Survey Shows One Out of Five Small Businesses Never Shop Online
Nov. 4, 2009 (Business Wire) -- According to new research, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs)1 may not be doing everything they can to save money in this tough economy. A survey conducted by Harris Interactive® and commissioned by Earthtone, shows that 20 percent of microbusinesses never shop online for products and services. In addition, 40 percent of SMBs never compare suppliers for ongoing service contracts such as printing and cleaning.
It is not a secret that by shopping online, consumers and businesses can save money, find special offers and coupons, as well as enjoy quick and easy ways to buy products or services in the comfort of their homes and offices. Surprisingly, some microbusinesses have yet to discover the advantages of online shopping. According to the survey, 20 percent of small businesses may not realize that they can achieve significant savings by purchasing basic office supplies and ordering services (such as printing marketing collateral) online.
It is vital for small businesses to realize the importance of new technologies. Today, a variety of websites and online platforms are available that allow microbusinesses to save money. For example, Earthtone, the first comparison site for printing, helps users and businesses outsource their print jobs, while providing hundreds of small independently-operated print shops across the U.S. with a world-class e-commerce platform that allows them to attract new customers.
“We were surprised by the survey findings,” said Nader Alaghband, founder and CEO, Earthtone. “Microbusinesses have limited budgets and resources, compared to large corporations, and it was eye-opening to see that so many of them fail to take advantage of the Internet as a way to save money. In this challenging economy, small businesses simply cannot afford to make purchases without first researching the online deals and special offers that might be available.”
Additional findings from the survey include the following:
- 24 percent of SMBs never compare suppliers for one-off/discretionary purchases such as computers and printers.
- Almost half (47 percent) of workers at technology and telecom companies of all sizes report that their company shops online for products and services, but nearly 1 in 5 (18 percent) never compare suppliers for ongoing service contracts before they buy.2
Survey Methodology
The survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Earthtone between July 14 and July 16, 2009 among 2,265 U.S. adults ages 18+. Data were weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population. Complete methodology – including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes – available upon request.
About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is a global leader in custom market research. With a long and rich history in multimodal research that is powered by our science and technology, we assist clients in achieving business results. Harris Interactive serves clients globally through our North American, European and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms. For more information about Harris Interactive please visit http://www.harrisinteractive.com.
About Earthtone
Earthtone is the first comparison site for printing. Our vendor-neutral marketplace helps small businesses cut printing costs by making it easy to compare quotes, services, reviews and environmental credentials from hundreds of independent print shops across the US. As a gateway to a large and rapidly growing network of printing locations, we offer users choice-rich on-demand printing, wherever they are, whenever they need. For more information about Earthtone, please visit: www.earthtone.net.
1 For the purposes of this survey, the terms “small and medium-sized businesses”, “microbusinesses”, and “SMBs” refer to companies with less than 10 employees in total (n=279).
2 Data based on small sample sizes (n=78 adults employed in technology or telecommunications) – results should be interpreted as directional in nature.
