Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
(Operator instructions) Our first question comes from the line of Kirk Fox with State of Wisconsin Investment. Please go ahead.
Kirk Fox – State of Wisconsin Investment
Hi guys.
Bob Grieve
Hi Kurt.
Jason Napolitano
Hey Kurt.
Kirk Fox – State of Wisconsin Investment
Could you maybe give us update in regards to today’s comments about the new responsibilities of Michael and how yours will change, Bob? Just a little more detail and color.
Bob Grieve
Sure. I think, it intentionally, very damply [ph], and to try and keep it, particularly, in these form, I’ll try and keep this the same. We think about our business as it is growing and it’s increasingly complicated. There are two major areas that we’d emphasized from the first year’s operations, and operational excellence, factorable execution. Secondly, and apart from that, to a large degree is strategy – strategic focus, new business alternatives, growth opportunities, partnerships; and that’s really how we see this segregating. We work together closely over the years. And Mike will then assume, as we indicated, the responsibility more for the operations and tactical side of the business, while I get to renew the focus on strategy and growth.
Kirk Fox – State of Wisconsin Investment
Okay, thanks. And then also maybe, I guess, the products that we have expectations for and what’s happening there with the landscape; and if you could separate our macro environment from the competitive landscape and discuss all those two factors that are affecting non-product sales.
Bob Grieve
Well, again, that’s a large question but I’ll give it a shot. I think, again, that’s – Jason made these comments, but I’ll try and paraphrase some of what he said and then I’ll ask him to embellish a few things I’ve addressed appropriately. In large major critics [ph], it’s very difficult right now to tease apart competitive issues from overall external economic issues. We do believe, as we both indicated that there are – there’s reluctance from the part of customers, there’s an anxiety on the part of customers. And again, when we talk about our customers, we’re talking about veterinarians. We have a dynamic there with the veterinarian that is separate to some large degree, even some of the dynamic of the pet owner. So, much as we discussed a few months ago on the last earnings call, with geographic differences in this economic effect, there’s practice differences within those geographies and how people view the businesses whether they pull back or they more aggressively market. Again, really hard to tease apart competitive issues. I would say it’s quite clear, as Jason mentioned earlier, that our largest competitor is building scale on their chemistry analyzer that they have been talking about launching for a time. I know they’ve created a lot of interest and noise, and I would argue they’ve probably stalled some sales as well. All customers wait to see what this product actually is and how it would compare to our offering. So these are the high level comments that have on the analyzer business.
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