TAMPA, Fla., Feb 5, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Agreement Includes Development, Maintenance and Hosting of FVMA's Web

Site, Preferred Pricing for FVMA Members' Sites,
and Other Practice Development Tools

The 2,000-plus member Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA) has selected veterinarian owned and managed PetsVetsandYou, Inc., (PVY) as its web site design, hosting and online marketing Vendor of Choice. The agreement calls for the initial focus to be on helping FVMA members develop individual web sites to help them market their practices and deal more efficiently with existing clients.

"An increasing number of our members know that to effectively serve their clients, and continue to grow, they need to take advantage of the marketing and information potential of the Internet," said FVMA Executive Director Donald N. Schaefer. "When we have so many members in search of this type of new business support service, the FVMA answers that need by carefully screening potential vendors to see which one is best positioned to assist our members and to provide the needed support at the best competitive price. PVY superbly met both these criteria." Schaefer said that PVY not only offered a quick, practical, uncomplicated and more economical solution to building an initial web site, but also provided a wealth of veterinarian-specific information for their clients in the form of an extensive Frequently Asked Questions section, a 500-plus article Pet Care Library, optional newsletters, and 21 online streaming videos on proper pet care for your cat and dog. In addition, he said that the software program developed by PVY makes maintaining and upgrading the web sites easy enough that many members do it themselves saving substantial time and money.

Schaefer said that the FVMA Board of Directors was particularly impressed with PVY's guarantee of the confidentiality of all its member clinics' client information. "Many web design and hosting firms have access to, and use, your client data for their own marketing purposes," said Schaefer. "Our members were adamant that any and all of their client information remain totally under their control, and PVY's solution insures that." He said PVY also offered the option to participate in a veterinarian buying group and professional and practice development programs.

PVY president Dr. Eddie Garcia said: "We are delighted that the FVMA has selected our company to provide this valuable new member service. I know from firsthand experience with my own clinic how important the Internet is today for veterinarians. It is simply too valuable a tool to ignore." He said that is why he helped found PVY in 1999 as a company dedicated solely to serving the veterinary profession, and why he insisted on limiting ownership to other veterinarians. Currently 85 veterinarians from across the United States have ownership in PVY, and the company has developed and hosts web sites in more than 20 states.

"Relationships like this are definitely a `win-win' for everyone involved," said Dr. Garcia. "We plan to pursue additional agreements with other state VMA's as well as to continually expand our scope of services, especially since we are beginning to attract the attention of other suppliers to the veterinary profession seeking to market their services under our brand."

Copyright (C) 2003 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
KEYWORD: FLORIDA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEDICAL
ADVERTISING/MARKETING
INTERNET
E-COMMERCE
SOFTWARE
SOURCE:
PetsVetsandYou,
Inc.

Copyright © 2003, Business Wire, all rights reserved.