2009's Results
The surveys are in. Local business owners shared their data on economic indicators critical for decisions in today's competitive environment. We presented the results at the First Business Economic Forum at the Buttes Des Morts Country Club on December 17.
This annual forum includes a brief presentation of the survey results followed by a panel discussion. Panelists in the fields of labor, insurance, retail, convention and tourism as well as the banking sector will help us break down the numbers.
2009's Findings
2009 survey results were presented by Dr. E. Alan Hartman, Professor or Management and Human Resources and Former Dean of the College of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in December of 2009.
Highlights of the 2009 results include:
Segmentation
Performance vs. Expectations in 2009
- A majority of firms didn’t meet expectations: 50.43% vs 43.67% in 2008
- Nearly three times as many failed to meet as exceeded
- Those selling just in Midwest fared much worse – 9/1 ratio failed to exceeded
Reasons for Under- Performance
- 24% Uncertain economic future
- 21% Sales shortfall (domestic)
- 9% Higher operating costs
- 7% Housing slowdown
- 7% Domestic competition
