How would you rate the state of the industry? Up-due to increased pet populations, overall pet spending and recent strength in some livestock trends. Down- due to decreased veterinary visits, consumer-based pricing concerns, and consolidation leading to job losses. Lots of mixed signals.
One area that seems to be growing is an explosion of industry groups. There are now associations related to therapeutic categories, groups related to women in the industry, those serving hospitals from accountants and architects to software providers and HR professionals. Undoubtedly, efforts to attract interest from outside the industry’s traditional core are paying off.
We’ve also seen a realignment of conference activity. While some local conferences have shrunk or disappeared, others have emerged. One incomplete list notes about 40 veterinary clinic focused conferences this year alone. And that doesn’t include livestock-related conferences or those focused on the ancillary areas supporting the broader animal health industry.
One that is coming soon is the August Nashville conference organized by Viticus Group, the company behind the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. What’s motivating this bold move? Is it addressing an unmet need? Will a central US location later in the year offer an attractive option? We at Brakke are curious to see the attendance and energy that this debut conference brings.
Jeff Santosuosso
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