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BRE-Apr 2014Economic Development Authority (EDA) Business Retention and Expansion Study City of Scandia Date: _______________________________________ Company Name: _______________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Survey Participant: __________________________________ Title: ___________________ Phone: ____________________ E-mail: _________________________________________ Website: ______________________________________________________________________ Name of Corporate Headquarters (if different than above): ______________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________ E-mail: _________________________________________ Website: ______________________________________________________________________ Thank you for participating in the EDA’s Business Retention and Expansion Study. The program is sponsored by the Scandia Economic Development Authority. Objective of the BRES program: To gain an understanding of the business community’s views of the local government and economy. To determine company plans for expansion or relocation. To strengthen the communications bridge between the business community and local government. To establish concrete data to aid strategic planning efforts. How is your firm structured? ___ Corporation (public) ___ Corporation (closely held) ___ Partnership ___ Sole Proprietorship ___ Other (specify)______________ Do you own or lease this location? ___ Own ___ Lease If you currently lease, when does the lease expire? What year was this business established at this location? Do you believe your product/services have unique qualities that give your business a competitive advantage? ___ Yes ___ No ___ Don’t Know If yes, please describe these unique qualities. What are the major products/services offered by this establishment? First Major product/service: Second Major product/service: Third Major product/service: Fourth Major product/service: What percentage of your sales come from each of the major products/services identified above? 1% to 24% 25% to 49% 50% to 74% 75% to 100% Percent of sales: first major product/service Percent of sales: second major product/service Percent of sales: third major product/service Percent of sales: fourth major product/service How many employees currently work at this establishment? 1 to 5 6 to 10 11 to 15 16 to 20 21 to 25 26 to 50 50 or more Full Time Part Time Temporary How many employees worked at this establishment three years ago? 1 to 5 6 to 10 11 to 15 16 to 20 21 to 25 26 to 50 50 or more Full Time Part Time Temporary How many employees (estimated) will work at this establishment three years from now? 1 to 5 6 to 10 11 to 15 16 to 20 21 to 25 26 to 50 50 or more Full Time Part Time Temporary If you reported part time employees, how many are: Seasonal: ___ 1 to 5 ___ 6 to 10 ___ 11 to 15 ___ 16 to 20 ___ 21 or more Year Round: ___ 1 to 5 ___ 6 to 10 ___ 11 to 15 ___ 16 to 20 ___ 21 or more If seasonal, when are your busy seasons (select all that apply): ___ Spring ___ Summer ___ Fall ___ Winter Did your firm’s employment change over the last five years? ___ Yes ___ No If yes, please check three (3) main reasons for the employment change over the past five years: ___ Technological changes ___ Changes in management ___ Growth in demand, or lack of demand ___ Number of contracts ___ Business did not exist five years ago ___ Improved or decreased efficiency ___ Government regulation ___ Increased competition ___ Renovation/expansion ___ New products/services ___Entered new markets ___ Change in subcontracting ___ Corporate decisions/policies ___ Other: What is your current employment hiring state? ___ Increasing workforce ___ Downsizing ___ Stable What resources are you currently using to locate new employees? ___ Ad in metro-wide papers ___ Ad in local community papers ___ Placement office of four-year or two-year colleges ___ Private search firms ___ Referrals from existing employees ___ Job service ___ Temporary agency ___ Hire our own apprentices ___ Promote from within ___Local job fair ___ Internet ___ List Other: If more than 50% of your employees live outside of Scandia, please indicate why you think that is the case? If your workforce was to expand by 10%, would there be affordable housing for these workers within 30 minutes of your place of business? ___ Yes ___ No ___ Uncertain From your perspective as a business person, please rate housing opportunities in this community for OWNED homes. Excellent Above Average Average Below Average Very Poor Quality Availability Affordability Location From your perspective as a businessperson, please rate housing opportunities in this community for RENTAL housing. Excellent Above Average Average Below Average Very Poor Quality Availability Affordability Location How would you rate the local labor force? Excellent Above Average Average Below Average Very Poor Quality Availability Quantity Stability Please indicate where most of your employees live. ___ Within 5 miles of business location ___ Within 5 to 20 miles of business