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2017 Annual Economic Survey - Sponsored by First Business
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1.
Your company location/headquarters:
(Required.)
Dane County
Greater Milwaukee Area
Northeast Wisconsin
Kenosha/Racine/Walworth County
Other (please specify)
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2.
Your target market (please check all that apply):
(Required.)
Dane County
Greater Milwaukee Area
Northeast Wisconsin
Kenosha/Racine/Walworth County
State of Wisconsin
Midwest
Nationwide
International
Other (please specify)
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3.
Number of employees:
(Required.)
1-10
11-74
75+
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4.
Primary business type:
(Required.)
Manufacturing
Retail
Professional Services
High-Tech/Bio-Tech
Nonprofit
Food & Beverage
Other (please specify)
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5.
Compared to 2016, please indicate what changed in your organization in 2017.
(Required.)
Decrease
No Change
Increase
Sales Revenue
Decrease
No Change
Increase
Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue
Decrease
No Change
Increase
Capital Expenditures
Decrease
No Change
Increase
Profitability
Decrease
No Change
Increase
Number of Employees
Decrease
No Change
Increase
Change in Wages
Decrease
No Change
Increase
Change in Pricing
Decrease
No Change
Increase
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6.
Compared to 2017, please indicate what changes you forecast in your organization for 2018.
(Required.)
Decrease
No Change
Increase
Sales Revenue
Decrease
No Change
Increase
Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue
Decrease
No Change
Increase
Capital Expenditures
Decrease
No Change
Increase
Profitability
Decrease
No Change
Increase
Number of Employees
Decrease
No Change
Increase
Change in Wages
Decrease
No Change
Increase
Change in Pricing
Decrease
No Change
Increase
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7.
We would like to understand the issues your business is facing regarding "unused" capacity. In terms of maximum operating capacity (100%), where is your organization currently performing? (0-100%)
(Required.)
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8.
We would like to know whether your actual business performance in 2017 lived up to your expectations from the previous year. How was your overall business performance in 2017?
(Required.)
Worse than expected
As expected
Better than expected
9.
If you performed below expectations in 2017, to what would you attribute this lower performance (please choose your TOP THREE)?
Domestic sales shortfall
International sales shortfall
Domestic competition
International competition
Technology changes
Insufficient cash flow
State government regulations
Federal government regulations
Political unrest/war
Skills shortage
Higher Operating Costs
Other (please specify)
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10.
Please select the THREE OPTIONS that contributed most to improved company performance in 2017:
(Required.)
Reduced staffing
Invested in new talent
Reduced salaries
Introduced performance based compensation plan
Increased sales efforts
Increased marketing efforts
Increased prices
Expanded product offerings
Improved internal efficiencies
Entered new geographic market
Competitor closed doors or was acquired
Investment in technology
Other (please specify)
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11.
In 2018, which of the following strategies do you plan to do (please choose your TOP THREE):
(Required.)
Create a process for generating innovative business ideas
Borrow more to take advantage of "cheap money"
Diversify your client base
Conduct a customer satisfaction survey
Conduct an employee engagement survey
Assess how your company's brand is perceived
Create or expand a leadership training curriculum tailored to your company
Make efforts to further integrate millennials in your company culture
Other (please specify)
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12.
Do you think your business will perform better or worse overall in 2018 compared to 2017?
(Required.)
Worse
No Change
Better
Why?
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13.
Which category includes your job position within your company:
(Required.)
Business Owner / President / CEO / Executive Director
CFO / COO / Controller / Treasurer
Manager / Support Staff
Other (please specify)
14.
(OPTIONAL) To get a copy of the results, please provide your email address.