Small Business Research Board Manufacturing eCommerce Study: Manufacturing Industry Among Leaders In Embracing Internet; Two-thirds Have Websites, 33% Project eCommerce Revenue to Increase Next 12 - 24 Months

Small manufacturing companies are among the leaders in embracing the Internet, according to the latest Small Business Research Board (SBRB) study released here today.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. (BusinessWire EON) September 13, 2007 -- Small manufacturing companies are among the leaders in embracing the Internet, according to the latest Small Business Research Board (SBRB) study released here today.

The study co-sponsored by Business Today Magazine disclosed that 67% of the small manufacturing firms participating in the study have at least one website. Furthermore, the poll also indicated that manufacturers are optimistic about the future with 32.9% saying they expect their eCommerce revenue to grow over the next 12 to 24 months.

Of the industries studied, manufacturers led all business categories in their commitment to the Internet. Transportation companies as a segment followed, with 63% indicating they have websites. Small retailers were next with 62.5% saying they have websites.

Meanwhile, 97.1% of the manufacturing companies responding to the poll said they expect Internet driven revenues to remain the same or increase during the next 12 to 24 months. Of those, 32.9% are predicting an increase.

Of the manufacturing firms participating in the poll, 55.7% said they had at least one website and 11.1% said they had two or more websites.

Nationally, 42.7% of the respondents said they did not have a website while 47.3% said they had one website. Another 9.1% said they had between two and ten websites and .9% said they had more than ten websites. Additionally, 56.1% of the small businesses with websites said they sell products and services on a company-owned site.

More than 55% of the manufacturing firms with websites sell products or services on those sites.

Small retailers were the most optimistic about the next 12 to 24 months with 39.8% indicating they are projecting revenue increases.

Nationally, 96.7% said they expect Internet revenues to increase or stay the same during the next 12 to 24 months, with 29.2% predicting increases.

Owners and managers of more than 550 small businesses representing numerous industries responded to the nationwide SBRB / Business Today study.

The SBRB / Business Today report provides specific detail by size of business, by industry, by region (and in some instances by state) the various experiences each segment has had with the Internet and their commitment to offer products and services through eCommerce transactions.

The study, for instance, breaks out information by size of business and industry on the number of firms with websites, the number of websites they have, the percentage of their product line available on their sites and percentage of business revenue derived from eCommerce.

Overall, the study also found that:

• Of those manufacturing companies with Internet sites, more than 57% said at least part of their product line is available on line. Of those, 15% said that 50% or more of their products on line.
• Again, relating to manufacturing companies with Internet sites, more than 31.9% said up to 25% of their company’s total revenue was generated from Internet sales and 23.5% said that 26% to 100% of their overall revenue was generated from eCommerce initiatives.

The SBRB / Business Today Small Business eCommerce Study is believed to be among the most comprehensive efforts recently undertaken to understand eCommerce and the reality of its impact on small businesses. The resulting information thus provides both a snapshot on current attitudes and realizations among small business owners as well as establishes benchmarks.

Among the questions asked were:

• How many websites does your company own?
• On how many of these websites do you sell products / conduct transactions?
• What percentage of your product line can be purchased on your Internet site?
• How much of your sales were transacted on your Internet site(s) last year?
• Over the next 12 to 24 months do you expect your Internet sales to increase, decrease or remain the same?

Poll participants also were asked to provide information on the percentage of products and services that could be purchased on their websites five years ago as well as the correlating percentage of sales that were derived. This data contributed to helping establish trends and historical benchmarks.

The study provides data for the all participants and also delineates data pertaining to only those businesses which have Internet sites.

Data is included for such industries as manufacturing, construction and contracting, retail, food and beverage, distribution and wholesaling, transportation and automotive.

Business Today Magazine is dedicated to serving the information needs of owners and managers of small businesses. The primary goals of the quarterly publication based in Buffalo Grove, Il. are to inform and educate its readers by providing timely, useful information that will help readers both contend with the daily demands of running their businesses as well as provide insight on achieving long term growth.

The Small Business Research Board ascertains and reports the opinions of small business owners and managers on a wide variety of topics related to their own businesses as well as national and international issues that may impact their operations. The SBRB conducts these studies for the benefit of small business owners and managers. The SBRB also provides opportunities for third parties to gain real time insight into the attitudes of small businesses nationwide through the independently conducted research.

The latest information about the Small Business Research Board can be found at www.biznus.net.

Small Business Research Board / Business Today eCommerce Selected Results

(C) 2007 Small Business Research Board

NOTE TO EDITORS: This article is the seventh of a series on the study of small business, the Internet and eCommerce by the Small Business Research Board.

Additional releases will be issued about other industries, among them retailing, food and beverage, distribution and wholesaling, automotive and transportation.

For more information about this poll, copies of the complete study and the results of previous studies or other matters related to the Small Business Research Board, please contact Raymond D. Minkus, (847) 441-4192.