Sterling-Rohmann Business Survey

Name (optional): ______

Business Name (optional):

Business Address (optional):

Phone # and Email Address (optional): ________________________________________

(Please check only one answer per question unless otherwise instructed)

Business Self-Assessment:

1. Check all that apply which best defines your current business role?

____ a. property owner

____ b. business owner

____ c. store manager

____ d. other (please specify ______________________________________________)

2. How many years has your business been located on Sterling/Rohmann?

____ a. less than 1 year

____ b. 1 to 4 years

____ c. 5 to 9 years

____ d. 10 or more years

____ e. N/A

3. Which category best describes your type of business?

____ a. Technology related ____ i. Communications/Media

____ b. Medical-related services ____ j. Banking & Finance

____ c. Restaurant ____ k. Insurance

____ d. Bar ____ l. Real Estate

____ e. Business Services ____ m. Manufacturing/ Fabrication

____ f. Government-related ____ n. Other (specify ______________)

____ g. Retail store

____ h. Legal

4. For the past five years, which one of these best indicates the revenue growth of your business when compared to the national average (2%)?

____ a. greater than 5%

____ b. 3-4%

____ c. 1-2%

____ d. no growth

____ f. revenue decline

____ e. N/A

5. Do you currently intend to stay in business on Sterling/Rohmann long-term (more than 5 years)?

Yes No

6. When is your best-estimated revenue volume time? (Select one from each category)

I. Qtr/Months: II. Day: III. Time:

____ a. 1^st qtr (Jan-Mar) ____ a. Mon ____ a. 8 am – 11 am

____ b. 2^nd qtr (Apr-Jun) ____ b. Tue ____ b. 11 am – 2 pm

____ c. 3^rd qtr (Jul-Sep) ____ c. Wed ____ c. 2 pm – 5 pm

____ d. 4^th qtr (Oct-Dec) ____ d. Thu ____ d. after 5 pm

____ e. N/A ____ e. Fri ____ e. N/A

____ f. Sat

____ g. Sun

____ h. N/A

7. What best describes the profile of the majority of your customers?

(Select one from each category)

I. Gender II. Age III. Residence IV. Type of customer

____ a. male ____ a. under 16 ____ a. West Peoria ____ a. repeat customer

____ b. female ____ b. 16-25 ____ b. Peoria ____ b. new, first time

____ c. 26-35 ____ c. outside Peoria ____ c. other businesses

____ d. 36-45 ____ d. other ____________

____ e. 46-55 _____________ ____

____ f. 56 or older

8. What are the top 3 methods used to market/advertise your business/property? (Please rank your answers: 1, 2 and 3)

____ a. personal contacts ____ h. phone book

____ b. radio ____ i. internet

____ c. newspaper ____ j. billboard

____ d. cable TV ____ k. novelties/handouts/freebies

____ e. broadcast TV ____ l. magazines

____ f. direct mail ____ m. Peoria Chamber

____ g. conventions (newsletter, event sponsors, etc.)

____ n. other (specify ___________________

_________________________)

Sterling/Rohmann Assessment:

9. Please indicate if you agree or disagree with how the following factors currently contribute to bringing customers to Sterling/Rohmann:

Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree

a. Sales and discounts 5 4 3 2 1

b. Special events 5 4 3 2 1

c. Newspaper ads 5 4 3 2 1

d. Retail mix 5 4 3 2 1

e. Selection of items 5 4 3 2 1

f. Customer service 5 4 3 2 1

g. Store coupons 5 4 3 2 1

h. Convenient parking 5 4 3 2 1

i. Store hours 5 4 3 2 1

j. Cost/price of items 5 4 3 2 1

10. Please indicate if you agree or disagree with how the following factors would attract customers

to Sterling/Rohmann in the future:

Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree

a. Evening hours 5 4 3 2 1

b. More restaurants 5 4 3 2 1

c. Improved customer service 5 4 3 2 1

d. More retail shops 5 4 3 2 1

e. More events/festivals 5 4 3 2 1

f. Increased parking 5 4 3 2 1

g. Lower prices/more sales 5 4 3 2 1

h. Cleanliness/beautification 5 4 3 2 1

i. Longer weekend hours 5 4 3 2 1

11. What type of new business would bring the most customers to Sterling/Rohmann?

(List 1 category: e.g. restaurant, bookstore, entertainment, etc.)

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

12. Rate the following for the Sterling/Rohmann intersection: (Circle one for each)

Excellent Good Average Fair Poor

a. Attractiveness of stores/storefronts 5 4 3 2 1

b. Parking convenience for customers 5 4 3 2 1

c. Cleanliness of streets, sidewalks, lots 5 4 3 2 1

d. Traffic flow 5 4 3 2 1

e. Shopping hours 5 4 3 2 1

f. Promotions, special events, festivals 5 4 3 2 1

g. Safety/crime rate 5 4 3 2 1

h. Quality of goods & services 5 4 3 2 1

i. Cost of goods & services 5 4 3 2 1

j. Variety of goods & services 5 4 3 2 1

k. Customer service/friendliness of sales force 5 4 3 2 1

13. Which one of these do you believe most discourages customers from coming to Sterling/Rohmann?

____ a. store hours ____ d. location of shops

____ b. cost/price of goods ____ e. selection of stores

____ c. lack of parking ____ f. lack of customer service

____ g. other (___________________________)

14. I. What is your overall impression of Sterling/Rohmann? (circle one)

Excellent Good Average Fair Poor

II. What is your reason for the answer above?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

15. What is one improvement businesses could make to enhance Sterling/Rohmann?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

16. Do you have any additional comments on issues affecting Sterling/Rohmann businesses?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

17. Would you be in favor of the city developing a set of design guidelines for the

Sterling/Rohmann business district? (i.e., new businesses on Sterling/Rohmann must

follow a color scheme, or have similar style of signage, etc.)

Yes No

18. Would you support the institution of a tax to create revenue to support the upkeep and

beautification of Sterling/Rohmann in West Peoria? Funds could be used for more new

trash cans, park benches, signage, flowers, holiday decorations, etc.

Yes No

19. I. Would you be interested in participating in a façade improvement program?

Yes No

II. If yes, are there any façade improvement or renovation projects that are of particular interest to

you? (For example, landscape improvements, new office space, roof rehabilitation, etc.)

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

20. If a resident organization were to form with the goal of encouraging business development

in West Peoria, including making improvements to the Sterling/ Rohmann business district,

would you be willing to make a monetary contribution to that organization for agreed upon

improvements?

Yes No

21. I. If a volunteer group such as a “Business Association” dedicated to improving the

Sterling/Rohmann business district was initiated, would you be interested in becoming a

member? The free membership would be open to businesses of all types and would

provide a forum to exchange ideas for improving the Sterling/Rohmann area.

Yes No

II. If you are interested, what time of day would be most convenient for you to attend

meetings? (Pick one)

____ a. Early morning (7 am)

____ b. Lunch time (12 pm)

____ c. Early afternoon (after 1 pm)

____ d. Evening (after 5 pm)

22. I. Are you aware of the City of West Peoria’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district?

Yes No

II. Would you like information regarding West Peoria’s TIF district?

Yes No

23. Would you be interested in advertising your business on a City of West Peoria website?

Yes No

Community Events:

24. What is the impact of the following events on your sales for the week in which they occur?

No Difference 5% Increase 10% Increase 15% Increase Other

Event

a. West Peoria Jamboree ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

b. 4^th of July Parade ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

c. Christmas Season ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

d. Other? ____________ ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

25. Please indicate if you agree or disagree that the following events/festivals have a positive

impact for Sterling/Rohmann:

Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree

a. West Peoria Jamboree 5 4 3 2 1

b. 4^th of July Parade 5 4 3 2 1

c. Christmas Season 5 4 3 2 1

d. Other? _____________ 5 4 3 2 1

26. Do you have any other suggestions or thoughts regarding the Sterling/Rohmann Business District?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

The City of West Peoria greatly appreciates your response!

Thank You

*A graduate student from the Peace Corps Fellows (PCF) Program in Community Development provided assistance in organizing and tabulating this survey. The PCF program is a unit of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University. The PCF mission is to train the next generation of community development specialists and to assist small towns with the implementation of community projects while enhancing community.