiness, engagement and sales activity.

A manufacturing renaissance is taking place in the United States. According to a recent MIT study, 14 percent of manufacturers have made definite plans to move some of their currently offshore production back stateside. An additional 30 percent are considering it. The common term being used for this is reshoring. The reshoring trend is growing and can garner goodwill with domestic customers, consumers and even legislators. But any careful decision to reshore or expand domestic manufacturing capacity will be predicated on goodwill benefits and growing profitability.

In a move to attract the brainpower and creativity of the next generation, and draw them into manufacturing, ThomasNet has announced what it calls the North American Manufacturing Scholarship Program. Up to 30 graduating high school seniors with an interest in manufacturing careers will each receive a $1,000 scholarship to pursue studies at a two-year or four-year college, or a vocational-technical school.

Results published by the Canadian General Freight Index (CGFI) indicate that the total cost of ground transportation for Canadian shippers increased by .575 percent in January when compared with December results.