The tough economy is unavoidably trickle-down, and small business owners are feeling the pinch. A recent survey conducted by the United States Federation of Small Business (USFSB) and DYMO reported that 95 percent of small and medium-business (SMB) owners feel that their small business community has been challenged. Additionally, more than 55 percent of those surveyed reported their own personal business as being "down".

The exact challenges plaguing individual business owners are varied, most prominent among them being decreased sales, less access to credit, health care costs and rising gas prices. And while health care costs were ranked as the leading challenge for the small business community (expressed by 85 percent of those surveyed), it is also the expense least likely to be cut.

Additional results of the survey detail ways in which SMBs are reducing expenses:

- 23 percent of respondents have cut staff
- 36 percent of respondents have decreased business travel
- 36 percent of respondents have minimized marketing efforts
- 29 percent of respondents have put a freeze on bonuses and raises

As economic troubles continue, SMB owners are looking for more than just ways to cut back, they are looking for ways to increase efficiency from their valued employees. To offer solutions to common SMB issues and demonstrate its commitment to small businesses and the organizations that support them, DYMO recently reached out to small business by renewing its partnership with the USFSB.

"USFSB is an association of successful small business owners who are striving to grow their sales, minimize costs and build the small business economy in their communities," said Joe Cardamone, president of USFSB. "The relationship with DYMO has been a natural fit. Their products save our members time and money, and they increase productivity. Now, more than ever, we see this partnership as an economically effective way to help us fulfill our mission to provide the help, support and information small business owners need to be successful."

In order to stay afloat and maintain success, a majority of SMB owners surveyed reported having cut business expenses in the last six months. In an effort to cut those expenses, 45 percent looked for ways to increase productivity, often through new technologies.

A wide variety of new technologies designed for small-to-medium sized businesses can greatly increase productivity. For example, with 69 percent of the SMB owners surveyed still purchasing postage from their local post office, a productivity solution may lie in the simple switch to Internet postage and purchasing equipment that can "multitask". A small business tool that many find invaluable is the DYMO LabelWriter printer, which not only prints labels, but also enables users to take advantage of DYMO Stamps(R) internet postage. This combination brings a tool of big business to small business by eliminating the hassle of post office lines as well as the expense and commitment of leasing postal meters. Through streamlining labeling and postage with the DYMO LabelWriter and DYMO Stamps, many small and medium business owners are saving time and money and increasing their productivity.

"We continue to hear from the SMB community that they are looking to increase productivity in this economic downturn," said Tim Robb, director, marketing communications for DYMO. "Our continued partnership with the USFSB allows us to hear directly from their small business members and enables us to better serve them during this time."