1. 2010 Membership
Survey Results
October, 2010
Presented to Board of Directors
Nov. 9, 2010

2. Response Rate
 Sent to full membership
 98-responses received
 13% response rate

3. Business Information

4. Please indicate your
business/organization category:

5. How many full-time employees do you have
at your business/organization?
 1 to 5 Employees – 60.2%
 6 to 15 Employees – 15.3%
 16 to 30 Employees – 4.1%
 31 to 50 Employees – 9.2%
 51 to 100 Employees – 6.1%
 101 to 250 Employees – 3.1%
 251 and Above – 2.0%

6. My business is located in:
 Downtown Petoskey Central Business District –
24.5%
 Petoskey City Limits, but not in the Central Business
District – 24.5%
 Bay Harbor – 2.0%
 Bear Creek Township – 19.4%
 Resort Township – 2.0%
 Harbor Springs Area – 11.2%
 Alanson Area – 2.0%
 Pellston Area – 1.0%
 Outside of Emmet County – 7.1%
 Multiple Locations – 6.1%

7. If your business is located in Emmet
County, how long has it been there?

8. How long has your business been under
the current ownership?
 Less than one year – 5.1%
 1 to 3 years – 12.2%
 4 to 10 years – 22.4%
 11 to 25 years – 31.6%
 26 to 50 years – 13.3%
 51 or more years – 15.3%

9. Is your business a home-based business?

10. The annual gross revenue for your
business is:
 Less than $250,000 – 32.2%
 $250,000 to $500,000 – 21.1%
 $500,000 to $1,000,000 – 13.3%
 $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 – 20.0%
 More than $5,000,000 – 13.3%

11. Economic Information

12. Over the past three years (2008-2010) your
gross revenues have:

13. Over the next three years (2011-2013) you
expect your gross revenues will:

14. Over the past three years (2008-2010) the
number of employees in your business
has:

15. Over the next three years (2011-2013) the number
of employees in your business will likely:

16. Over the past three years, the issues that have
posed the greatest challenges to your business
include:
 Transportation issues (roads, air service, rail, delivery services, trucking,
etc) – 11.2%
 Utility services (gas, electric, water, etc) – 15.7%
 Technology services (broadband, Internet, Wireless, etc) – 21.3%
 Local Regulatory issues (environmental, zoning, signs, codes, etc) – 12.4%
 State Regulatory issues (environmental, zoning, safety, codes, etc) – 7.9%
 Local Taxes – 18.0%
 State Taxes – 28.1%
 Federal Taxes – 23.6%
 Availability of a qualified workforce – 18.0%
 Health Insurance – 42.7%
 Tourism Activity – 21.3%
 Marketing your business – 29.2%
 General Economy – 78.7%

17. Greatest Issues – Write-in responses:
 Healthcare Reform
 Public Safety Attitude
 Increasing Food Costs
 Federal Regulatory
 Competition
 Bike/pedestrian Friendly Area
 Housing and Mortgage Crisis
 Financial markets in particular
 Communications in rural areas
 Shop Local issues

18. Over the next three years, the issues that will
likely pose the greatest challenges to your
business include:
 Transportation issues (roads, air service, rail, delivery services, trucking,
etc) – 10.2%
 Utility services (gas, electric, water, etc) – 13.6%
 Technology services (broadband, Internet, Wireless, etc) – 14.8%
 Local Regulatory issues (environmental, zoning, signs, codes, etc) – 10.2%
 State Regulatory issues (environmental, zoning, safety, codes, etc) – 12.5%
 Local Taxes – 18.2%
 State Taxes – 28.4%
 Federal Taxes – 33.0%
 Availability of a qualified workforce – 20.5%
 Health Insurance – 45.5%
 Tourism activity – 25.0%
 Marketing your business – 31.8%
 General Economy – 77.3%

19. Greatest Challenges – Write-in responses:
 Healthcare Reform
 State, Federal and Local government infrastructure spending
reductions or stagnation
 Cost of money and/or inflation
 Financial markets in particular