location ___ More than 20 miles from business location Please select the category that best describes your company’s gross sales in 2013? ___ Under $25,000 ___ $25,000 to $99,999 ___ $100,000 to $199,999 ___ $200,000 to $499,999 ___ $500,000 to $999,999 ___ $1 million to $2.49 million ___$2.5 million to $4.9 million ___ $5 million to $9.9 million ___$10 million or more Which of the following strategies do you currently use to increase your sales during less busy days and hours? ___ Nothing ___ Advertise ___ Offer product promotion ___ Extend days and/or hours of operation ___ Change product/service offerings and/or mix ___ Other: ________________ Does your company have a website? ___ Yes ___ No If no, what is your main reason for not marketing over the internet? ___ No Internet Access ___ Slow Internet connection ___ No IT support ___ Cost ___ Time commitment ___ Need more information ___ Other: ____________ What are the three (3) types of advertising you use the most? ___ Yellow Pages ___ Daily Newspaper ___ Weekly newspaper ___ Weekly shopper paper ___ Radio ___ TV ___ Billboards ___ Direct mail advertising ___ Visitor’s guide ___Magazines ___ Brochures/flyers/shopping bags ___ Other: _______________________________ Do you share advertising expenses with other businesses to promote your business area? ___ Yes ___ No From the list below, please check the top five (5) factors likely to have a major impact on your business in the next three (3) years. ___ New products ___ Changing customer tastes ___ Demographics ___ Higher consumer spending ___ Foreign competition ___ Domestic competition ___ Raw material shortages ___ Energy Costs ___ Transportation ___ Wage rates ___ Raw material costs ___ Financing availability ___ Taxes/government policies ___ Other: ____________________________ Please check which of the following best describes your company’s business activity. ___ We have too much business, capacity is strained ___ Business activity is just right ___ We have too little business activity; excess capacity ___ Wide seasonal or cyclical variations in demand Over the last 3 years, have any of these business factors increased, stayed the same or decreased? Increased Stayed the Same Decreased Number of customers Sales-Total Revenue Profits Employees-Full Time Employees-Part Time Employees-Year Round Employees-Seasonal Over the next 3 years, do you think the following factors for your business will increase, stay the same, or decrease? Increase Stay the Same Decrease Number of customers Sales-Total Revenue Profits Employees-Full Time Employees-Part Time Employees-Year Round Employees-Seasonal In general, how do you meet or become acquainted with service providers? ___ Someone you know referred/recommended the service provider ___ You knew the service provider before they started working for you ___ Referral by a trade association or professional organization ___ Competitor used them ___ Advertising or direct mail or yellow pages ___ Unsolicited cold call ___ Article in business publication or newspaper ___ Service provider newsletter/web page ___ Other: ____________________________________ Check the three most important factors in evaluating and selecting a service provider. ___ Experience of service provider ___ Service provider’s knowledge of your industry ___ Proximity to your location ___ Price ___ Service provider’s approach or methodology ___ Service provider’s reputation ___ Recommendation from a trusted source ___ Personality or “likeability” of service provider ___ Credentials of service provider ___ Referrals from other clients ___ Other: __________________________________________________ Check the areas that you have used external service providers for in the past three years (select all that apply: ___ Business management ___ Design or engineering ___ Manufacturing operations ___ Quality related issues ___ Environmental and safety ___ Information technology ___ Organizational development ___ Marketing/sales ___ Financial/accounting ___ Human resources development ___ Other: _____________________________________________________________ To meet your current or recent financial need, what type of capital are you considering or did you consider? ___ Equity Capital ___ Debt Capital If you plan to use debt capital, which of the following financial institutions do you plan to use or did you use? ___ Commercial bank ___ Savings and loan ___ Federal loan program (USDA, SBA) ___ State Economic Development Loan (DEED, Regional Commission, or Foundation) ___ Other: ______________________________________________________ When you sought your most recent loan, what types of activities or facilities did (do) you hope to finance. ___ Purchase of land without buildings ___ Purchase of land with buildings ___ New building construction ___ Building expansion ____ Building renovation ____ Operating capital ___ Inventory ___ Machinery or equipment ___ Other: _________________________________________________ Please provide information on your firm’s credit experience for the past three (3) years in each of the following