Alberta Business Beat
Volume 9, March 2015
1
Background and Methodology
2
Background
• ATB Financial commissioned NRG Research Group to conduct a survey of
randomly selected small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Alberta each
quarter, beginning in Q1 2013.
• The purpose of the study is to gain an understanding of the challenges faced by
SMEs in Alberta, and to track confidence in the business climate in Alberta.
Business & Agriculture
3
Research Objectives
• Measure business owners and managers’ perceptions of what the business
climate will be like six months from now;
• Determine SMEs’ perception of the connection between the success of their
business and the price of oil, natural gas, the value of the Canadian dollar, and
the strength of the Alberta economy;
• Understand SMEs’ top concerns about their business, outside of sales; and,
• Profile the firmographics as well as respondent demographics for SMEs in
Alberta.
Business & Agriculture
4
Methodology
Alberta SMEs
Qualifying Businesses
<500 employees,
<$20 million annual
revenues,
must be financial decision
makers or influencers
•Excluded agriculture,
government, financial
institutions, media, market
research, PR, advertising and
communications sectors
Field dates:
January 16 – March 6,
2015
• Telephone
• Approximately 13,000
businesses were
contacted and 624
completed the survey
• Margin of error is +/3.9%
Business & Agriculture
5
Key Insights
1
Alberta SMEs are not optimistic about the future of the
provincial economy recovering soon. The Business Beat
Economy Index has dropped substantially over the past two
quarters.
2
70% agree that their business’ success is tied to price of oil and
86% agree that it is tied to the success of the Alberta economy.
3
Yes, despite all that, Alberta SMEs remain optimistic about the
future of their own business.
Business & Agriculture
6
The ATB Business Beat Index
7
Optimism about the economy wanes
“How do you think… will be six months from now?”
Your Company
Alberta
Economy
35%
83%
-25
will be better off or the
same
will be better off or the
same
Business & Agriculture
-5
(±) Change from last quarter
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624.
8
The ATB Business Beat Index
ATB Business Beat Index
Index (0-100)
80
75.1
70.2
70
60
72.3
69.8
69.8
66.2
55.4
73.1
59.8
50
40
66.8
68.8
70.9
70.4
67.5
68.6
More optimistic about
future performance
Less optimistic about
future performance
58.3
ATB Business Index
44.5
ATB Economy Index
30
22.7
20
Q1 2013 Q2 2013 Q3 2013 Q4 2013 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015
Data time periods: Q1 2013= Jan 2013, Q2 2013 = May 2013, Q3 2013 = Aug/Sept 2013, Q4 2013 = Dec 2013,
Q1 2014= Mar 2014., Q2 2014 = June 2014, Q3 2014 = Aug, 2014; Q4 2014 = Dec 2014
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs 2013-15.
9
“How do you think… will
be six months from
now?”
Alberta Economy
The Same
Better Off
45%
35%
11%
25%
-23
5%
34% -26
9%
-25
16%
39%
16%
24%
20%
25%
29%
23%
Overall
Energy / Oil & Gas
Retail
Contruction
Manufacturing
Business & Agriculture
(±) Change from last quarter
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624.
10
“How do you think…
will be six months
from now?”
Your company
The Same
83%
34%
84%
63%
+4
Better Off
91%
+4
-12
79%
36%
41%
31%
18%
49%
45%
43%
Overall
Energy / Oil &
Gas
Retail
Business & Agriculture
55%
Construction
48%
Manufacturing
(±) Change from last quarter
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624.
11
The ATB Business Beat Index - Energy
ATB Business Beat Index
Index (0-100)
Energy
90
83.3
77.8
80
70.2
70
69.1
60
55.4
69.8
78.8
72.1
69.8
67.6
66.2
59.8
50
54.2
40
72.2 72.3
80.3
78.2
75.1
ATB Business Index
68.8
70.4
73.1
68.8 70.9
68.5
68.9
66.8More optimistic about 68.6
future performance
67.52
68.8
58.3
45.16
Less optimistic about
future performance
30
ATB Business Index
(Energy)
44.50
40.5
ATB Economy Index
30.65
22.7
20
ATB Economy Index
(Energy)
14.7
10
Q1 2013 Q2 2013 Q3 2013 Q4 2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015
Data time periods: Q1 2013= Jan 2013, Q2 2013 = May 2013, Q3 2013 = Aug/Sept 2013, Q4 2013 = Dec 2013,
Q1 2014= Mar 2014., Q2 2014 = June 2014, Q3 2014 = Aug, 2014; Q4 2014 = Dec 2014
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs 2013-15.
