The internet-my own web page.

I now accept credit cards and the rates are reasonable.

I have worked hard to improve the looks inside and out of my bed and breakfast.

Increase in adventure tourism.

More marketing and continued growth.

More people building and remodeling in the area.

More people came to the shop than the average of previous years.

Excellent fall foliage season in 1997.

More work: summer rafting on the Hudson and Ausable.

People know my shop now and like homemade items.

People rush to get away from the "rat race" and discovered the Adirondacks.

Purchasing the right products, less bills

Snow conditions; weddings in the summer and early fall.

We raised rates, upgraded cabins and were on the Internet for advertising.

We worked at it and better advertising.

Weather was the best in a lifetime.

Younger families are more interested in experiencing the "Adirondack Experience".

Taxes too high.

No second home buyers. Gas was high for travel and economy unstable.

In a nutshell, there is no growth, after 20 years we are still killing ourselves.

Bad weather conditions affected snowmobiling, lost large hunting groups, increasing competition from RV parks, campsites.

No public transportation. Shorter tourist season, which is now only from July 15 to Aug. 24.

Raised the rental fees.

More people from city want the peace and beauty of the Adirondacks.

Better exposure through Internet and desire of a lot of individuals to experience a wilderness trip.

Satisfied customers, spreading the word.

The tourists were here. If someone had a bad year, they're doing something wrong and should re-evaluate.

Raised prices.

Greater demand for rentals, especially off season.

Word of mouth -café up 30%, Theatre showing better movies this past year.

Store is growing in popularity.

People running out of money to take vacations.

Poor snow conditions.

Poor New York state economy.

Start-up amortization; and maintenance and repair expenses decreased.

Less storm damage, highway work improved.

Repeat business, word of mouth advertising, internet.

It's mostly a function of my exertions.

A bit more stable economy with banking and bank rates.

More people, store has improved. Weather is/was excellent.

Lack of spring fishermen and fall hunters.

Long Lake (the actual lake) is getting too noisy.

Worse because of competition.

Too much dependence on summer business. Lack of winter activities.

We are getting known.

Increased marketing and stronger management.

Word of mouth for new and repeat business and the Internet.

Improved snow making at Gore Mtn.

We expanded and added a sales person. Also focused marketing better.

Better marketing and improved facilities.

Better internal controls.

We are a young business getting established and growing each year. Also, the town has more business instead of empty buildings.

People were spending more money on vacations, travelling and 2nd homes.

Consumer confidence, improved national economy, affects of downsizing subsided, job security.

Major capital improvements at Gore Mtn, and private investments.

Skiing getting expensive for families, people are buying camps instead of staying at accommodations.

Licenses for hunting, for out of state people are getting to be too expensive.

Competition from other activities.

More competition and clients doing their own work. Cost of help.

Quality of services and management.

Better-due to word of mouth and brochures sent to phone and Internet inquiries.

Better advertising and more events.

Mainly due to our management especially winter (with second leases).

On going property improvements and affiliation with national chain.

People are starting to spend their money on vacations.

1997 August through October season was the best ever.

The economy.

Increased inventory to meet tastes and demands.

Better due to more tourists.

Quality of product and service.

Weather and expanded food service.

Weather patterns and better management

More people in area with more available money (Good economy).

Was better because had the product to sell that people wanted.

Better economy in nearby areas (home areas of our visitors) and reputation of this shop.

I've built a good reputation and I'm unique.

Interest rates were down, more construction, sales were slightly better.

My quality and reputation keep improving.

Better economic outlook of borrowers.

More tourists.

Due to recent advances in the industry which brought down prices for consumers

Improved front desk response to visitor inquiries. Listing in AAA guide.

Competition for cabin rentals reduced my rentals.

Late summer "slow down", colleges starting, high school sports programs and sporting camps (soccer, skiing, hockey).

Main attractions have not changed in a few years.

Profitability keeps going down, because of increase in utility expenses, and other expenses.

Undependable lake level. Lack of services on the lake-rentals and food lacking.

Our population is getting older and recreates much less.

Lacked of regional promotion targeting my type of business.

Inaccessibility of the interstate snowmobile trail.

Currently the uncertainty of whether or not the railroad bed will be made available to snowmobiles and cross country skiers.

Better economy means less Adirondack vacations from surrounding cities, people traveling further.

Better times in the nation.

Some better exposure to Adirondacks via advertising and marketing.

Better, because we've expanded.

Added new service (pizza) and establishing a regular clientele. There was a decrease in competition.

We just opened the year before, 1997 moved into a larger shop. We are now able to carry more inventory and shop began to gain a good reputation.

We have a bookstore and that business seems to especially benefit from word of mouth.

My reputation and free advertising I have received from the Chamber, word of mouth.

More people are retiring and moving into area, formally in seasonal homes.

Interest rates are better.

More people setting up trailers as summer homes-got tired of traveling.

Better control of expenses.

Hired a salesman who is a real go-getter in 1993; added second salesman in 1997.

Weather, and no people during the week.

Lack of tourism, poor state economy and poor advertising outside of area.

Fewer tourists because of poor accommodations and amusements.

Less people coming through and overall local economy.

We don't seem to have as many foreigners or people from other parts of this country.

DEC regulations on out of state hunters (increase in fees).

Loss of Adirondack culture, due to 'protecting' our land (taken out of use).

Fewer tourists in area, tighter money, looking for inexpensive activities.

Less people stopping by.

We have been there longer and are more established.

Better control of expenses.

Unsteady employment and deteriorating building.

Costs of doing business (fixed and merchandise) increased while sales stayed the same.

Appleton Paper Mill, Newton Falls had major lay-off: 160 employees terminated.

Better and more advertising and vacation packages being promoted.

Much better investment and management.

Our cottages were in very good condition plus we put $5000 in a new well so we had the best water in the area.

New business, however we are further ahead in business than anticipated this calendar

I worked harder and got an Internet site.

We spent $150,000 in remodeling our cottage and spent hundreds of dollars in advertising all over.

Advertising changes and weather.

More tourists visiting area.

Better advertising by my business.

Overall economic prosperity of people from outside of community, mainly 2nd home ownership.

Low interest rate environment.

My business is new this year, but I am predicting steady growth.

More cash available (better economic conditions of Northeast markets).

This is a newer business-opened 1994. The business has grown greatly over the past 3 years. Besides becoming an established business, our customer service has greatly promoted repeat visits.

Interconnecting snowmobile trail system would be a big plus, place dies in winter.

Less tourists.

Inability to provide product due to regulations.

It is about the same, but we have to work harder to make a living.

Too many newcomers provide the same services we have provided for years.

Local politics on prison resulted in drop of business.

Worse-because the tourists are not buying like they used to and locals are shopping at out of town malls. Our business district does not have enough to offer.

People shopping out of town.

Less people in the area.

Our tourist industry is so weather dependent- too little snow or too much rain can "ruin" a weekend's business, despite special events (snowmobile races, field days, etc.).

A lower population and no job growth.

Community needs major help financially.

Less building.

Lack of tourists(about 1/8 like biking and canoeing), lack of decent restaurants and stores. Nothing for families with small children to do. Older generation likes good restaurants, boating(motor) and stores.

Economy and maybe the lack of local attractions.