Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Economic Office Hires Telephone Survey Company

Don't be alarmed when the phone rings and someone begins asking questions about shopping habits.

This is because the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office has commissioned Flake-Wilkerson Market Insights of Little Rock to conduct a telephone survey locally.

The survey, according to Jon Chadwell, executive director of the EDO, is to help determine the retail, restaurant, service needs and attitudes affecting business development in the Prescott area.

Market Insights will be conducting the survey in Nevada County by doing interviews with some 300 participants during the next two weeks.

Chadwell said the interviews will be eight to 10 minutes long each, covering issues concerning customer satisfaction with existing businesses and support for potential new businesses.

The results will be used as a tool for two purposes, Chadwell said. The first is to help existing retail, restaurant and service businesses respond to the local retail climate and encourage their development along the lines of customer needs and desires.

Once this report is done, he said, the EDO along with the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce will host a meeting for all local business owners and managers.

The results of the survey will be released at this gathering, with some strategies for development and expansion of existing businesses discussed.

Next, the data compiled will be used to recruit new businesses to fill gaps in the area's retail, restaurant and service market, as identified by local customers.

Expanding the local business base, Chadwell said, will encourage people to shop at home and keep the payroll and tax monies in Nevada County.

Chadwell is urging those who are called to participate in the survey, and give honest answers to the questions asked.

"This is a unique opportunity for local citizens to have direct input into the development of our community," he said.

For more information call Chadwell at 887-6208.