But if you remove sales-related travel, which I believe is contributing to the improved signings we've experienced in 2024, then remaining spending on non-sales travel, meals, and supplies was down 8.7%. Viewed in this context, we believe we are effectively managing expenses and expect to leverage when growth accelerates.

Oct 11, 2024 / CFO / receipt, needs a key / Holden Lewis, CFO | earnings call 2024-10-11 | transcript bb359660-dc0d-452b-a0fd-fdf4b80e284f | chars 17767-18090 | segment 18

First, we continue to make investments in travel, hardware, and personnel to support near and intermediate-term growth. This won't necessarily be to any greater degree than was true in the first quarter of 2024, but it was a reason for deleverage in the period and could be again if growth doesn't accelerate in the second quarter.

Apr 11, 2024 / CFO / receipt, needs a key / Holden Lewis, CFO | earnings call 2024-04-11 | transcript 14b90054-3ba2-4511-bf47-d669ec668418 | chars 12500-12831 | segment 12

For instance, more favorable comparisons and good expense discipline produced flattish costs and modest leverage around selling-related transportation, information technology, and spending on travel, meals, and supplies.

Jan 18, 2024 / CFO / receipt, needs a key / Holden Lewis, CFO | earnings call 2024-01-18 | transcript b38a3930-26f6-495b-af7c-8767a5993409 | chars 16102-16322 | segment 16

Relative to the second quarter of 2023, the organization tightened its management of discretionary expenses, with spending on travel, meals, and supplies being down 0.6% year-to-year, and continued moderation of growth in our FTE count.

Oct 12, 2023 / CFO / receipt, needs a key / Holden Lewis, CFO | earnings call 2023-10-12 | transcript 27a97b3e-718b-47f0-818c-c6e5ed6e82c5 | chars 16467-16703 | segment 16

Other operating expenses benefited from lower bad debt costs, lower selling-related transportation costs, and higher profits from asset sales, which was largely offset by higher costs for IT, general insurance, and sales-related travel.

Apr 13, 2023 / CFO / receipt, needs a key / Holden Lewis, CFO | earnings call 2023-04-13 | transcript 006bb092-7e0f-4b1f-a018-ad0c61f25527 | chars 13800-14036 | segment 14

Other operating expenses reflected increases in selling related transportation costs, including fuel, and further increases in spending on travel and supplies.

Jul 13, 2022 / CFO / receipt, needs a key / Holden Lewis, CFO | earnings call 2022-07-13 | transcript cca9ee22-83e1-465a-af92-f031e73858ad | chars 14109-14268 | segment 14

For instance, we are seeing a 40% increase in incentive pay But we're also seeing a 50% increase in fuel costs, a 165% increase in travel expenses, and a 45% increase in healthcare costs.

Oct 12, 2021 / CFO / receipt, needs a key / Holden Lewis, CFO | earnings call 2021-10-12 | transcript 97f67288-2fa6-4765-9a20-e0e6eaa698bc | chars 20538-20725 | segment 21

We also leveraged occupancy on lower branch count and vending costs, as well as other expenses on tight control of travel, lower freight costs as we rationalized our branch pickup fleet, and lower insurance costs.

Jan 20, 2021 / CFO / receipt, needs a key / Holden Lewis, CFO | earnings call 2021-01-20 | transcript 914d2be2-272a-4fb9-b39d-921dccdc51f6 | chars 22555-22768 | segment 22