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11 Distribution Industry Events To Attend This Year

Top Distribution Industry Events To Attend This Year

As your 2025 calendar begins to fill up, it’s important to take time to connect with industry peers and make meaningful connections. Conferences and industry events are essential for anyone looking to stay ahead in distribution. 

With conferences tailored to specific distribution sectors, these events offer chances for networking, educational sessions, and product showcases to inspire growth and unlock new opportunities for your business.

Why Attend?

Participating in industry events gives you access to expert-led workshops for hands-on learning with like-minded peers facing similar challenges. These gatherings expose you to new ideas, allow you to enhance existing relationships and expand your professional network, all of which can be critical for long-term success. 

Additionally, they introduce audiences to practical applications for new and upcoming tools and technologies specific to their day-to-day work. For instance, there was much discussion and hype surrounding AI in 2024, and we expect those conversations to only accelerate. 

We found distribution conferences to be some of the best places to learn and share best practices for distributors to apply AI tools to their customer interactions in a realistic and beneficial way with a minimal learning curve.

Whether you’re looking for strategic insights, practical solutions, or inspiration, these conferences deliver on all fronts.

Who Should Attend?

These events are tailored for professionals in various roles across the distribution sector, including:

  • Sales and Marketing Directors: Discover strategies to foster growth and optimize customer engagement.
  • Executives and Decision Makers: Stay informed about industry trends to steer your company toward success.
  • Tech Leaders: Explore cutting-edge tools and other innovations both transforming the industry and enhancing organizational security.
  • Operations and Supply Chain Managers: Gain insights into improving operational efficiency.

How To Prepare

To make the most of your time at these events, consider these tips and best practices:

  • Set Clear Goals: Decide what you hope to achieve—whether it’s learning a new skill, meeting potential partners, or finding a specific solution for your business.
  • Research in Advance: Familiarize yourself with the event schedule, keynote speakers, and breakout sessions to prioritize your time effectively.
  • Plan Your Networking Strategy: Bring plenty of business cards, update your LinkedIn profile, and identify key attendees you’d like to connect with.
  • Engage Actively: Ask questions, participate in workshops, and be present during networking sessions.
  • Document What You’ve Learned: Take detailed notes and photos to share insights with your team post-event.

Top Distribution Events in 2025

We recommend considering the following events depending on your particular area of business, 2025 goals, and industry memberships:

National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) 2025 Eastern Regional Conference
February 17-19 | Tampa, Florida
This is a must-attend event for electrical distribution professionals, featuring keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities ideally tailored to managers and leadership teams.

National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) Annual Conference
February 25-27 | Tuscon, Arizona
NFPA offers numerous fluid power events throughout the year, from large tradeshows to smaller virtual meetings. White Cup is thrilled to join the yearly conference as new members of this pivotal group for fluid power manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers.
Read the announcement

Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA)’s Distribution Management Conference and Expo
March 2-5 | Tampa, Florida
The largest educational event for healthcare supply chain professionals, this expo offers educational sessions and a large showcase of cutting-edge supply chain services.

TUG CONNECTS 2025
April 14-17 | Austin, Texas
A collaborative event for users of Infor Distribution ERP, this conference emphasizes technology solutions for distribution businesses.

NAHAD Meeting & Convention
April 12-15 | Tampa, Florida
The premier event for hose and accessories distribution professionals, this conference delivers networking opportunities, supplier showcases, and industry insights.

Epicor Insights 2025
May 5-8 | Las Vegas, Nevada
From more than 45 elite, intensive training sessions to over 3,000 like-minded industry peers in attendance, this is an essential event for any distributor looking to maximize the value of their ERP.

MDM SHIFT 2025
May 13-15 | Denver, Colorado
Modern Distribution Management’s popular SHIFT event will focus on hybrid sales, culture, and digital breakthroughs. This year, attendees will engage in targeted strategy discussions through new NAW Executive Roundtables alongside the usual mainstage and breakout sessions.
Check out our previous MDM SHIFT event takeaways.

Applied AI for Distributors
June 24–26 | Chicago, Illinois
While others are still planning their AI strategies, join industry innovators to explore how AI is driving competitive advantage now. Gain actionable insights to implement AI within your sales, marketing, and leadership strategy today.

P21WWUG CONNECT 2025
August 17-19 | Dallas, Texas
Considered the essential gathering for Prophet 21 users, this large-scale conference offers peer discussions, vendor showcases, and workshops to improve distribution strategies.

HARDI Focus
Sept. 9-11 | New Orleans, Louisiana
Tailored for HVACR distribution leaders, this event delivers council-driven insights on sales, marketing, and supply chain strategies. Key themes include A2L transitions, profit margin management, and eCommerce optimization.

ISSA Show North America
November 10-13 | Las Vegas, Nevada
A premier trade show for the cleaning industry, the International Sanitary Supply Association’s annual event showcases the latest innovations in cleaning products, tools, and services.

Check out our coverage on AI in cleaning distribution for ISSA/Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

What To Do When the Event Is Over

After attending, keep the momentum going with these best practices:

  • Share Your Takeaways: Host a post-event meeting with your team to discuss key takeaways and how to implement them.
  • Plan for the Next Event: Review what worked well this time and identify areas for improvement in your preparation for future events.

White Cup team networking with business leaders at various distribution industry events

Connect With White Cup

In addition to many of the great events above, we’ll attend AHTD‘s seasonal meetings throughout 2025, as well as the upcoming gathering for Eclipse users (dates TBD). Connect with White Cup to book time to meet with us face-to-face at our upcoming events! We’d love to connect with you to discuss your goals, walk you through our platform, and give you a sneak peek at what we’ve got up our sleeves for 2025. 

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