Salutation to Innovation

Happy New Year and welcome to FTG Insights, our new blog for clients, potential clients, business partners, and friends.

Jimmy Haverstick

It seems like yesterday that Chris Glaser and I sketched out a plan to provide a new business intelligence platform for the animal health industry. A decade later, Focus Technology Group is going strong providing dynamic solutions to real business needs for more than 50 clients in four industries—animal health, pet specialty, agriculture, and healthcare. We are grateful for your business and the opportunity to help you grow!

Innovation. That is why it is fun to work at FTG. We have great people, great ideas, and great clients, and we enjoy creating new tools to solve problems. At FTG we demand innovation from our people and require it for our clients. We will always challenge the status quo, provide new ways to do old things, and present solutions to problems previously unsolved.

To that end, 2012 will be a very exciting year for innovation at FTG. We plan to launch new products like:

• Astro Loyalty, a mobile app loyalty program for pet owners. 
• Geotastic, a GIS data analytics and mapping solution for better business decision-making.

Plus, we will release enhanced versions of current products such as ChannelLink, our versatile marketing automation system for optimizing channel sales performance.

Our success at FTG is measured by your success. As a client of FTG, you can always rely on us for services and solutions that will constantly help you adapt to challenges and elevate your business to new heights.

Please take a moment to read through our blog and see if anything captures your attention. Thank you for your business and we hope to see you at the upcoming trade shows in 2012.

Best regards,

Jimmy Haverstick

CEO, Focus Technology Group

FTG empowers Independent Pet Retailers

Is it David vs. Goliath? Mass retailers in all industries serve a purpose, and yes, I do shop at many of these outlets from time to time. But I also frequent my local hardware store and independent pet retailer, Highland Pet Supply.

Why? It’s more convenient, they know me, and I believe it’s a good thing to have these stores thriving in my neighborhood.


What does it mean to the industry? Consumers spend more than $10 billion annually on pet supplies and over-the-counter pet medicines, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA). Industry sales are roughly distributed 70% to big box retailers, such as Wal-Mart and Target, and 30% to niche pet retailers, specialty chains, and mom-and-pop stores.

Most manufacturers understand that independent pet retail remains a critical sales channel for pushing products to pet owners. Distributor partners are counting on it. At the independent pet retailer, margins are generally better. Plus, independents are not as fickle as buyers at mass retailers and they really appreciate your efforts to help them provide great products and service to their customers.

What is the strategy? We at FTG have a suite of products and services that bring clarity and actionable information to an otherwise chaotic independent pet retail supply chain. FTG provides access to distributor sales data that helps manufacturers understand their customers and make better decisions for attaining operational efficiencies and growing the business.

Also, FTG’s marketing automation suite, ChannelLink, allows manufacturers to easily connect with their channel partners for administering marketing and incentive programs, providing dynamic online product training, and measuring results—all from a user-friendly, cloud-based web platform.

With the right tools and technology, pet specialty products manufacturers can cost-effectively drive sales through the independents, while still serving the mass retailers.

Jimmy Haverstick
CEO, Focus Technology Group

FTG Solutions

Focus Technology Group provides customers with leading edge cloud-based products, tools and solutions for managing data, driving sales revenue, and streamlining operations.

FocusEDI ➤ Quality Data Management & Exchange

FocusAnalytics ➤ Business Intelligence Tools, Data Mining

FocusCRM ➤ Salesforce Automation System

"FocusCRM is very valuable and helpful for Dechra as our main sales contact management and reporting tool. As always, top notch from your FTG group!"
--  Will Valentine, Western Regional Manager,                                       DECHRA VETERINARY PRODUCTS

FocusGIS ➤ Mapping Analytics

Market Research ➤ Market Intelligence & Analysis

AstroLoyalty ➤ Mobile App Loyalty Program for Pet Owners

ChannelLink ➤ Marketing Automation System & B2B Email Platform