Almere, 3 November 2009 - Unique and TNO published the results of the MKB Market Monitor, a market survey among small and medium-sized businesses, at a press meeting at USG People's head office in Almere. The general trend of the results is optimism. Besides adverse consequences of the economic crisis, Dutch international entrepreneurs also saw positive effects of the economic recession last year. Furthermore, 62 percent of the businesses expect to see a growth in the next three years. The survey focused on three questions: how does the crisis impact your business, what steps have you taken to come out of the crisis in as good a condition as possible, and how do you see the development of your business in the near future?

Over 75 percent of the small and medium-sized businesses indicate that they have experienced both negative and positive effects from the crisis. Positive effects shown by the survey are that staff can be deployed more flexibly and recruited more easily, and that innovation is increasing. The most important adverse consequences are the decline in demand for products and services, the increase in payment arrears, the decrease in opportunities for the business to grow, and the necessity to postpone investments.

Michel de Lassacquère, General Manager of Unique and initiator of the survey, explains: "As far as flexibility in staff is concerned, we have seen several examples over the past year. For example, one of our clients runs a business in Aalsmeer exporting flowers worldwide. As the flexible layer could not be kept on because of the costs, the flexworkers who used to load the trucks on Fridays were laid off. The office staff of this organisation have taken a very flexible attitude and are now doing this work: the office staff, including the management, now load the trucks every Friday."

The steps taken by entrepreneurs in response to the crisis are varied. The five most important steps taken are:
1. Cutting costs; general measure;
2. Downsizing, in particular letting temporary staff go and through natural staff turnover;
3. Cooperation; businesses stick together;
4. Tapping new markets;
5. Developing new products and services.

An extraordinary outcome, which also shows the enterprising spirit of entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized businesses, is the fact that forty percent of the businesses are innovating. Where entrepreneurs encounter problems because of a decline in demand, there is a clear connection with the innovations in products and services that they have implemented. Of the forty percent innovating businesses, 68 percent have been faced with a decline in demand.

Michel de Lassacquère: "In these difficult times many industries are suddenly confronted with issues that, up to now, were no or hardly any problem. How does an entrepreneur prepare for the future? That is the question that we, together with TNO, have tried to raise and based on which we want to support, inspire and advise businesses. The motto of Unique Multilingual Services' operations is to let businesses do their business. Many businesses have proven to be looking to the future with confidence, and that's the way it should be. That is what business is all about. That's SME."

The Survey
The MKB Market Monitor 2009 reflects the responses and findings of 3,399 entrepreneurs. In the months of July to September they answered several questions about their operations and the impact of the economic crisis in personal interviews with Unique. The survey focused both on the business economics aspects and on the personal aspects. Unique's expertise was combined with TNO's to make the survey a success. TNO has already developed many special programmes for SME and has the knowhow to carry out scientifically sound surveys. In addition, Unique has extensive knowledge of SME and a network comprising the entire segment.

Back