20. Chamber Programs &
Services
How important are they to your
business?

21. Information you obtain from the Weekly
Email:

22. Sharing information about your
business/organization in Weekly Email:

23. Business After Hours:

24. Business Before Hours:

25. Seminars & Educational
Programs

26. Connecting Women in
Business:

27. Entrepreneur Club of Emmet
County:

28. Political Advocacy Efforts:

29. Partnership in the Northern Michigan
Chamber Alliance for political advocacy:

30. Chamber website as a tool to
promote your business:

31. Chamber website as a resource for
information about chamber
events/programs:

32. Access to Blue Cross Blue Shield Health
Insurance Association plans:

33. Access to MCIM Worker’s
Compensation Program:

34. Golf Outing:

35. Community Cash:

36. Operation of the Downtown
Visitor Information Center:

37. Publishing and distribution of
the PRCC Visitor’s Guide:

38. Publishing and distribution of the
Community Profile & Membership
Directory:

39. Publishing and distribution of “Northwest
Michigan Business” magazine:

40. Festival on the Bay:

41. Art in the Park:

42. Farmers Market:

43. Chamber Programs &
Services
How important are they to the
community?

44. Entrepreneur Club of Emmet
County:

45. Chamber website as a resource for
information about the community:

46. Art in the Park:

47. Farmers Market:

48. Breakfast for Champions:

49. Operation of the Downtown
Visitor Information Center:

50. Leadership Little Traverse:

51. Festival on the Bay:

52. Programs Under
Consideration

53. Beginning in 2010 and continuing in 2011, the chamber will
continue to implement a new tiered dues structure. How do
you feel about this new approach to membership dues?
 I Like It – 64.6%
 I Do Not Like It – 8.5%
 I’m Not Aware of the Changes – 26.8%
Other Responses:
 No opinion yet
 I was aware that it was coming, but not sure how it will affect my business
 Customization to each business is a great idea
 It appears to be a money grab
 It is not that I am unaware, I just can’t remember the change
 My only struggle with these dues is how different divisions of the same entity are
being charged separate memberships. I didn’t really see the benefit of being listed in
the membership directory more than once for a membership.
 I am really indifferent
 Have not had a chance to read about it

54. How likely would you be to participate in a
one-hour long speed networking event?
 Very Likely – 4.6%
 Likely – 34.5%
 Not Likely – 48.3%
 Highly Unlikely – 12.6%

55. How likely would you be to participate in a
dedicated email to members to promote
your business and services?
 Very Likely – 26.4%
 Likely – 36.8%
 Not Likely – 29.9%
 Very Unlikely – 6.9%

56. Written Responses

57. Over the next three years, the chamber
should focus its political advocacy efforts
on…
 Pure Michigan Campaign*
 Education Funding Reform
 Term Limits Reform
 Attracting New Business*
 High Speed Network
 Better/Less Expensive Travel Resources
 Health Care*
 Small Business Support*
 Tourism*
 Employment Taxes*
 Unemployment Rules
 Stopping sprawl around Petoskey
 State and Federal Funding for Roads &
Infrastructure
 Reducing Michigan Business Tax*
 Continuing to monitor any easing of
restrictions on union organizing processes
 Encouraging Business Expansion into the
State*
 Continued Post Labor Day School Start
 Encouraging the City to be more Pro-
business
 Encouraging more Pro-business people to
hold offices
 Economy*
 Smaller Government
 Support of Local Advertisement – i.e. Signs
 Issues that could impact Local & State
Business
 Fair Tax*
 Simplification of Regulations*
 Bike/Pedestrian Paths
 Reduction of Operating Costs
 Fairness in regard to recovering taxes for
the state from website sales
 Bringing Passenger Rail Service to Northern
Michigan
 Collecting Info on issues for Members

