Volume 1, Issue 5
Table of Contents

Cover Story:
The World is Flat
When it comes to Global business, the view looks good

RBD Round-Up:
RBD is On the Air!
WRCR teams up with RBD Co-publisher for weekly show
RBD Business Survey
Take part in RBD's 1st On-line Business Survey

DEPARTMENTS:

Economics Round-Up
• The Local Economy
Construction industry confidence rebounds, managers predict greater optimism
• The Smart Investor
Investing From Within: The key to becoming a smart investor
• Economic Viewpoint
It All Adds Up: The Fed takes delight in the economic numbers

Business Round-Up
• The Work-Life Minute™
Small business owners need innovation to battle burnout
• Marketing By Design
There Ought'a Be a Law: Marketing is nothing more than long-distance selling

Ask The Experts
• Business Start-ups
Negotiating a lease - from the tenant's view
• Expensing & Depreciation
Tax incentives for small business

Retail Round-Up
• Who's Hiring?
Summer employment program offers benefits to all
• New In Town

Invest in Your Community
• Provident Bank Charitable Foundation
Works to support help from People to People
• Red Cross Celebrates March
Partners with local business people for the good of all

Odds & Ends
• From The Publishers
• Letters to the Editor
• Rockland Newsmakers

Dedicated Section:
Rockland Business Association:

The President’s Desk
The State of the RBA

RBA/United Way Golf Outing
The Rockland Open: Monday, May 21st

RBA Happenings
• Committee and Council Info
• Calendar of Events
• New Members

Thank you for participating in this survey. You will find the results, marked in red, next to each of the questions below. Please fill out our latest survey by clicking here.

Describe your business: Sole proprietor 33% Small business (under 10 employees) 33% Mid-sized business (under 100 employees) 26% Large business (over 100 employees) 8%   Type of business: Manufacturing 8% Retail 8% Publishing/advertising/marketing 26% Financial services 17% Accounting/banking 8% Tourism 0% Farming/agriculture 0% Non-profit 17% Construction 0% Hotel/convention/hospitality 0%   What would you consider your business strengths? Service 58% Reputation 58% Product line 17% Expertise 58% Staff 25%   What would you consider your businesses weakness? Prices 8% Marketing 41% Location 0% Technology 25% Cost of doing business 33% None 8%   Do you have a strategic plan? Yes 50% No 41%   Is your marketing budget increasing or decreasing? Increasing 25% Decreasing 25% Staying the same 41%   How did your business fare in 2006? Revenues grew 17% What percent? % Revenues declined 25% What percent? % Revenues remained flat 58%   Please check if you are exploring any of the following in 2007: Hiring full-time staff 0% How many? Hiring part-time staff 25% How many? Starting temp services 0% How many months? Extending temp services 0% How many months? New office space 0% Size? (approx.) Expand office space 17% Size? (approx.) Downsize office space 0% Size? (approx.) Relocating outside Rockland 8%   If so, where to?   On a scale of 1-8 (1 being the most important), please rate the following as obstacles to doing business in Rockland County: Cost of worker's compensation 4 Real estate taxes 5 Healthcare/benefits issues 8 Finding qualified job applicants 1 Affordable housing 7 Commuter/transportation issues 3 Living wage 6 Broadband/telecommunication issues 2   As a business, where could you use support? Receivables 8% Taxes 33% Employee compensation 25% HR 17% Outsourcing 17% Finding international contacts 8% No support needed 17%