questions is “Yes!”, then AVDA’s 2006 Annual Conference is the place for you.  DETAILS

Why Should Someone Do Business with You Instead of Someone Else?

Our 2006 Annual Conference is around the corner and Sam Geist will be presenting on the topic of Why Should Someone Do Business with You Instead of Someone Else. Sam is a professional speaker, consultant and facilitator for companies across North and South America. His programs offer tangible solutions and thought provoking discussion. It is his goal to stimulate thought and to help energize your efforts in managing your business.

 In an effort to assist Sam in the customization of his program, he has asked you all to respond to the following two questions:

1. Why should someone do business with you... rather than someone else?

2. If there was one thing in your business environment you would like to see change, what would it be?

Please send your responses directly to Sam at sam@geistgroup.com no later than Monday, April 3, 2006. All responses will be held in the strictest of confidence. Your input will help make the program more relevant to AVDA attendees and you are encouraged to participate and be as open as honest as possible.

Click here if you're interested, you can preview some of Sam's previous work.

Deadline Approaching for 2nd Annual AVDA Supplier Awards Program

Last year AVDA introduced a brand new recognition program for animal health product manufacturers who excel at helping distributors service veterinarians and animal health clinics. Our inaugural awards program proved to be a tremendous success; popular with all AVDA members. The deadline for entries this year is March 24.  DETAILS

AVDA Membership Soars with the Addition of Seven New Members  

AVDA added seven members to the organization since the last issue of The Animal Health Distributor. DETAILS

AVDA MEMBER NEWS

Henry Schein Enters Agreement to Acquire NLS Animal Health

Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), the largest provider of healthcare products and services to office-based practitioners in the combined North American and European markets, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire NLS Animal Health, a privately held, full-service veterinary distribution business, based in Owings Mills, Maryland. DETAILS

Patterson Companies Reports Improved Third Quarter Sales and Earnings  

Patterson Companies, Inc. (Nasdaq:PDCO) reported consolidated sales of $682,402,000 for the third quarter of fiscal 2006 ended January 28, an increase of 7% from $638,005,000 in the year-earlier quarter. Excluding the impact of two acquisitions earlier in fiscal 2006, internally-generated sales rose approximately 4%.  DETAILS

AVDA FINANCIAL NEWS

Sales Force Pricing: The Stockholm Syndrome

Currently, virtually every sales force in distribution demonstrates behavior almost identical to the Stockholm Syndrome by cutting prices for customers. They do so, not because they have been physically kidnapped, but because they are swayed by a strong identification with customers. The negative financial impact on distributors is nothing short of enormous. DETAILS

AVDA Distributors Talk About Pedigree Preparation 

AVDA distributor members were surveyed in December 2005 about how prepared they were to comply with the various pedigree laws that have been enacted in states where they do business. The results show that AVDA members are just beginning to understand the complexity of the problems associated with compliance with a myriad of laws in the states. Forty-five percent of AVDA distributor members responded to the survey. DETAILS

AVDA's Florida Pedigree Legislation is on a Roll

With two weeks of the nine week legislative session over, House Bill (HB)685 and Senate Bill (SB)1540 are both being heard in their respective houses with lightening speed! These bills were drafted with the assistance of AVDA members and AVDA’s lobbyist in Florida, Capital Ideas. DETAILS