CivicBank of Commerce Releases Results of 13th Annual Bay Area Business Survey.OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 5, 1997-- Business is Great ... If You Can Get to the Office; 1997 Sales Are Bright, But Improved Commute TO COMMUTE. To substitute one punishment in the place of another. For example, if a man be sentenced to be hung, the executive may, in some states, commute his punishment to that of imprisonment. Time Leads CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Wish List; Technology Has Become "Integral" to Mid-Sized Firms; Outsourcing Has Not CivicBank of Commerce has just released the results of its Thirteenth Annual Business Survey. The survey was sent to over 2,500 business owners and CEOs in Alameda Alameda (ăləmē`də, –mā`də), city (1990 pop. 76,459), Alameda co., W central Calif., on an island just off the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay; settled 1850, inc. as a city 1884. , Contra Costa Contra Costa can refer to:
Santa Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba. counties. The companies surveyed represent a cross section of mid-sized firms from five major industry classifications: contractors/real estate-related businesses, product manufacturers, product distributors, service businesses and professional service providers. The majority of businesses surveyed have been in existence over 10 years and have annual sales of $5.0 million to over $40 million. This year's survey categorizes 1997 as a year of financial stability and favorable economic conditions. In September, when the survey was conducted, 71% of all respondents had met their 1997 sales goals. In particular, contractors and real estate-related businesses report the greatest success (92% have hit their targets), and product distributors the least (64%). Increased competition was cited as the most common reason for not meeting sales goals. However, in spite of competition, 84% of all the businesses surveyed expect to increase sales in 1998. Business leaders were vocal about the need for improving Bay Area transit to enhance accessibility to the workplace. Fully 49% of business owners in Santa Clara County state that traffic congestion The condition of a network when there is not enough bandwidth to support the current traffic load. congestion - When the offered load of a data communication path exceeds the capacity. impedes their ability to attract and retain employees. The respondents were queried about various solutions to the commuting crisis. In Alameda County, 42% favor the extension of Measure B (a $.05 sales tax sales tax, levy on the sale of goods or services, generally calculated as a percentage of the selling price, and sometimes called a purchase tax. It is usually collected in the form of an extra charge by the retailer, who remits the tax to the government. dedicated to transportation infrastructure). Fifty-six percent endorse BART extensions from Walnut Creek Walnut Creek, residential city (1990 pop. 60,569), Contra Costa co., W Calif., in the San Francisco Bay area; inc. 1914. It is the trade and shipping center of an extensive agricultural area where walnuts are among the major product. to Dublin, and 65% to the San Francisco Airport. Highway expansion projects were cited by 51% as a key to improved transit in San Mateo County. In contrast to feedback received in past surveys, technology has now become an integral part of most mid-sized businesses in the Bay Area. Fifty-six percent describe computers as "essential" to their business with 29% stating that computers are "very important" to their business. The World Wide Web is a popular place with just over three-quarters of the respondents (77%) currently accessing the Web for research purposes and 59% using the Web to communicate with vendors and suppliers. Forty-seven percent of the companies currently maintain a Web site, with 18% stating they planned to establish a Web site within the next 12 months. Communicating with clients and prospects via a Web site ranked fairly low. In contrast, providing general information and a catalog catalog, descriptive list, on cards or in a book, of the contents of a library. Assurbanipal's library at Nineveh was cataloged on shelves of slate. The first known subject catalog was compiled by Callimachus at the Alexandrian Library in the 3d cent. B.C. of products and services ranked relatively high, indicating a subtle separation between promoting capabilities online and acquiring clients in the same manner. Most businesses appear to function on a self-contained basis, with only 12% of respondents reporting that they outsource business functions. Product manufacturers, the industry most likely to outsource, report that they utilize outside vendors only where their internal capabilities end, for example, assembly and packaging. For 1998, the companies surveyed rank customer service, sales and marketing and operations efficiencies as their highest priorities for improving business performance. Additionally, 58% of the respondents plan to increase their employee count, up from 48% of those responding last year. Not surprisingly, 84% forecast increased sales next year. CivicBank of Commerce, The Bay Area's Leading Independent Business Bank, is a full service financial institution founded in 1984. CivicBank of Commerce has eight offices serving businesses and professional practices throughout the greater Bay Area. CONTACT: CivicBank of Commerce Herb Foster, 510/836-6500 |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion