August 15, 2008
New England Green Industry 2008 Economic Impact Survey
Dear Green Industry Professional:
This survey is important to you, your business, and New England’s green industry. Please complete the questions and return your survey by September 15, 2008.
Why is this survey important? Because in today’s world, size matters!
- This is the only survey that counts all of New England’s green industry – plants, green goods and service.
- Results of this survey are often used by lobbyists and industry leaders to educate legislators and other decision makers.
- Data from past issues of this survey has been used to obtain thousands of dollars of grants to support industry research.
- University departments use this survey to validate horticulture programs and teaching/research/extension positions.
- This survey is a very important and useful tool for attracting new employees and recruiting students.
Is your response important? Yes! You can’t be counted if you don’t participate.
- If everyone responds, the green industry’s voice will carry more weight.
- If you don’t respond, your sector of the industry will be under represented.
How long will it take to complete this survey? Just 10 minutes. Paper or online … the choice is yours.
- Complete the paper survey you received in the mail now. You can drop it in the mail today in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
-OR-
- Complete the survey online. Go to the survey link below and start by entering the code that you find on the top of the address label, or at the top of this survey.
Please join us when the survey results are distributed at New England Grows, scheduled for Wednesday, February 4 – Friday, February 6, 2009, in Boston. Go to www.NEGrows.org for information about the event.
Thank you. We know your time is valuable.
Sincerely,
Dr. Leonard P. Perry |
Dr. Lois Berg Stack University of Maine |
M. Virginia Wood, CMP New England Nursery Association |
Before you start the survey … Please use these definitions as you fill out this survey:
| "Green industry": | Producers (nurseries, sod farms and greenhouses); retailers (garden centers and florists); and landscape design/installation/maintenance companies (landscapers, arborists and lawn maintenance professionals). |
| "Gross income": | Your company's total receipts from combined wholesale and retail production, sales and services. |
| "Green goods": | Plant items, such as live greenhouse and nursery plants, sod, seeds, cut flowers and floral arrangements. |
| "Hard goods": | Non-plant items such as tools, mulch, pavers, fertilizer and vases. |
| "Business": | If your business has more than one location, each location may receive a copy of this survey. If your different locations are all part of one business, please complete just one survey for the entire business. |
| "Percentage": | Questions 2 - 3 ask you to divide amounts into percentages of the total. Please check your answers to make sure that your percentages add up to 100% for both questions! |
| "Time frame": | The questions on this survey ask for information for the year 2007. If your business uses a different time period than the calendar year for accounting purposes, please use your most recently completed fiscal year in place of "2007." |