Findlay firms top growth list

Findlay-based Liveshopper Sassie and ITx ranked No. 5 and No. 3,122, respectively, on the 2023 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America. The data-driven rankings of independent, entrepreneurial businesses has been a harbinger for the likes of Facebook, Chobani, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia and others which are now household names. Liveshopper Sassie provides software for the market research industry. Michael Mallett is chief executive officer, chairman of the board and majority owner. ITx, of which Mallett is chairman, handles accounts receivables for hospitals. Over a three-year period, Liveshopper Sassie's sales grew from about $100,000 per year to over $10 million per year, a 37,386% growth rate, Mallett said. Mallett's company purchased Sassie, of Boston, in 2020. While the pandemic made for some early challenges, Liveshopper Sassie has been on an upward trajectory. "We released a new product line," Mallett said. "That's how we got such great growth." Liveshopper Sassie's president is Paul Schmelzer, former Findlay service-safety director. ITx's growth rate for the past three years was 166%. Both Liveshopper Sassie and ITx have operations in the 133-year-old downtown building at the southeast corner of Main and Crawford streets, which Mallett has renovated. Mallet bought the former home of Muddy River Bicycle Co. and Finders Records, 401-405 S. Main St., in 2018. He has given it a new name, "The Block." Mallett invested about $350,000 to renovate half of the second floor with offices, a conference room and executive lounge which are shared by both ITx and Liveshopper Sassie. About 30 employees from the two companies use the space.