Maybe if we indulge in a little information sharing, we can all be a bit more prosperous and therefore have a really happy 2011

My objective in including this section in the CTEA monthly newsletter is to gain feedback from members on various issues that come up during the course of the year and are of interest or concern for the membership at large. So, the Blog format provides an important opportunity for you, the members, to give not only myself, but all of the staff, the Board of Directors and our peers, your thoughts on various subjects. To provide your opinion on any of the topics that we bring up just go to the link below.

Of course, I have to start off this month with HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I really hope everyone had a great holiday season and I am sure we’re all looking forward to a prosperous year in 2011.

I guess the important word here is, prosperous. The last few years have not been particularly prosperous for many. Some companies did not survive the worst economic down turn since the 80s. There is still uncertainty as to how strong the recovery will be and how soon we will see the return of true prosperity. So, that is where I would like to get some feedback from you, our members. How do you see 2011 unfolding? Do you see sales increasing? Are you planning capital equipment expenditures? Do you plan to increase your workforce? Will that workforce stay constant or shrink throughout the year? With a strong Canadian dollar against the US greenback, do you see exports improving at all? If so, what export markets look most promising?

In much of the reading I have done, I have heard most economists indicate a slow tenuous recovery, with nothing dramatic and only modest gains in GDP and other economic indicators being realized later in 2011 and maybe even well into 2012. I am sure that you have all heard or read similar, but what do you think, and what do you see in your particular part of the marketplace? After all, ours is a very diverse industry and many of our members are custom and specialty manufactures, who see dynamics that others don’t necessarily see.

I am not asking you to share any secrets and you need not get into specifics, but I would certainly like to hear the feelings of individuals and companies that are particularly important to the members of the CTEA.

Please, let me know what you think. Email (don.moore@atminc.on.ca) or call (519-631-0414).