February Newsletter
Here’s what you’ll learn about in this month’s newsletter:
- Save the Date – eBiz 2026!
- Don’t Miss Your Chance to Register for this Webinar: Syndicate Smarter – Streamlining Product Content with IDEA & Bluemeteor for Grainger
- Announcing IDEA Board of Directors Transitions
- Honoring Digital Innovator Phil Barrios
- What’s New in the IDEA Connector?
- Follow us on LinkedIn and Subscribe on YouTube
Save the Date: eBiz 2026
September 29 – October 1
Denver, CO
At eBiz 2026, you’ll join leaders, innovators, and digital commerce experts from across the electrical industry and beyond for three days of insight-driven sessions, roundtable discussions, hands-on breakout workshops, and powerful networking opportunities designed to elevate your business in the B2B digital commerce landscape.
Whether you’re focused on digital transformation, data excellence, or next-gen business strategies, this is THE event to connect, learn, and grow alongside peers and industry trailblazers.
More details and registration coming soon! Bookmark the eBiz 2026 website and check back often for updates.
Listing products on Grainger doesn’t have to mean rebuilding product data from scratch. In this 40-minute session, we’ll show how electrical manufacturers can leverage the data they already send to IDEA Connector to accelerate Grainger listings allowing you to:
- Cut Rework
- Shorten New Product Introductions
- Improve Data Quality Across Attributes, Assets, and Packaging
Join us to learn how this unified approach is optimizing product content delivery, accelerating readiness, and driving impact across the supply chain.
IDEA Board of Directors Transitions
IDEA recently announced updates to its Board of Directors, marking the retirement of two respected industry leaders and the appointment of new board officers.
George Vorwick, President and CEO of United Electric Supply, and Bill Waltz, President and CEO of Atkore, have stepped down from the Board as they enter retirement. We thank them for their years of leadership, guidance, and steadfast support of IDEA.
We are pleased to welcome Sam Chambers, Vice President of Lutron Electronics, and Stephan Fulop, Chief Product & Technology Officer of DSG, as new Board Officers. Their expertise in product, technology, and digital strategy will further strengthen IDEA’s mission and ensure continued alignment with the evolving needs of the industry.
Honoring Digital Innovator Phil Barrios
Long before digital commerce accelerated and product data became a strategic priority, Phil Barrios was already charting the path forward. His vision for structured, standardized information helped shape the digital capabilities the electrical industry relies on today. IDEA thanks Phil for his Influence and dedication to the channel and recognizes him as a Digital Innovator.
What’s New in the IDEA Connector?
No Surprises: Why Advance Pricing Matters
As the new year begins, pricing updates are a reality across the industry. Distributors rely on manufacturers to provide accurate, timely product data and pricing so they can keep their systems, sales teams, and customers aligned. When pricing is delivered through the IDEA Connector, updates flow smoothly into distributor systems using a standardized format, making implementation faster and far less disruptive.
Your Voice Matters and We Want to Hear It
We’re expanding our customer User Group to create more opportunities for open dialogue, collaboration, and feedback. These focus group sessions give customers a direct line into our roadmap and help ensure we’re building solutions that support real‑world distributor and manufacturer needs.