12
The ATB Business Beat Index – Retail
ATB Business Beat Index
Index (0-100)
Retail
85
77.5
75
65
70.7
69.8 67.7
70.2
59.1
55 55.4
63.8
59.8
69.8
72.3
68.3
66.0 66.2
50.0
75.6
66.8
79.2
76.4
75.1
73.1
70.9
68.5 68.8
68.6
More optimistic about
future performance
Less optimistic about
future performance
45
70.4
64.4
75.00
ATB Business Index
62.5
71
67.52
58.3
44.50
ATB Business Index
(Retail)
ATB Economy Index
45.45
35
25
21.1
22.7
ATB Economy Index
(Retail)
15
Q1 2013 Q2 2013 Q3 2013 Q4 2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015
Data time periods: Q1 2013= Jan 2013, Q2 2013 = May 2013, Q3 2013 = Aug/Sept 2013, Q4 2013 = Dec 2013,
Q1 2014= Mar 2014., Q2 2014 = June 2014, Q3 2014 = Aug, 2014; Q4 2014 = Dec 2014
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs 2013-15.
13
The ATB Business Beat Index - Construction
ATB Business Beat Index
Index (0-100)
Construction
90
85.2
83.9
81.7
72.2
78.6
69.8
73.7
69.5
70
70.2
60
69.8
65.5
66.2
55.4
59.8
50
ATB Business Index
78.3
80
54.1
73.1
75.1
72.3
66.8 68.4
68.8
70.9 75
68.3
70.4
66.28
67.52
68.6
More optimistic about
future performance
Less optimistic about
future performance
40
73.3
64.2
ATB Business Index
(Construction)
58.3
53.41
ATB Economy Index
44.50
30
30.8
ATB Economy Index
(Construction)
22.7
20
Q1 2013 Q2 2013 Q3 2013 Q4 2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015
Data time periods: Q1 2013= Jan 2013, Q2 2013 = May 2013, Q3 2013 = Aug/Sept 2013, Q4 2013 = Dec 2013,
Q1 2014= Mar 2014., Q2 2014 = June 2014, Q3 2014 = Aug, 2014; Q4 2014 = Dec 2014
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs 2013-15.
14
“How do you think… will
be six months from
now?”
Alberta Economy
The Same
39%
4%
35%
Startup
Better Off
38%
37%
34%
12%
10%
15%
24%
23%
25%
Initial
Growth
Established Expansion
33%
10%
28%
11%
23%
17%
Mature
Winding
Down
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n 624.
15
“How do you
think… will be six
months from now?”
Your Company
The Same
Better Off
97%
93%
80%
83%
81%
22%
71%
24%
51%
24%
52%
65%
75%
57%
42%
47%
Expansion
Mature
31%
15%
Startup
Initial Growth Established
Winding
Down
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624.
16
What’s Driving the ATB Business Beat Index?
17
Top Comments: Energy/Oil & Gas Industry
“Why do you believe that your company will be better off or the same six months from now?”
Loyal or established customers
17%
My business is needed
12%
We are expanding/seeing continual growth
12%
“NO MATTER WHAT, WE ALWAYS SEEM
TO RECOVER. EVEN IF WE ARE IN A BIT
OF A SLUMP, THERE ARE ALWAYS JOBS
TO FIND, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU
WANT TO
DO.“ or Office Manager,
General
Manager
Energy or Oil and Gas,
20 years in business,
20-49 employees,
$1 million to less than $3 million in revenues.
“Why do you believe that the Alberta economy will be better off or the same six months from now?”
