An important phenomenon of the latest CIM Marketing Trends Survey is that smaller firms, who mainly sell into the business to business market place, are noticeably more optimistic than larger firms. This is a reversal of the trend for 2001 where business to business activity was slashed dramatically.
Firms of all sizes expect positive sales growth this year. However, smaller firms expect the economic slowdown to have less impact on sales than larger firms. Firms with a turnover between Ј1 - 10 million expect the largest sales increase and are planning for a 7.9% sales growth compared with 5.2% achieved last year. Smaller firms with a turnover below Ј1 million expect growth in sales of 6.1% this year as opposed to 3.8% last year. Only firms with a turnover between Ј50 - 100 million expect sales to grow more slowly this year than last year.
