Chamber Business Practices Survey:  Economic Outlook
Survey Name: August 2010 Survey
Response Status: Partial & Completed
Filter: None
Aug 23, 2010 2:58:34 PM
1.  What level of sales activity do you expect to see in your business over the next six months?
		Number of Response(s)	Response Ratio
I expect our sales to increase		18	47.3%
I expect our sales to stay the same		15	39.4%
I expect our sales to decrease		4	10.5%
No Responses		1	2.6%
Total		38	100%
10 Comment(s) see details tab below
2.  What level of employment do you expect to see in your business over the next six months?
		Number of Response(s)	Response Ratio
I expect our employment to increase		8	21.0%
I expect our employment to stay the same		24	63.1%
I expect our employment to decrease		6	15.7%
No Responses		0	0.0%
Total		38	100%
5 Comment(s) see details tab below
3.  What do you expect the overall economy to do over the next six months?
		Number of Response(s)	Response Ratio
I expect the economy to improve		9	23.6%
I expect the economy to remain the same		19	50.0%
I expect the economy to decline		10	26.3%
No Responses		0	0.0%
Total		38	100%
8 Comment(s) see details tab below
4.  This question is copied from a current U.S. Chamber national suvey of small businesses:  What can the government do right now to help you grow your business, increase sales and create jobs? Are there policies you think would help? Are there policies that are holding you back? In the box below, tell us what you think.
28 Response(s) see details tab below
5.  What can the Chamber of Commerce do right now to help you grow your business, increase sales and create jobs? Are there services or programs you think would help?  In the box below, tell us what you think.
27 Response(s) see details tab below
DETAILS/COMMENTS                                                                                                                                               1.  What level of sales activity do you expect to see in your business over the next six months?  - Comments                   Answer                   We are om public education.  No sales.                 More so due to seasonality than economic conditions.                 Opening a new venture Starlight Cafe while I expect sales to remain somewhat the same in the shop. I expect the new venture to increase revenue over time Changed location...more visiablity                 keep a positive outlook                   I EXPECT OUR SALES TO INCRESE BUT THE WORKINGPEOPLE BUCKET IS RUNNING LOW.           I expect our sales to increase because there's a huge need for helping people get healthy through learning good nutrition habits in our community.   With current financial market I don't see people spending money on elective surgeries and needing rehab services.         my sales will decrease due to the in ability to ride a bicycle during the winter               Seasonal business that increases during fall and winter months combined with numerous new marketing strategies.         2.  What level of employment do you expect to see in your business over the next six months?  - Comments                   Answer                   I may increase, but I have part time employees that could go to full time before I hire another person.  Hopefully I will be hiring another employee.   Our small business can not afford employee taxes.                 I expect to need more Wellness Coaches to teach Nutrition Classes at the Wellness Center.             No increase in customers no increase in staffing levels.                 With an increase in sales, comes an increase in staff.                 3.  What do you expect the overall economy to do over the next six months?  - Comments                   Answer                   We are dependent on the state's biennial budget.                 But only if the employment rate gets better.                 I think it is the public tiring of trying to be frugal and not getting what they want, so they start spending again.  I don't feel there situation has really changes. I don't see a big gain for the economy because of too much government programs.  We don't have a handle on what the government will change next.   IT WILL DECLINE DUE TO ALL THE UNCERTENITY IN THE MARKET.               I expect the economy to improve where people keep a positive attitude no matter the circumstances.  There's plenty of money for everyone when everyone keeps their words positive and uplifting vs down and depressing. We need a 5% increase in gross domestic out put for a 12 month period before we see a 1% decrease in unemployment.  This will take over one year to reach these levels. Problems are on such a large scale that consumers will continue to hold back on major purchases, which will ultimately be reflected in the big picture.   4.  This question is copied from a current U.S. Chamber national suvey of small businesses:  What can the government do right now to help you grow your business, increase sales and create jobs? Are there policies you think would help? Are there policies that are holding you back? In the box below, tell us what you think.  - Responses                   Answer                   We need more state monies or federal grants to create jobs.               Reduce taxes and stay the hell out of the way.                 healthcare for everyone                   Developing opportunities with goverment enities would help our business. In the form of assisting with job procurment or developing programs policies to streamline bidding processes and hands on assistance with that process Tax breaks for small business. Lower corporate taxes. Less labor intrusion. Let the free markets recover without government intervention. Stop attempts to redistribute wealth. Cut government spending. Provide fair and equitable health care reimbursement.  It is becoming increasingly difficult to provide innovative cutting edge health care quality on a bargain basement budget. Maintain and/or reduce present income tax structure.                 If the economy would get better and taxes not increase to consumers, people would have more expendable income to purchase our services.  Also, socialized medicine is not the answer to our uninsured. Incentive package for expanding and hiring additional employees.  Lower taxes!               Deficit issues (how will taxes change), home markets still lagging, manufacturing still hesitant             If government would inforce current laws instead of making new programs & laws.  The more the government makes changes & creats new programs the more uncertain the business community feels.  The more uncertain the business community feels it will hold back economic growth. since we are a religious store, there is nothing the Govenment can do to help, but thanks for including us in this survey.         