Oil prices will go back up
14%
Alberta/ Alberta's workforce is diverse
14%
Albertans are tough/will adjust
14%
“I THINK THE OIL PRICE IS GOING TO GO
UP IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.“
CEO or President,
Energy or Oil and Gas,
7 years in business,
20-49 employees,
$5 million to less than $10 million in revenues.
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015 Energy/Oil and Gas industry SMEs who believe that their company (n =
53) or the Alberta economy (n = 21) will be better off or the same six months from now.
18
Top Comments: Retail Industry
“Why do you believe that your company will be better off or the same six months from now?”
We are expanding/seeing
continual growth
My business is not affected
My business is needed
“BECAUSE A FACTOR THAT DECIDES TOURISM
IS THE PRICE OF GASOLINE. THE OTHER
ASPECT IS THAT OUR MAJOR MARKET IS THE
USA AND WE HAVE A 25% ADVANTAGE, THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE VALUE OF THE
Owner/Operator,
CANADIAN AND AMERICAN DOLLARS.“
Retail,
38 years in business,
1-4 employees,
Less than $250,000 in revenues.
13%
11%
9%
“Why do you believe that the Alberta economy will be better off or the same six months from now?”
Fluctuation is normal
21%
Price of oil
16%
Oil prices will rebound
16%
“IT GOES THROUGH EBB AND FLOW, AND THIS IS
THE LATEST EBB AND FLOW. OIL PRICES WILL
GO UP. BUSINESSES WILL ADAPT.“
CEO or President,
Retail,
4 years in business,
1-4 employees,
$500,000 to less than $1 million in revenues.
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015 Retail industry SMEs who believe that their company (n = 47) or the
Alberta economy (n = 19) will be better off or the same six months from now.
19
Top Comments: Construction Industry
“Why do you believe that your company will be better off or the same six months from now?”
Have work lined up
Loyal or established customers
We are expanding/seeing continual
growth
21%
9%
8%
“BECAUSE THE INTEREST RATES ARE
LOW. LOTS OF LABOUR AND PROJECTS
CAN GET COMPLETED ON TIME FOR
Owner/Operator,
LESS MONEY.”
57 years in business,
1-4 employees,
$250,000 to less than $500,000 in revenues.
“Why do you believe that the Alberta economy will be better off or the same six months from now?”
Oil prices will go back up
Alberta/ Alberta's workforce is
diverse
19%
13%
Price of oil
10%
Have not seen changes/ don't think it
will change
10%
“BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A FAIRLY DIVERSE
WORKFORCE HERE AND WE DO QUITE
WELL. ALBERT'S ECONOMY IS BETTER
THAN OTHER PROVINCES' ECONOMIES
AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.“
Owner/Operator,
Construction,
12 years in business,
1-4 employees,
Less than $250,000 in revenues.
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015 Construction industry SMEs who believe that their company (n = 68) or
the Alberta economy (n = 33) will be better off or the same six months from now.
20
Top Comments: Manufacturing Industry
“Why do you believe that your company will be better off or the same six months from now?”
We are expanding/seeing continual…
20%
Large or growing client base
15%
My business is consistent
10%
We are international
10%
My business is not affected
10%
“BECAUSE WE DO SO MUCH
INTERNATIONAL WORK. THE PEOPLE IN
ALBERTA, WITH THE OIL PRICES SO LOW
AND DEPRESSING THE CANADIAN
DOLLAR,
IT BOOSTS OUR EXPORTS.”
CEO
or President,
Manufacturing,
33 years in business,
50-99 employees,
$15 million to less than $20 million in revenues.
“Why do you believe that the Alberta economy will be better off or the same six months from now?”
Oil prices will go back up
Albertans are tough/will adjust
9%
Oil prices will be worse in 6 months
9%
Businesses are cutting costs
9%
Will take longer than 6 months to…
9%
29% “BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE
PRICES OF OIL WILL GO DRAMATICALLY
DOWN OR UP IN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS.”
CEO or President,
Manufacturing,
33 years in business,
50-99 employees,
$15 million to less than $20 million in revenues.