categories. Able to obtain desired credit Able to obtain some credit Unable to obtain Don’t know Not applicable Short term loans (<1year) secured Short term (<1year) unsecured Long term loans (1-5years) Long term loans (>5 years) Commercial mortgage Home equity loan for business purposes Line of credit Equipment financing or lease. Have you made any of the following changes in the last 3 years? Yes No Changed mix of goods/services Added or subtracted product lines Entered new markets Modernized product technology Adopted labor-saving technologies Made other capital improvements Will you be expanding/improving your current building or equipment? ___ Yes ___ No If yes, do you face any constraints? ___ No constraints ___ Need financial assistance ___ Need planning/design assistance ___ Need to acquire land ___ Other: ___________________________________________ Are you considering another (additional) branch or store? ___ Yes ___ No If yes, what location are you considering? ___ Elsewhere in Scandia ___ Elsewhere in Washington County ___ Outside the county, but in Minnesota ___ Outside the state ___ Undecided If yes, when will you open the new branch or store? ___Within 6 months ___ 6 months to a year ___ 1-3 years Are you considering moving, selling or closing this business? ___ No ___ Considering moving ___ Considering selling ___ Considering closing What conditions influence your decision regarding moving, closing, or staying put? (select all that apply) ___ Market conditions ___ Overcrowded building or space ___ Land locked or expansion limited ___ Transportation problems ___ Crime or vandalism ___ Low worker productivity or unavailability of workers ___ Environmental concerns ___ Building code problems ___ High local taxes ___ High state taxes ___ Lease expiration If moving, selling, or closing, when? ___Within 6 months ___ 6 to 12 months ___ 1 to 3 years ___ 3 years or more ___ Don’t know If moving, where will you move? ___ Elsewhere in Scandia ___ Elsewhere in Washington County ___ Elsewhere in Minnesota ___ Outside of Minnesota ___ Undecided Any other plans for business changes over the next three years? (check all that apply) ___ No change ___ Change in mix of goods or services ___ Add new product or service lines ___ Add new technology Do you have enough room to expand? ___ Yes ___ No Does your store/storefront need updating or “cosmetic” improvement? ___ Yes ___ No Where do you see additional expansion or growth in your business? ___ New building or addition ___ Additional employees ___ Additional equipment or new technology ___ New training program for employees ___ Additional financing ___ Other: _________________________________ What, if any, conservation or “green” actions have you taken or do you plan to take with your business? If you face constraints on renovation or expansion, what are they? ___ Would have an inadequate financial return on investment ___ Inability to get a loan ___ Insufficient space available for expansion ___ Environmental or pollution control limitations ___ Planning and zoning restrictions ___ Governmental regulation prohibits expansion ___ Shortage of adequate labor ___ Shortage of adequate housing for labor ___ Other: _________________________________ What overall grade would you give the community as a place to do business? ___ A (excellent) ___ B (above average) ___C (average) ___ D (below average) ___F (poor) In the last 3 years, did the community’s business climate get stronger, weaker, or stay the same? ___ Got stronger ___ Got weaker ___ Stayed the same What overall grade would you give the retail shopping in the community? ___ A(excellent) ___B(above average) ___ C (average) ___ D (below average) ___ F (poor) Is your firm having any problems with local community services? ___ No ___ Yes. If so please specify: _________________________________________________________ What is the most significant thing Scandia could do to help improve your business activity? What specific concerns would you like to see addressed? Do you live in Scandia? ___ Yes ___ No Why or why not? Rate the improvement needs in Scandia Needs significant improvements Needs improvement Does not need improvement Not applicable Appearance of buildings Appearance of business signs Cleanliness of sidewalks Cleanliness of streets Congested streets near your business Parking near your business Pedestrian access to your business Street lighting Variety of stores If your firm (or one just like it) was trying to select a new location, how important would each of the following community factors be in this decision? Critically important Above average importance Average importance Below average importance Not at all important Wage rates Transportation costs Energy costs Local taxes State taxes Interest rates Workers’ compensation rates Unemployment insurance Employee health care costs Availability of labor Availability of raw materials Availability of credit Proximity of four-lane highway Airport facilities Availability of industrial site Availability of housing Availability of quality water Availability