Robert Gerrish, Sam Leader and Peter Crocker have developed www.flyingsolo.com.au from an e-zine and website with articles to an online community with forums and directory.

Understanding Micro Business Survey

In reference to the first Flying Solo ‘Understanding Micro Business Survey’ in 2008, Flying Solo founder Robert Gerrish said:

“Kate and the team at Tribe Research helped us with our ‘Understanding Micro Business Survey’ earlier this year. We were mightily impressed with the service and look forward to working together again in the future.”

In 2010 Tribe Research was again requested to setup the backend of ‘Understanding Micro Business Survey 2010-2011’ and analyse the data. The backend support included designing the survey, and the generation and maintenance of the survey online. Following the distribution of the survey to their community via their weekly e-zine and promotions on their website, we analysed the data and prepared the report.

You can download both reports yourself, just head to: flyingsolo.com.au/understanding-micro-business.

The report assisted Flying Solo in positioning themselves as experts in the anatomy of Australia’s micro business owners, and provided valuable statistics that they can use when talking to potential advertisers. They now understand their existing tribe better.

Launching in 2004 with 12 designs, LaRoo needed to undertake market research to identify designs to produce for the next Mocks season. Whilst LaRoo CEO, Lara Solomon, had a background in marketing and a general idea of creating questionnaires she was lacking practice.

Tribal Know-How Workshop hosted by Kate Tribe

LaRoo CEO, Lara Solomon attended our Customer Feedback: for small business workshop in 2006.

The challenges for LaRoo were:

• to increase understanding of survey design; types of questions and how to ask them
• to create a survey to see if LaRoo’s monthly store newsletters (mailed at a cost of $150 plus time each month) were really valued and used by the retailer recipients
• to develop an alternative to face-to-face research on the popularity of potential Mock designs, as these could only be collected in Sydney hindering nationwide predictions

Lara came away from the day with the tools for several new initiatives she has since implemented in her business, including:

• A survey for retailer customers, to explore their thoughts on service, the newsletter and promotional items. It has become an annual barometer of business performance and confirmed their newsletter was valued and service levels to retailers were about 90%. Since the workshop the survey has been instrumental in deciding on point of sale materials for stores.
• Redevelopment of an existing Mock design range survey, with improved questions and an online survey tool. The new survey had increased survey participants from about 100 to 300, broadening the range of participants and making it easier, cheaper and quicker for LaRoo to collect and analyse their research.

Overall, Lara’s attendance at our workshop increased LaRoo’s productivity, reduced their risks and enhanced their sales.

Lara has since sent other LaRoo team members to the workshop, to ensure that as Lara moves into other areas of the business, she maintains consistency when conducting research and their surveys are still designed to produce optimum results.

Lara was the 2008 NSW Telstra Micro Business Award winner and has published the book, Brand New Day.

The Instilling International Entrepreneurship in Emerging Enterprises program started in 2008. After the first time the program ran, ABITS wanted to get feedback about the program from the participants.

Gaining feedback from participants for program development and marketing

Christine Gibbs Stewart, General Manager said:

“Tribe Research did an excellent job for us.  They put together the research so it was easily understandable and helped us to draw valid conclusions.  The project was delivered on time and was great value for money.  We will continue to use Tribe Research for our research needs.”

Explore | Development of a survey to understand the level of business development, international business focus, business interests and mentoring needs of participants in the IIEEE program. Development of the survey online using Tribal Tool-Kit software.

Uncover | Analysis and reporting of the participants’ level of business development, international business focus, business interests and mentoring needs.

Drive Change | The results will be used to improve the IIEEE program by tailoring to the interests and needs of participants.