Published Research Reports

Project Overview: The purpose of the 2004 Barre Downtown Customer Survey is to develop a better understanding of the markets served by and market opportunities in Barre City.  The data was collected through a random sample of the following Barre area town’s adult residents from June 14-24, 2004.  Sixty-six percent of the target sample population was drawn from the primary market area and the remaining thirty-three percent was drawn from the secondary market area which is outlined below.  A total of 469 interviews were conducted with area residents for a margin of error at approximately +/- 4.5 percent.           

Highlights:

·        An overwhelming majority (73.4%) of respondents report that they went to Downtown Barre sometime during the last month.

·        A clear majority of respondents report that on their last visit to Downtown Barre they purchased either goods or services at 64.5 percent.

·        A strong majority of respondents (65.2%) report that the usual reason for their trips to Downtown Barre is for shopping.

·        An obvious majority of respondents report that they the regularly visit a specific store or office when they visit Downtown Barre.

·        Almost twenty percent of respondents (18.9 %) state that they most often regularly visit Lenny’s.

·        An overwhelming majority of respondents (86.4%) rate the customer service in Downtown Barre as excellent or good, in addition the quality of goods and services rate highly as well at 81.3 percent.

·        Almost half of all respondents (44.0%) shop most often on Saturday’s.

·        Forty two percent of respondents generally shop most often in the morning, closely followed by afternoon shoppers at 37.2 percent.

·        Respondents are most likely to shop for hardware and building supplies (42.7%), dining and meals (41.2%), banking and financial services (34.1%), gifts and crafts (28.5%) and books (23.8%) in Downtown Barre.

·        A significant majority of respondents (70.2%) report that they would be more attracted to Downtown Barre if there were more live music.

·        An overwhelming majority of respondents (90.4%) either strongly agree or agree that “shopping in Downtown Barre is better for the local economy”.

Last Modified: October 12, 2004