Exclusive Insights To The State of Wholesale Distribution and Manufacturing from Dr. Shawn DuBravac

In this very special episode of Around The Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin and Tom welcome renowned economist Dr. Shawn DuBravac, a former Chief Economist for the Consumer Technology Association and founder of Avrio Institute.

Sean brings a wealth of knowledge on global markets, economic forecasting, and technology trends that impact wholesale distribution, manufacturing, and financial decision-making. Together, they break down inflation, consumer confidence, trade policies, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and nearshoring trends, offering strategic insights for business leaders navigating uncertain times.

If you're a wholesaler, distributor, manufacturer, or industry executive, this episode delivers expert-level economic perspectives and actionable business strategies to help you prepare for shifts in global trade, tariffs, and economic headwinds.

Key Topics covered in this episode:

✅ Consumer Confidence Is Dropping—But Why?

✅ Tariffs, Trade, and Policy Uncertainty Are Impacting Business Decisions

✅ Nearshoring & Onshoring Are on the Rise

✅ AI & Technology Are Driving Efficiency in Distribution

✅ The Next 12 Months Are Critical for Economic Strategy

Chapters & Timestamps

📌 [00:00] Welcome & Guest Introduction – Kevin and Tom introduce Sean, an economist and keynote speaker with expertise in global markets and trade policy.

📌 [07:10] Consumer Confidence Is Plummeting—What’s Behind the Drop? – Understanding why consumer sentiment is declining and what businesses can expect.

📌 [15:25] Inflation, Pricing Trends & The Role of Government Policy – How trade policies, interest rates, and inflation concerns are shaping distribution.

📌 [22:50] Tariffs & Global Trade: What’s Changing? – Analyzing the impact of 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and potential trade wars with Europe.

📌 [32:15] Nearshoring & Onshoring: A Growing Trend in Manufacturing – Why US manufacturers are shifting production to Mexico and Latin America.

📌 [40:45] Rare Earth Minerals & The US-China Trade Battle – How the global race for critical minerals is reshaping geopolitics and supply chains.

📌 [50:10] The Impact of Automation & AI in Distribution – Exploring AI-driven sales strategies, inventory management, and predictive analytics.

📌 [1:02:30] Port Strikes, Supply Chain Disruptions & The Future of Logistics – How automation in shipping and warehousing is affecting distribution.

📌 [1:15:05] Economic Forecast for 2025 & How Businesses Can Prepare – Sean shares his predictions for the next 12 months and how companies can stay ahead.

📌 [1:28:20] Closing Thoughts & Where to Connect with Sean – Final takeaways and how to follow Sean for more economic insights.

Connect with Dr. Shawn DuBravac at The Avrio Institute: 

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