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, Manufacturing industry SMEs who believe that their company (n
= 23) or the Alberta economy (n = 12) will be better off or the same six months from now.
21
Overall – worse off
“Why do you believe that your company will be worse off financially six months from now?”
Price of oil
“EVERYBODY I CONSULT WITH IS IN THE
OIL AND GAS FIELD. WITH HOW IT'S
GETTING HIT NOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO
Bookkeeper,
BE HAPPY FUN TIMES.“
Financial Services,
Less than 1 year in business,
1-4 employees,
Less than $250,000 in revenues.
36%
Access to funding
16%
Economic slowdown
13%
“Why do you believe that the economy will be worse off six months from now?”
Price of oil
Alberta economy is reliant
on the oil industry
Higher unemployment
58%
16%
9%
“BECAUSE OF THE DEPENDENCE ON OIL
PRICES. THE ALBERTA ECONOMY
DERIVES A LOT OF REVENUE FROM OIL
AND GAS. IT HAS A DOMINO EFFECT AND
THERE IS LESS ACTIVITY ON THE OIL
Owner/Operator,
FIELD.“
Energy or Oil and Gas,
8 years in business,
5-19 employees,
$3 million to less than $5 million in revenues.
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, SMEs who believe that their company (n = 103) or the Alberta
economy (n = 398) will be worse off financially six months from now; responses mentioned by 5% or more are shown.
22
What keeps SMEs up at night?
23
“Other than sales, what is the one thing
about your business that keeps you up
at night? ”
Overall
Labour/Workforce
18%
Cash flow
12%
Operations
Sales/Marketing
General economy
“I'D SAY PROBABLY STAFFING. UP UNTIL
RECENTLY, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO
GET TRAINED EMPLOYEES IN RURAL
Owner/Operator,
AREAS.“
Wholesale,
20 years in business,
5-19 employees,
$1 million to less than $3 million in revenues.
11%
8%
6%
“THE OVERALL ECONOMIC STATE OF
ALBERTA, THE DEFICIT AND INCREASED
Owner/Operator,
TAXATION.“
Retail,
19 years in business,
1-4 employees,
$1 million to less than $3 million in revenues.
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624; responses mentioned by 5% or more are shown.
24
“Other than sales, what is the one
thing about your business that keeps
you up at night? ”
Energy/Oil & Gas
Labour/Workforce
20%
Cash flow
14%
General economy
14%
Sales/Marketing
Operations
10%
7%
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 87 Energy/Oil and Gas industry respondents ; responses
mentioned by 5% or more are shown.
25
“Other than sales, what is the one thing about
your business that keeps you up at night? ”
Retail
Operations
14%
Labour/Workforce
12%
Facilities/Equipment
11%
Sales/Marketing
9%
Cash flow
General economy
7%
5%
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 57 Retail industry respondents; responses mentioned by 5%
or more are shown.
26
“Other than sales, what is the one
thing about your business that
keeps you up at night? ”
Construction
Labour/Workforce
16%
Operations
12%
Cash flow
9%
Sales/Marketing
9%
General economy
5%
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 74 Construction industry respondents; responses mentioned
by 5% or more are shown.
27
“Other than sales, what is the
one thing about your business
that keeps you up at night? ”
Manufacturing
Labour/Workforce
19%
Cash flow
13%
General economy
13%
Sales/Marketing
Operations
9%
6%
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 32 Manufacturing industry respondents; responses
mentioned by 5% or more are shown.
28
What is your business success tied to?
29
The success of my business is tied to....
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
The Price of Oil
The Price of Natural Gas
Value of the Cdn dollar
The Alberta economy
Availability of skilled labour
Neutral
33%
16%
27%
20%
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
37%
12%
4%
31%
34%
26%
4%
46%
3% 14%
27%
23%
40%
26%
3%
16%
21%
1% 8% 5%
20%
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624.
30
“Would you agree that
the success of your
business is tied to...The
price of oil”
Price of oil
Strongly agree
Overall
Somewhat agree
33%
Energy/Oil & Gas
Retail
Construction
Manufacturing
Neutral
Somewhat disagree
37%
3%
72%
33%
27%
14%
Strongly disagree
12%
21%
35%
5%
50%
44%
12%
5%
31%
6%
6% 1%
12%
14%
4%
16%
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624.