58. Advocacy Efforts Continued…
 Fiscal Responsibility in Government
 Less Government Intrusion
 Grants for Business Improvements
 Increasing Business in Northern Michigan
 Local Issues*
 Real Estate Market
 The Chamber should not be involved in
political advocacy outside of specific issues
related to doing business in Emmet County

59. Over the next three years, the chamber
should focus its member programs and
services on…
 Improving health insurance options*
 Networking – Involvement*
 Referral Program (Incentive)
 Target Marketing (focus on specific
businesses)
 Business to Business Marketing*
 Events to bring people to town
 More statewide promotion
 Seminars for better business practices*
 Defining the keys to economic health and
growth of the region
 Improving members of non-downtown
businesses*
 Strengthening healthcare
committee/effectiveness
 Assisting in attracting/retaining businesses
 Chamber Newsletter*
 Social Networking
 Business Conferences
 Public Awareness (Important Products or
Services)
 Teaching new technology*
 Using new technology to increase business
 Increasing revenue to members
 Promoting Petoskey
 Access of public to services offered
 How to continue a forever-increasing sense
of community
 Programs that further enhance educating
our young people
 Human Resources Education
 Finding & Retaining Employees
 Customer Service Training*
 Shop Local Campaign
 Creating a weekly Friday night street event
 Follow through with services & programs,
especially with new members
 More networking & visibility

60. Program & Service Focus Continued…
 Informing all residents about businesses in
the area*
 Helping member businesses focus on
keeping more money in the community by
doing business locally
 Creating more support for new members –
i.e. Ambassadors to introduce them at
events
 Less expensive advertising
 Strengthening the image of downtown
 Small business education*
 Internet advertising
 Service education
 Events to bring in tourists*
 Member benefits – i.e. discounts, insurance
 Events that involve community members in
a social manner

61. What are the three most valuable programs
offered by the chamber?
 Downtown Visitors Center*
 Support of Downtown Management Board
 Political Advocacy*
 Overall Directory as a resource
 CWIB*
 Health Insurance*
 Business Directory*
 Festival on the Bay*
 Report to the Community
 Leadership Little Traverse*
 Support of Downtown Events
 Programs that bring visitors to the area &
bring the community together
 Weekly Email*
 Business Conference
 Business After Hours*
 Promoting Petoskey
 Christmas Open House
 Spring Open House
 Sidewalk Sale Days
 Networking*
 Outreach
 Sense of Community
 Informative Publications
 Website*
 Chamber Support Personnel
 Seminars for Businesses
 SCORE
 Farmers Market
 Membership Events*
 Entrepreneur Club
 Art in the Park
 General Community Outreach
 Marketing*
 Business to Business Connections*
 Core Mission

62. If you believe the chamber needs to add or
improve programs, which would be the most
important?
 Small Business Conference – make it an all-
day event
 Business Retention*
 Teaching new technology to members and
how to use technology to increase business
 Programs that increase tourism
 Programs that improve the downtown
experience
 Involvement in finding a solution for the “Big
Hole”
 Visiting area businesses – I haven’t seen
anyone in my business from the chamber in
over a year
 Cross market training*
 Knowledge of other businesses/companies
 More educational seminars targeting the
entire community, not just a portion – i.e.
CWIB or Entrepreneur Club
 Improve BBH & BAH – they seem more
socially oriented than networking
 Incorporate the downtown in events, to
encourage people to visit and shop
 The relationship with the and the direction of
the Visitors Bureau is the biggest question
 6 to 8 pm for BAH
 Fashion Shows
 Local Business Contests
 Family events might be nice
 Festival on the Bay

63. How should the chamber best
communicate with your business?
 Email*
 Direct Mail*
 Announcements at Chamber Events
 Phone*
 Annual Face-to-Face Meetings
 Personal Visit*
 Involvement of staff in appropriate committees/events
 Love the Weekly Email
 Text
 Fax
 Packets of info at events
 Scheduled visits
 Quarterly Newsletters
 Delivered handouts