GET THE HELL OUT OF OUR BUSINES STOP WASTFUL SPENDING RID OF ALL LOBBIST  STOP WRITING REGULATIONS REVERSE HEALTH CARE STOP CROUPTION  I CAN GIVE YOU MANT MORE I really believe it's not up to the government...it's up to each individual person and business owner to give the best service and the best products.   Keep the Bush tax cuts, send the illegal immigrants home, and block our borders.               Small business is becoming increasingly more burdened with laws, regulations, taxes and reporting responsibilities to various governmental entities. In return we receive very little government assistance. Reduce our taxes and exempt us from so many mandates. Get rid of Obama and his kronies.                 The healthcare reform is defintely going to affect us, but we aren't sure how significantly just yet.             Increase Medicaid dollars avaliable to Long Term Care and reduce regulations.               Distribution of taxes which creates oppression on future generations will not generate an economy, but make it a slave to the institution that disperses these funds. We must rebuild our economic strength through the Free Enterprise system.  Relieve the taxation so that responsible experience entrepreners will florish. Extend the Bush tax cuts and stop regulating our business.               Stay out of the way!                   Cut taxes.  The big government ideology does not work.  Government needs to get out of the way so small business can thrive.  They are a hindrance to productivity.  Too many regulations and take-overs.  I have had it with this bunch of left-wing liberals that think they know better than than the rest of us.  Extend the Bush tax cuts. Give the small businessman tax reductions, reductions in unemployment, and tax free grants to help expand           i think the governemnt could limit the amount credit card companies charge to take their cards. the government could also regulate that small business owners do not pay for rewards programs credit card companies give to their customers. i also believe they could invest in local infastructure to help attract a larger pool of customers for a city. Stay out of the way.                   I have lost faith in my government.  The corruption, lies, selfishness, and "good old boy" network is taking this country down.  Quite simply, we need more honest and hardworking people to take on this catostrophic economy.  Policies surrounding health issues would greatly improve our business and save the lives of many in the process. Get out of the way.  Start reducing the size of the budget by a minimum of 10% per year for the next 5 years.  Reduce taxes, repeal health care, phase out social security and eliminate the minimum wage.  And stop talking about cap and trade.  That will kill this economy and create the next great depression. 5.  What can the Chamber of Commerce do right now to help you grow your business, increase sales and create jobs? Are there services or programs you think would help?  In the box below, tell us what you think.  - Responses                   Answer                   The best thing the C of C can do for public education, in my opinion, is to make our area lucrative with jobs and businesses. When we have more people move into our area, we have higher enrollment in our schools, which generates more money to the school districts and more employment within the schools. Keep up the good fight.                   establish a group health insurance plan so small businesses from the chamber can all be in one "group" for health insurance purposes     assist us with getting the word out which you have done and your continued support               Provide Internet training.                   Continue to promote local businesses and encourage people to buy local.               Continue group rating discounts and safety meeting processes.               none                   Host a fun day of learning:  topic- The FISH Philosophy!                 How to find people that REALLY WORK when they are at work.  Currently they know how to talk the talk and walk that awalk to get a position, but they have no concept of what the word work means.  A link that would help me find a qualified candidate for specific positions. Be an advocate for us on the local, state and national government stage.  Networking opportunities are also helpful.         Help us determine which candidates are pro business and less government.  Those willing to cut spending on the governments part.  Its not a revenue problem, its a spending problem. Chamber of Commerce has helped in many areas of our small business. Its local advertising, the web-site access to public, networking , etc. We are proud to be a member of the Chamber.. ENCOURGE TO BUY LOCAL WE NEED LOCAL JOBS BUY LOCAL PEOPLE PROMOTE TOURISUM CLEAN UP OUR CITY ETC     I'm very new to the Chamber and I don't have full knowledge yet of everything the Chamber already provides.           Don't ever get rid of Tom Poorman and Dana Matz!! They are great for our whole area! They can buy me a beer tonight for helping clean up the Y bridge!   I think the chamber does a great job of supporting member businesses, listening to their concerns and encouraging chamber members to do business with other chamber members. Keep providing education and networking opportunities. Keep a positive attitude and do everything to help local business.  BUY LOCAL.  Some members do not by local when they could.       Unaware of any programs or services that are offered by the Chamber that would benefit our business.           Encourage members to patronize our business.  Encourage zoning and other government controlled systems to reduce their regulations that hinder small business success. Worker Comp program is very good!                 Maybe just stress the idea that locally owned business helps everybody in the communinity.  We are all in this together.       Maybe feature a few chamber companies in each newsletter. Send chamber reps to get information for the featured stories, etc. Also promote amongst the members, other members services. I have never gotten a lead or a referral from the chamber. the chamber could help me by working with whoever to build a bike path and bike highway.we lose money to licking county becuase of their bike path system.it passes downtown newark,ymca,johnstown and more.there are people who live here with memberships to theymca,spend money at their food places,gasstations,bike storesetc.ps its what i want for xmas Nothing that I can think of. The problems are bigger than Zanesville               As I am a new member, I will better be able to answer this question once I have utilized all the current services available through the Chamber.     Lobby for smaller government!