The Hudson Economics Group, Ltd

Economists & Consultants Serving the Natural Stone Industry

Current Language Choices:

“What is the biggest threat to the natural stone industry…?”
“How are companies, like mine dealing with that threat…?” 
“How much is the industry expected to grow…?” 
“What do others, in my market segment, expect for profits in 2010…?” 
“How much are my competitors planning on investing in capital equipment, next year…?” 
“Is there a lot of merger/acquisition activity…” 
“Should I think about selling my business…?”
“Should I think about buying another business…?”
“Should I be thinking about artificial stone…?”

Table of Contents

Survey Overview - All Respondents                                                                                                  

• Lines of Business Activity                                                                                                              

• What Countries Respondents Line(s) of Business was from                                                 

• Was the Respondent a member of the Marble Institute of America                                  

• The Global Impact of Doing Business  

• Specific locations of Businesses that Answered                

• Which Exchange Rates Do They Feel Most      

• How Respondents Rate U.S. Trade Policy          

• How Respondents Rated Long Term Impact of U.S. Trade                

• Next We Asked Each Respondent What Their Home Territory Was 

• Largest Barrier to Trade     

• Specific Line of Business for Respondent    

• Size of Respondent's Company         

• Which Country Do You Do the Majority of Your Business     

• Respondents Visits(s) with Actual Producers        

• Will Your Company be Investing this Year        

• If Investing, What Area of Investment           

• Will You Utilize Your Commercial Bankers      

• What is Your Forecast for Growth, This Year        

• What is 5 Year Forecast for Sales                

• Do You Plan on Selling Your Business in Next 5 Years      

• Do You Plan on Acquiring Another Business in Next 5 Years     

• What Type of Business Would You Want to Acquire          

• What is Your 5 Year Investment Plan           

• What is the Location of Your Business           

• Countries You Travel to for Trade Shows          

• Countries You Currently Do Business With            

• Do You Currently Export Product                         

Survey Results for Asian Businesses          

• Currently Affected by Currency Exchange Rates     

• How Do You View U.S. Trade Policy                    

• Respondents Specific Line of Business                 

• Company's Annual Sales                            

• With What Country Do You Do the Majority of Business  

• Personally Visited Producers in Those Areas        

• Will Your Company be Investing This Year       

• What Will You Invest In                              

• Borrowing from Commercial Lender for Those Investments        

• Forecast for Growth This Next Year                    

• Five Year Forecast for Growth                         

• Do You Plan on an Acquisition in 5 Years            

• What Type of Company to Acquire                   

• Investments in Next Three Years                      

Survey Results for Central America and Caribbean             

• Specific Industry Type of Company                    

• Respondent Affected by Exchange Rates         

• How Respondent Rates U.S. Trade Policy          

• Long Term Implications of That Trade Policy on Your Business    

• Where Home Territory is Located                     

• Specific Line of Business                                   

• Investing in What                               

• Borrowing from Commercial Lender                  

• Forecast for Growth This Next Year                   

• 5 Year Forecast                                             

• 5 Year Acquisition Plan                                      

Survey Results for Europe                                                                                 

• Lines of Business             

• Affected by Currency Exchange Rates                 

• How Respondent Rates U.S.  Trade Policy             

• Long Term Effect of U.S. Trade Policy                   

• Respondents Core Business                                       

• What Country Majority of Business                     

• Investment this Next Year                                       

• What They  Plan on Investing In                           

• Borrowing from Commercial Lender                     

• Business Forecast for Next Year                              

• 5 Year Industry Forecast                                           

• Selling Your Business in the Next 5 Years            

• Acquire Another Company in Next 5 Years        

• Who Would They Acquire                                         

• What Will They Invest in the Next 5 Years        

Survey Results for North America                                

• Line of Business                                                                             

• Affected by Currency Exchange                                              

• How They Rated Currency Exchange                                   

• Visited with Local Producers                                                   

• Will The be Investing This Year                                              

• Investing in What                                                                       

• Utilizing Commercial Lender                                                   

• Forecast for Growth This Next Year                                       

• 5 Year Forecast for Growth                                                       

• Sell Their Business in Next 5 Years                                        

• Acquisitions in Next 5 Years                                                    

• Types of Firms to Acquire                                                         

Results for South America                                                

• Respondents Line of Business                                                   

• Affected by Exchange Rates                                                     

• Feelings on U.S. Trade Policy                                                   

• Long Term Affect of U.S. Trade Policy                                   

• What Industry Group They Belong To                                  

• Country They Do Majority of Business With                       

• Visited Local Producers                                                               

• Investing This Year                                                                      

• What Will Next Investment Be                                                 

• Borrowing from Commercial Lender                                       

• 5 Year Business Forecast                                                               

• Sell Business in Next 5 Years                                                        

• Making an Acquisition in Next 5 Years                                    

• Type of Acquisition                                                                         

• 5 Year Investment Plan                                                                  

These chapters contain charts and graphs to clearly express the data collected for this international survey.

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