Retail Sales to Canadian-owned businesses, International border businesses, and Public border-related agencies

From the Chamber's directory, we chose equipment and service providers who market directly to businesses.  These companies included the following categories: advertising services, printing press, bottled water provider, building supply store, telecommunications system provider, office equipment provider, freight services, travel agency, courier service, HVAC contractor, and a human resources consultant.  We asked these companies to report their 1998 sales to companies on the lists.  For this replication study, the same group of retailers contacted in 1996 were again asked to participate.

Aggregate Sales Reported by Selected Clinton County Retailers to Canadian-owned Businesses, International Border Businesses and Public Border Agencies in Calendar Years 1994, 1996 and 1998

Aggregate sales reported by 5 of the 12 surveyed Clinton County Retailers was 2.3 times that of overall 1996 sales to Canadian-owned businesses, International border businesses, and Public border related businesses. The five businesses that participated in both 1996 and 1998 reported an increase of 4.5 fold. These businesses accounted for all of the sales reported in 1998 and 51% of the total sales to Canadian-owned businesses, International border businesses, and Public border-related agencies in 1996.   

Methodological Notes: 

    We propose that this survey of the same companies be performed annually.  The relevance of this indicator is not in the volume of sales at any point in time but rather with the trend in sales for these same companies over time.  When companies are no longer in business, replacement firms should be selected from the same category of business.  The Chamber should make an effort to secure an agreement to participate from all of the retail market basket firms for future replications.

 Recommendations for Replication: 

   Most companies were willing to share detailed information with the caveat that only the aggregation of all the surveyed companies' sales was reported.  Replication should be straightforward.