Each AWMA distributor member company has received a HIPA (Hershey Industry Performance Analysis) Survey.   Each year many distributors complete this survey by returning it to Profit Planning Group and receive the HIPA Report, the comprehensive report compiled from submitted data.  The HIPA Report is one of the most beneficial services that AWMA provides its members—there is nowhere else to obtain this type of data. 

Why participate?  What’s in it for you?  Only distributors completing the HIPA Survey will receive a copy of the HIPA Report plus a personalized Profit Improvement Profile, which compares your firm with similar firms and provides suggestions for improving your firm’s profitability.  You will also receive access to Profit Toolkit Online, a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet designed to help you plan critical financial improvements for your firm.  

Does the survey take significant time?  The answer is yes, it does take time.  However, it is time well spent, and the insights you will receive from the report and the other documents more than make up for time spent.  All you need to do is fill out the operational questions, attach a copy of your income statement and balance sheet and send it to Profit Planning Group for processing.  That’s not so bad, is it?

If you do not have a copy of the questionnaire, open your browser and go to:

www.profitplanninggroup.com/surveys
or fax a request to 303.444.9245

For questions, please contact Meredith Kimbrell at 703.208.1648 or email meredithk@awmanet.org

In these up and down times, financial benchmark information is more important than ever before.  The HIPA Report is the best source for this.  

Thanks to The Hershey Company for once again fully funding this very important research.  Hershey’s commitment to AWMA, distributor education, and the industry as a whole is very much appreciated.

Do not delay in completing the HIPA Survey.  The deadline for submission is May 1, 2011