31
“Would you agree that
the success of your
business is tied to...The
price of natural gas”
Natural gas
Strongly agree
Overall
Somewhat agree
16%
Energy/Oil & Gas
Retail
Construction
Manufacturing
Neutral
27%
4%
44%
12%
7%
26%
28%
26%
7%
35%
22%
Somewhat disagree
4%
25%
28%
31%
28%
Strongly disagree
27%
5%
14%
10%
26%
23%
25%
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624.
32
“Would you agree that the
success of your business is
tied to...The value of the
Canadian dollar”
Canadian dollar
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Overall
20%
Energy/Oil & Gas
31%
25%
Retail
Construction
Neutral
4%
23%
47%
32%
14%
Manufacturing
Somewhat disagree
38%
41%
21%
5%
26%
4%
5%
31%
Strongly disagree
14%
26%
23%
8%
11%
19%
16%
13%
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624.
33
“Would you agree that the
success of your business is
tied to...The Alberta economy”
Alberta economy
Strongly agree
Overall
Somewhat agree
Neutral
46%
Energy/Oil & Gas
Somewhat disagree
40%
57%
Strongly disagree
1% 8% 5%
34%
2% 5% 1%
Retail
54%
35%
2% 4% 5%
Construction
54%
36%
3% 7%
Manufacturing
34%
53%
13%
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624.
34
“Would you agree that the
success of your business is
tied to...The availability of
skilled labour”
Skilled labour
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Overall
34%
Energy/Oil & Gas
Retail
21%
Somewhat disagree
26%
39%
Construction
Manufacturing
Neutral
3%
33%
32%
7%
46%
31%
16%
3%
20%
1% 13%
14%
30%
22%
Strongly disagree
14%
26%
5% 9%
28%
9%
13%
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624.
35
The ATB Business Beat: Two Years In
36
Price of oil and CAD value: Then and now
Q1 2013
Q1 2015
Price of Oil
Price of Oil
$96.09
$48.49
Value of the Canadian Dollar
Value of the Canadian Dollar
$1.0066 US
$0.8343 US
Business & Agriculture
37
Optimism about the future: Then and now
“How do you think… will be six months from now?”
Alberta
Q1 2013EconomyQ1 2015
Your Company
Q1 2013
Q1 2015
76%
35%
87%
83%
will be better off or the
same
will be better off or the
same
will be better off or the
same
will be better off or the
same
In both waves, 86% of Alberta SMEs agree their business success is tied to the
Alberta economy
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, January 2013 (n = 303) and March 2015
38
Business drivers: Then and now
“Would you agree that the success of your business is tied to...The price of oil”
Strongly agree
Q1 2015
Somewhat agree
33%
Q1 2013
Neutral
Somewhat disagree
37%
42%
3%
28%
1%
14%
18%
Strongly disagree
12%
10%
“Would you agree that the success of your business is tied to...The price of natural gas”
Q1 2015
Q1 2013
16%
27%
21%
27%
4%
1%
26%
27%
29%
21%
“Would you agree that the success of your business is tied to...The Alberta economy”
Q1 2015
Q1 2013
46%
54%
40%
32%
1% 8%
5%
1% 11% 2%
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, January 2013 (n = 303) and March 2015
39
Top 3 business concerns: Then and now
“Other than sales, what is the one thing about your business that keeps you up at night?”
Q1 2013
Access to labour
23%
Cash flow
Growing business
7%
6%
Q1 2015
Access to labour
Workload issues
Client service
11%
6%
5%
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, January 2013 (n = 303) and March 2015
40
APPENDIX: Firmographics & Respondent
Demographics
41
Business Firmographics
Annual Revenues 2014
Number of Employees
8%
1 to 4 'Micro'
46%
5 to 49 'Small'
10%
21%
19%
$250k-500k
$500k-<$1MM
50 to 499 'Med'
15%
46%
19%
< $250k
$1MM-<$3MM
$3MM-<$10MM
17%
$10MM+
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624.
