Downtown San Rafael Business Issues Mid-Year 2014 Survey

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* 1. Please Tell us the type of business you own or manage

Retail

Restaurant/Take Out/Casual Food

Personal Services (Beauty/Wellness)

Professional Services

Financial

Other (please specify)

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* 2. Please tell us where your business is located:

On 4th Street, between Heatherton and D Street

On 4th Street, between E and H

On Lincoln, Cijos, Lootens or A street, between 2nd and 5th

On B street

On C Street or D Street, between 5th and 3rd

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Where are the majority of you customers coming from? (choose one)

San Rafael

Other Marin Communities

Sonoma County

East Bay

San Francisco

Internet

Other

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* 4. How long has your business been in San Rafael?

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* 5. Is your current location meeting your needs? If no, Why not?

Yes

If no, please specify why not

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* 6. How is your business performing compared to last year?

Better

The Same

Worse

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* 7. For businesses that are experiencing a decline in 2014 sales When did the downward trend in sales begin? If there is a particular month or quarter anytime in 2013 and 2014 when sales began a decline, please indicate the month/year below

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* 8. If your business is faring worse than 2014, please rate the following factors in terms of how you believe they might have affected your business :

	Not at all Significant	Mildly Significant	Very Significant
The general economy/current spending habits	The general economy/current spending habits Not at all Significant	The general economy/current spending habits Mildly Significant	The general economy/current spending habits Very Significant
Changing buying habits/online competition	Changing buying habits/online competition Not at all Significant	Changing buying habits/online competition Mildly Significant	Changing buying habits/online competition Very Significant
Ease/difficulty of parking downtown	Ease/difficulty of parking downtown Not at all Significant	Ease/difficulty of parking downtown Mildly Significant	Ease/difficulty of parking downtown Very Significant
The perception of my customers that downtown is not safe.	The perception of my customers that downtown is not safe. Not at all Significant	The perception of my customers that downtown is not safe. Mildly Significant	The perception of my customers that downtown is not safe. Very Significant
The location of my business is not convenient	The location of my business is not convenient Not at all Significant	The location of my business is not convenient Mildly Significant	The location of my business is not convenient Very Significant

Other (please specify)

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* 9. If your business is faring better than in 2013, to what do you attribute the increase in business?

The general economy

A focused marketing effort

Changes in the way we operate

Addition of, or increased online sales

Customers preferences to shop local

Other (please specify)

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* 10. What is the single most important challenge facing your business today? (choose one)

Growth

Exposure

Competition

Taxes

City, County or State Regulations

General Strength of Economy

Other (please specify)

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* 11. Which is the #1 issue, do you believe, if addressed would most improve local business conditions (choose one)

Public Safety

Transportation

Availability of Workforce housing

Convenient Parking

Finding/Retaining Qualified Talent

Local Permitting

Other (please specify)

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* 12. If you have comments about doing business in downtown San Rafael, please share them here. We will share them with the City at our next Business Issues Committee meeting and in our contact with City personnel.