Cox Business Survey Shows Overwhelming Consumer Support for Small Businesses

Nearly 80 Percent Think Government Can Do More to Promote Small Business Growth

WiFi beats Coffee When it Comes to Consumer Perks

ATLANTA, April 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers' patronage of small businesses extends beyond Small Business Week. According to the 2016 Cox Consumer Pulse on Small Businesses, 90 percent of U.S. consumers frequent small businesses at least once a week. Moreover, 42 percent are shopping small three or more times a week, according to the survey findings released today.

While convenience and customer service attract consumers to small businesses, 63 percent simply feel a need to support local entrepreneurs. For many, their collective sense of loyalty to businesses in their communities may stem from seeing a lack of governmental support. In fact, 77 percent of consumers feel the federal government does not do enough to promote small business growth on a national level. 

The survey included a variety of lighter findings as well, including:

• Fifty-six percent of consumers choose WiFi over coffee. #GoSmall [Tweet this]
• Most consumers (44 percent) tried their hands at entrepreneurship by babysitting. #GoSmall [Tweet this]
• Forty-eight percent of consumers prefer to tune into Shark Tank over Restaurant Impossible and Bar Rescue. #GoSmall [Tweet this]

Respondents also weighed in on small business' use of technology. Sixty-six percent of respondents prefer a digital rewards program to "old school" paper punch cards. However, respondents are slow to adopt mobile payments – 55 percent would not use their smartphones more often to pay for items if the small businesses they frequented accepted mobile payments.

One technology most consumers are on board with is WiFi. Forty-five percent of respondents believe offering free and reliable WiFi can improve the small business shopping experience.

"Like consumers, Cox Business is doing its part to support small businesses across the country," said Steve Rowley, senior vice president of Cox Business. "From fast and reliable broadband solutions and voice services to TV packages and security, our technology solutions are designed to help small businesses operate as efficiently as possible. Ultimately, we want small businesses to spend less time worrying about day-to-day logistics and more time innovating and connecting with their customer bases. That's what will fuel their continued success."

More details on the 2016 Cox Consumer Pulse on Small Businesses are available at coxblue.com/newsroom, the company's social destination for businesses. Follow @CoxBusiness on Twitter and join the conversation using #GoSmall to share the results with your network.

About the 2016 Cox Business Consumer Sentiment Survey on Small Business  
The 2016 Cox Business Consumer Sentiment Survey on Small Business was a blind survey conducted in March 2016 among more than 2,000 consumers across the following 13 states: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and Virginia. The margin of error for the survey is plus or minus 3 percent.

About Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet, telephone and home security and automation services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable company, Cox serves approximately six million residences and businesses. Cox Business is a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions for commercial customers, and Cox Media is a full-service provider of national and local cable spot and new media advertising. Cox is known for its pioneering efforts in cable telephone and commercial services, industry-leading customer care and its outstanding workplaces. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com and www.coxmedia.com.

PDF - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/ENR/360140-cox-consumer-pulse-fast-facts-final.pdf

SOURCE Cox Business

For further information: Shana Keith, (404) 269-0942, Shana.Keith@cox.com