42
Business Firmographics
# of Years in Operation
Borrowing Needs
No borrowing
needs
53%
Less than $1MM
$1 to < $3MM
$3 to < $10MM
Less than 6 years
14%
6 to 10 years
15%
11 to 15 years
15%
37%
6%
3%
16 to 20 years
Over 20 years
MEAN
23 years
13%
43%
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624.
43
Business Firmographics
10% of
interviewed SMEs
are franchises
Industry
Energy/ Oil & Gas
16%
Construction
13%
Retail Trade
Manufacturing
Health Care & Social
Asst
10%
6%
Franchise Industry (n = 64)
Automotive
17
Retail
12
Food Services
7
Energy/Oil & Gas Services
6
Financial Services / Insurance
3
5%
Prof, Sci & Tech
4%
Transp/ Warehouse
4%
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624.
44
Business Firmographics
Business Life Stage
Phase
Start-up
Initial Growth
4%
9%
Established
47%
20%
Expansion
Mature
Winding Down
13%
6%
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624.
45
Respondent Demographics
Title/ Role
49%
Owner/ Operator
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
or President
General Manager (GM) or
Office Manager
19%
12%
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
5%
Managing Director, Senior
Director or Director
5%
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624.
46
Respondent Demographics
Role in Financial
Decisions
Gender
13%
Male
38%
61%
Female
49%
39%
Sole decision-maker
Shares responsibility
Influences decisions
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 624.
47
Judy Duncan
Managing Director Marketing,
B&Ag
(403) 974-6884
[email protected]
Cody Tousignant
Senior Research Manager
Customer Insights
(403) 731-3507
[email protected]
48
APPENDIX: Additional SME Quotes
49
“Why do you believe that your company will be better off financially six months from now?”
“WE HAVE A LONG TERM PROGRAM AND
WE ARE FOLLOWING IT STRICTLY AND
TIGHTLY SO WE CAN SEE IT GROWING.“
Owner/Operator,
Transportation and Warehousing,
8 years in business,
1-4 employees,
$250,000 to less than $500,000 in revenues.
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 204 SMEs who believe that their company will be better off
financially six months from now.
50
“Why do you believe that your company will be the same financially six months from now?”
“BECAUSE WE KNOW OUR MARKET. WE
HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 33 YEARS.
HISTORY, I GUESS.“
Owner/Operator,
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,
33 years in business,
20-49 employees,
$3 million to less than $5 million in revenues.
“JUST BECAUSE THE BUSINESS I'M IN IS
NOT AS EXPOSED TO OIL PRICES AND
THE ECONOMY, BUT THERE ISN'T MUCH
ROOM FOR GROWTH BECAUSE
EVERYONE IS WATCHING THEIR
CEO
or President,
DOLLARS.“
Wholesale Trade,
10 years in business,
1-4 employees,
$250,000 to less than $500,000 in revenues.
“BECAUSE IT HASN'T CHANGED IN THE
LAST 6 MONTHS. I'M ALWAYS
OPTIMISTIC.”
Owner/Operator,
Energy or Oil and Gas,
15 years in business,
1-4 employees,
$250,000 to less than $500,000 in revenues.
“LOYAL CUSTOMERS. SAME CLIENT
BASE. GOOD PRICES AND QUALITY
General Manager or Office Manager,
WORK.“
Automotive,
33 years in business,
1-4 employees,
$500,000 to less than $1 million in revenues.
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 300 SMEs who believe that their company will be the same
financially six months from now.
51
“Why do you believe that your company will be worse off financially six months from now?”
“BECAUSE OUR INDUSTRY IS TANKING.
IT'S FALLING ON IT'S FACE RIGHT NOW
AND ANYTIME YOUR EXPENSES EXCEED
YOUR REVENUE, IT'S NOT GOOD. I DON'T
SEE AN IMPROVEMENT FOR 4 OR 5
YEARS.“
Manager,
Energy or Oil and Gas,
20 years in business,
1-4 employees,
$250,000 to less than $500,000 in revenues.
