One of the keys to long-term business success is listening to your customers. AVL – Solvet is a new Canadian animal health company based in Calgary. Drs Merle and Barbara Olson credit their company’s success by staying in touch with their customers in search of “new solutions to old problems.”
In 2004, Merle and Barbara made a team decision to take early retirement from their research roles at the University of Calgary and jump to the private sector. As Dr Olson now jokes, “Our retirement project has definitely gotten out of hand!”
AVL – Solvet specializes in meeting the pharmaceutical needs of Canadian livestock producers. To accomplish this, they have adopted a unique business model. Dr Olson describes it as a company built on inverting the traditional product development approach. It works based on providing solutions to the needs of our customers instead of from a “top-down” product pipeline hoping to fit a customer’s need.
Another example of Innovation by Request is their Copper Hoof Treatment, a copper-based solution to treat thrush and to toughen hooves. We received a request to create a hoof treatment that adheres better and is easy to apply. Our solution was a thicker viscosity product that provides better adherence and comes in a leak-proof squeeze bottle.
“We feel privileged to work in the Canadian Agribusiness with so many great people – both our employees as well as the clients we serve. Providing solutions and serving the industry we love is something that motivates us every day,” comments Dr Barbara Olson.
Have an idea for a new product? Visit https://avetlabs.com or https://solvet.ca and provide your thoughts in the “Contact Us” section.