Working in Partnership — RCC & NSRA Frequently Asked Questions about NSRA's Business Performance Report

Q.	Why should I take the time to participate?
A.	In exchange for your time, you will receive back a report that allows you to compare your financial numbers to industry norms. You'll see exactly what you need to address in order to become more profitable.

Q.	Can I just submit my financial report and not answer any of the questions?
A.	Unfortunately, no. The questions cover areas that are operational, instead of strictly financial, and your answers are needed for calculations in the final report. Both your answers and your financial profit and loss statement are also needed.

Q.	My company's financial year does not end on December 31. Can I still participate? What period should my report cover?
A.	Yes, you can still participate and you should supply numbers from the end of your most recent year, be it October 31, 2005 or January 31, 2006.

Q.	Instead of copying all my financial numbers onto the financial report form provided, can I just attach my most current year-end financial profit and loss statement?
A.	Yes. In fact, we encourage you to do so, because it allows the compilation company, Industry Insights, to put your numbers into the corresponding categories used on the Business Performance Report form.

Q.	If I don't understand a question, where can I get help?
A.	Industry Insights and NSRA both have help desks to answer these questions. The number of the Industry Insights help desk is (614) 802-2310, ext. 102, and the number for NSRA's is 1-800-673-8446, ext. 335; e-mail: info@nsra.org.

Q.

I am concerned about the confidentiality of my responses. I don't want my individual responses to go to any vendor, or be seen by anyone in the industry. How can you assure me that no one but Industry Insights sees my responses?

A.

Industry Insights' business is conducting surveys and compiling information. They will send you a letter attesting to confidentiality. If they broke this trust, they would no longer be in business, because the many industries that depend on them would no longer consider them trustworthy. In the more than 50 years NSRA has been conducting this survey, our members' individual reports have never seen by anyone but the compilation company.

Q.	I had an extremely bad year last year, and experienced some losses. I'm concerned that my report will drag down the industry. Should I still submit my numbers?
A.	Yes. To accurately reflect all independent shoe retailers, we need reports from those that had unbelievably great years and those that had a very bad year, and everyone in between. Only then will we reflect the entire independent sector.

Q.	Can I submit my report anonymously?
A.	Yes. However, you will not receive the complete set of free reports provided to participants. as Industry Insights will not know to whom or where to mail the reports.

Q.	I don't track or have some of the information requested. Should I guess at those answers. or skip the question?
A.	Use your best judgment. If you have a reasonably good idea of the answer, you should provide it. If your have no idea, or are taking a wild guess, then we would rather have you skip the question and not answer it. However, maybe this is a piece of information you should consider tracking in the future.

Q.	Who determines what questions are asked and what information is gathered for this report?
A.	The NSRA has an Information Committee which, every two years, reviews the questionnaire and updates it. If you have suggestions for the Committee, please send them in with your survey responses. This survey is designed to assist you in your decision-making, so we'll be grateful for your advice on what would make the survey better.

Q.	When will the full report be available?
A.	Compilation of answers begins May 1. We start analysis in mid-May, and then begin writing the report in early June. Production (which includes creating charts and graphs) and printing take another couple of weeks. We anticipate distributing the report in July.

Thank you for your help.