By Denise Caspersen, ASA's research management specialist
The 2002 “How's Your Business?” survey marks the 10th year the Automotive Service Association has been asking its membership to provide valuable information detailing the strengths and issues facing the independent mechanical and collision repair industry.
The “How's Your Business?” survey has grown in detail with regard to business management, employees, annual sales, marketing, ownership, industry issues and expectations for the upcoming year.
To obtain statistically sound results, ASA randomly selected 2,000 mechanical businesses and 2,000 collision businesses to receive, by postal mail, the 2002 “How's Your Business?” survey in July 2002. All survey responses are anonymous.
Over the years, these dedicated business owners have shown great support for the survey. This year, ASA had an 18 percent rate of return from mechanical businesses and an 11 percent rate of return from collision businesses. This gives the mechanical results a 95 percent confidence level and a confidence interval of +/- 5 - and the collision results a 90 percent confidence level and a confidence interval of +/- 5.
