West Coast Business Survey Question Title * 1. Business name OK Question Title * 2. District Buller District Grey District Westland District OK Question Title * 3. Location Franz Josef / Fox Glacier Granity Greymouth Haast Hari Hari Hokitika Kumara Karamea Kokatahi / Kowhitirangi Okarito Punakaiki / Barrytown Reefton Ross Westport Whataroa Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 4. Product / Service offering OK Question Title * 5. Which of the following best describes the principal industry of your business? Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Mining Manufacturing Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services Construction Wholesale Trade Retail Trade Accommodation and Food Services Transport, Postal and Warehousing Information Media and Telecommunications Financial and Insurance Services Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services Professional, Scientific and Technical Services Administrative and Support Services Public Administration and Safety Education and Training Health Care and Social Assistance Arts and Recreation Services Other Services OK Question Title * 6. How long has your business been in operation? 0 - 3 years 4 - 7 years 8 - 15 years 15+ years OK Question Title * 7. How many full-time equivalent employees are employed in your business? (not including contractors) Business owner only 1-5 6-9 10-19 20-49 50-99 100 or more Don't know OK Question Title * 8. Over the next 12 months do you expect your employee levels to ... Increase Stay the same Decrease Don't know Additional comments OK Question Title * 9. Technology changes over the coming years may affect staffing requirements in some industries. Over the next 5-10 years do you expect your business will ... Require staff to have similar skill sets to now Require staff to re-train due to changes in technology Undergo major changes which may require staff to have totally different skill-sets Don't know Additional comments OK Question Title * 10. Which of the following categories best represents your total revenue over the past 12 months? Under $150,000 $150,001 - 250,000 $250,001 - 500,000 $500,001 - $1,000,000 $1,000,001 - 5,000,000 Over $5,000,000 Prefer not to answer Don't know OK Question Title * 11. Over the coming 12 months do you expect your total revenue to ... Increase Stay the same Decrease Don't know Additional comments OK Question Title * 12. Compared to 12 months ago, do you feel the general business situation on the West Coast is ... Better The same Worse Don't know Additional comments OK Question Title * 13. For the next 12 months, do you expect the general business situation on the West Coast to ... Improve Stay the same Deteriorate Don't know Additional comments OK Question Title * 14. What are the greatest challenges to your business over the next 12 months from a financial perspective? Cost of inputs Competitor pricing Customer numbers & transaction value Managing staffing costs Managing overheads Cash flow / Working capital Meeting tax obligations Aging debtors Access to capital / finance N/A Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 15. What are the greatest challenges to your business over the next 12 months from a customer / client perspective? Meeting changing customer needs Maintaining competitive prices Consistent customer service Improving customer awareness Predicting sales activity Attracting new customers Competition N/A Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 16. What are the greatest challenges to your business over the next 12 months from a broader market conditions perspective? Local economic conditions National economic conditions International economic conditions Competition Government compliance and regulations Uncertainty Access to inputs / products Product redundancy N/A Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 17. What are the greatest challenges to your business over the next 12 months from a leadership perspective? Work / Life balance Time management / Productivity Focus and prioritisation Too much time 'working in the business' instead of 'managing the business' Keeping up with industry knowledge Asking for help People management Strategy / Product development N/A Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 18. What are the greatest challenges to your business over the next 12 months from a staffing perspective? Number of job applicants Availability of skilled staff Wage levels / Staff costs Staff performance Retaining staff, reducing staff turnover Staff training Immigration policies Accommodation for staff Flexibility of work-hours Team morale/culture N/A Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 19. What are the greatest challenges to your business over the next 12 months from a digital perspective? Optimising website traffic Limitations of IT systems Lack of e-commerce facility Using social media Inactive / ineffective website Regular e-communications Inefficient customer data collection Insufficient technical skills / knowledge Inadequate internet access / connectivity N/A Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 20. What are the greatest challenges to your business over the next 12 months from an innovation perspective? Developing new products, services and technology Improving current products, services and technology Protection of intellectual property rights Improving business processes Building an innovative work culture Cooperation with other businesses Resources for research and development N/A Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 21. Do you have any further comments regarding challenges to your business? OK Question Title * 22. What additional training / personal development areas would be useful for your business? Leadership, management & goverance Computer skills Workplace literacy / numeracy Health and safety Marketing / digital marketing Business processes Financial management HR / People management Industry specific Access to business mentoring N/A Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 23. What barriers do you face in accessing training for you and/or your employees? Timing of training availability Training needed is not offered Time taken participating in training Cost of training Training is not available online Location where training is offered N/A Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 24. What are the advantages of your business being located on the West Coast? Overall quality of life Access to local resources Low overhead costs Low cost of living Supportive local business community Low staff turnover Less competition Access to business support services N/A Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 25. What do you believe are the three most important regional development priorities for the West Coast? Business creation and development Telecommunications / internet access / connectivity Environmental sustainability Education Health services Arts / Culture Infrastructure Economic diversification Tourism Making it easier to invest / do business Urban development / beautification Retaining / attracting people to the West Coast Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 26. Do you have any thoughts on what projects could help develop the West Coast? OK Question Title * 27. Do you have any further comments about doing business on the West Coast? OK Question Title * 28. Thank you for your time answering this survey. Would you be happy to be contacted by Development West Coast and/or Tai Poutini Polytechnic to further discuss your responses or needs? Yes No OK NEXT