Annual Survey 2025 Results

The Estevan Chamber of Commerce conducted our annual survey to gather insights into the business community and receive feedback on Chamber activity. While the findings may not fully represent the larger business landscape, notable trends emerged. 54% of respondents are business owners, 36% are Executive Directors or Managers, and 11% are employees. Most businesses surveyed operate in shopping and specialty retail, with the majority employing between one and five employees.

Overall, the business climate in Estevan is perceived as stable, with 50% of respondents expressing this view. Over the past three years, businesses have reported either stability (46%) or growth (46%). However, concerns have arisen regarding the impact of U.S. tariffs, with 75% of respondents indicating they are concerned about the impact of US tariffs on their businesses. To enhance resilience, businesses have focused on expanding marketing efforts, improving employee retention and attraction, and analyzing financials to optimize effectiveness. Business owners identified their top concerns as the overall economy in and around Estevan, business expansion, and financial stability.

Chamber membership is valued for its networking opportunities, support for the local economy, and ability to increase business visibility. In terms of Chamber engagement, 75% of respondents attended a Chamber event in the past year, while those who did not cited time constraints, lack of interest in topics, and inconvenient scheduling as primary reasons. The most valued Chamber events include Coffee Talk, Business Summit, and Lunch N’ Learns. Additionally, respondents expressed strong interest in workshops covering marketing and advertising, the Estevan economy, and professional development in business skills.

The survey also engagement with the Chamber, with 82% of respondents subscribed to the Chamber’s monthly e-newsletter and 79% following the Chamber on social media. Facebook is the most popular platform among followers, followed by LinkedIn, Instagram, and X.

The Executive Director and the Board of the Chamber will be using these results to guide discussions at the Board level, as well as determine resources and topics for Coffee Talks and Lunch N’ Learns. Thanks to all the respondents for being honest with their answers.

If there are further questions, please reach out to the Executive Director of the Estevan Chamber of Commerce, Merissa Scarlett. 

The full report is available here.