of public transportation Telecommunications quality Broadband Access Please indicate whether you believe the cost of doing business in your community is high, acceptable, or low. High Acceptable Low Does not apply Building costs Corporate taxes Environmental regulations Health care Inventory taxes OSHA requirements Payroll taxes Property taxes Public utilities Transportation of product to market Workers compensation From your perspective as a businessperson, please rate the following amenities and services in Scandia. Excellent Above average Average Below average Poor Does not apply Roads, highways and freeways Snow and ice removal Street/sidewalk cleaning Street repairs Water supply Solid waste disposal Sewers/septic Natural gas service Internet access Electrical service Cable television service Telecom infrastructure Public transportation Rail service Air service Fire protection Police protection Emergency medical services Hospitals Medical care, doctors Schools (k-12) Technical/vocational schools Excellent Above average Average Below Average Poor Does not apply Access to higher education Quality higher education Hotel facilities Conference facilities Recreational facilities Recreation services Housing opportunities Labor force quantity Labor force quality Proximity to major suppliers Proximity to major market Overall quality of life With which local school district are you most familiar? ___ Forest Lake ___ Chisago Lakes ___ Stillwater ___ Home school Please rate the following characteristics for K-12 for the school system you checked in the previous questions. Excellent Above average Average Below average Poor Don’t know Quality of instruction Quality of facilities Quality of teaching resources (computers, books) Quality of curriculum Number of curriculum choices Quality of sports programs Quality of music/arts programs From the following list of features, please indicate those that enhance or detract from a positive business environment in Scandia. Strongly enhance Neither enhance nor detract Strongly detract Safe environment Shopping/professional services Recreation/entertainment/cultural activities School systems Library systems Highway infrastructure Housing opportunities Local business environment Location Wage rates Cost of living Rate your level of success with the marketing strategies listed below. Excellent Very good Good Fair Poor NA Directory listings (yellow pages, etc) Daily newspaper Weekly newspaper Weekly shopper paper TV Radio Billboards and other signage Window displays Direct mail advertising Web page Email/internet marketing Visitor’s guide Magazines Brochures/flyers Referral program Frequent buyer/shopper program Give-aways Donations/sponsorships Word of mouth Other Which of the following market research methods do you use (select all that apply)? ___ Personal interactions/interviews with customers ___ Track customer purchases ___ Response cards by mail ___ Focus groups ___ Census/other data ___ Information from Industry Association ___ Hire market research consultants ___ Other: ______________________________________________ ___ I don’t do market research What are your thoughts on store hours? ___ I am open all the hours I need to be ___ I can’t be open more hours for personal reasons ___ I would like to be open more hours, but I can’t afford the staff ___ I would like to be open more hours, but I can’t find good staff ___ I would be open more hours if I were sure of sales ___ I would be open more hours is everyone else were ___ I have been open evening hours in the past and it was not worthwhile ___ Other: _________________________________________________________________ Have you had evening hours in the past? ___ Yes ___ No If yes, how many evenings (past 6pm) per week were you open? ___ 1 ___2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 Why did you discontinue evening hours (select all that apply)? ___ Personal reasons ___ Difficulty hiring staff for evenings ___ Not cost effective ___ Other stores in Scandia were not open evenings ___ Other: _________________________________________________________ Please rate the degree you are experiencing the following challenges in your business. Major challenge Minor challenge No challenge Don’t know Poor building condition Conflict with building owner or tenant Expensive rent Product delivery or loading challenges Insufficient financing Internet competition Language barriers Shoplifting or employee theft Vandalism Perception of safety Public using your bathroom Traffic flow/signage Congested streets near your business Road construction Street closure for events Streets not clean Sidewalks not clean Lack of pedestrian traffic Insufficient parking Signage Restrictive business regulations Smoking ban Competition from Forest Lake Other: If financial assistance were available, would you consider building improvements such as façade work or new signage? ___ Yes ___ No ___ Don’t know Considering all factors, how would you rate the overall atmosphere in your local shopping area? ___ Excellent ___ Very good ___ Good ___ Fair ___ Poor