2017 Annual Economic Survey - Sponsored by First Business Question Title Question Title * 1. Your company location/headquarters: Dane County Greater Milwaukee Area Northeast Wisconsin Kenosha/Racine/Walworth County Other (please specify) Question Title * 2. Your target market (please check all that apply): Dane County Greater Milwaukee Area Northeast Wisconsin Kenosha/Racine/Walworth County State of Wisconsin Midwest Nationwide International Other (please specify) Question Title * 3. Number of employees: 1-10 11-74 75+ Question Title * 4. Primary business type: Manufacturing Retail Professional Services High-Tech/Bio-Tech Nonprofit Food & Beverage Other (please specify) Question Title * 5. Compared to 2016, please indicate what changed in your organization in 2017. Decrease No Change Increase Sales Revenue Sales Revenue Decrease Sales Revenue No Change Sales Revenue Increase Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue Decrease Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue No Change Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue Increase Capital Expenditures Capital Expenditures Decrease Capital Expenditures No Change Capital Expenditures Increase Profitability Profitability Decrease Profitability No Change Profitability Increase Number of Employees Number of Employees Decrease Number of Employees No Change Number of Employees Increase Change in Wages Change in Wages Decrease Change in Wages No Change Change in Wages Increase Change in Pricing Change in Pricing Decrease Change in Pricing No Change Change in Pricing Increase Question Title * 6. Compared to 2017, please indicate what changes you forecast in your organization for 2018. Decrease No Change Increase Sales Revenue Sales Revenue Decrease Sales Revenue No Change Sales Revenue Increase Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue Decrease Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue No Change Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue Increase Capital Expenditures Capital Expenditures Decrease Capital Expenditures No Change Capital Expenditures Increase Profitability Profitability Decrease Profitability No Change Profitability Increase Number of Employees Number of Employees Decrease Number of Employees No Change Number of Employees Increase Change in Wages Change in Wages Decrease Change in Wages No Change Change in Wages Increase Change in Pricing Change in Pricing Decrease Change in Pricing No Change Change in Pricing Increase Question Title * 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%) Question Title * 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? Worse than expected As expected Better than expected Question Title * 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) Question Title * 10. Please select the THREE OPTIONS that contributed most to improved company performance in 2017: 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) Question Title * 11. In 2018, which of the following strategies do you plan to do (please choose your TOP THREE): 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) Question Title * 12. Do you think your business will perform better or worse overall in 2018 compared to 2017? Worse No Change Better Why? Question Title * 13. Which category includes your job position within your company: Business Owner / President / CEO / Executive Director CFO / COO / Controller / Treasurer Manager / Support Staff Other (please specify) Question Title * 14. (OPTIONAL) To get a copy of the results, please provide your email address. Done