“WE ARE ENTERTAINMENT. WHENEVER
THERE IS A RECESSION, WE ARE THE
FIRST
TO FEEL IT.“
CEO
or President,
Retail,
17 years in business,
5-19 employees,
$500,000 to less than $1 million in revenues.
“WE ARE ON THE ENGINEERING SIDE OF
THINGS. AS EXPENDITURES RETRACT,
WE ARE THE FIRST ONES THAT WILL BE
Controller,
AFFECTED.”
Energy or Oil and Gas,
15 years in business,
20-49 employees,
$10 million to less than $15 million in revenues.
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 103 SMEs who believe that their company will be worse off
financially six months from now.
52
“Why do you believe that the Alberta economy will be the same six months from now?”
“IT TAKES TIME TO REBOUND FROM LOW
OIL PRICES. IT WON'T REBOUND IN SIX
MONTHS. IT TOOK MORE THAN SIX
General
Manager
Office Manager,
MONTHS
TO GOorDOWN.“
Construction,
30 years in business,
1-4 employees,
$500,000 to less than $1 million in revenues.
“WE'VE GOT MORE PEOPLE NOW
LOOKING FOR WORK AND THE
PROJECTS ARE STILL THERE. SOME OF
US IN THE BUILDING TRADES WILL BE
BETTER OFF BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE
MORE PEOPLE TO SELECT FROM.”
Owner/Operator,
18 years in business,
1-4 employees,
$500,000 to less than $1 million in revenues.
“BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER
INDUSTRIES THAT ARE GROWING LIKE
AGRICULTURE, MEDICAL, AND
General
ManagerCONSTRUCTION.“
or Office Manager,
COMMERCIAL
Energy or Oil and Gas,
3 years in business,
20-49 employees,
$3 million to less than $5 million in revenues.
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 144 SMEs who believe that the Alberta economy will be the
same six months from now.
53
“Why do you believe that the Alberta economy will be better off six months from now?”
“I THINK WE ARE IN A HICCUP NOW AND
IT WILL CORRECT ITSELF. THERE ARE
STILL JOBS AND PEOPLE MOVING HERE.
MOST MARKETS GO DOWN AND GO UP.
IT IS JUST PART OF GROWTH.“
Bookkeeper,
Financial Services,
Less than 1 year in business,
1-4 employees,
Less than $250,000 in revenues.
“WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS BEFORE. WE
HAVE THIS STALL AND THEN EVERYTHING
STARTS UP AGAIN. ONCE THE PIPELINE GETS
APPROVED AND GETS GOING, THE ECONOMY
Controller,
WILL PICK UP.“
Automotive,
14 years in business,
20-49 employees,
$500,000 to less than $1 million in revenues.
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 66 SMEs who believe that the Alberta economy will be better
off six months from now.
54
“Why do you believe that the economy will be worse off six months from now?”
“DEPRESSED OIL PRICES MEANS LOSS
OF JOBS AND LOSS OF REVENUE FOR
THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH WILL MEAN
HIGHER TAXES OR LOWER BENEFITS.“
Senior Manager or Manager,
Business Services,
55 years in business,
20-49 employees,
$5 million to less than $10 million in revenues.
“BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR REVENUE IS
BASED ON PRODUCTION IN THE NORTH
AND I KNOW OF A LOT OF CONTRACTS
THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED AND HAVE
CEO
or President,
BEEN
SUBSEQUENTLY CANCELLED.”
Construction,
39 years in business,
5-19 employees,
$1 million to less than $3 million in revenues.
“BECAUSE THERE ARE NUMEROUS
LAYOFFS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. WHEN
PEOPLE ARE UNEMPLOYED, THEY DON'T
BUY ANYTHING.“
General
Manager or Office Manager,
Financial Services,
12 years in business,
1-4 employees,
Less than $250,000 in revenues.
Business & Agriculture
Source: ATB Financial, Survey on Alberta SMEs, March 2015, n = 398 SMEs who believe that the Alberta economy will be
worse off six months from now.
55