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Scope: This
guide is a selected list of resources that will be useful
for locating information for a business plan. These
resources include print materials available in the Stewart
Library, and electronic resources, some of which may be available
only to WSU students, faculty, and staff. Each
section will provide helpful strategies or guidelines for
searching.
Table
of Contents
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If you are looking at
starting a new business or look to expand an existing one, it is
important to ask yourself a few specific questions.
If you are starting a
new business some of your questions might be:
- Is there a demand for my product or service?
- Who would be some of my potential competitors?
- What geographic area do I want to locate?
- What demographic do I want to target?
- What are some potential startup costs?
If you are expanding an
existing business your questions might be:
- Is there an increased demand for my product or service?
- If you are expanding into another geographic area, who are some
of the potential competitors?
- What are the demographics of that area including population,
income level , age, etc?
- What are some of the costs associated with expansion (construction,
legal, labor, advertising...etc)?
The Stewart Library provides
access to a variety of sources on locating market information. Some
of the general resources include:
Provides reports covering
the U.S. and International marketplaces. These reports cover consumer
profiles, product sales, market trends, and retail distribution.
(User is required to setup a profile before accessing.)
Includes extensive profiles
of major industries including Advertising, Aerospace, Broadcasting,
Utilities, Publishing, Retailing, and much more.
Profiles U.S. businesses
every five years at the national and local level. The reports
include:
- Geographic Series Reports - covering state, metro area, county,
and city level
- Industry Series Reports - covering industries by NAICS codes
Provides access to business
periodicals with a trade industry perspective. Most of the major
industries are covered in this database.
- Market Share Reporter (Reference Table 6)
Annual publication of
leading products and services arranged by industrial codes.
There are several places
to check for competitors. The type of source may depend on the type
of industry and where the business is located.
This is a good place
to look for competitors of a particular company or a specific
industry. This may be done by industry type and geographic location.
This is a good place
if you need to find competitors for a specific company. From the
main menu, select 'Business', then select 'Company Profiles' from
the next menu. Select 'Hoovers' from the source menu and
type in the company name in the search box.
Click on the Company
Profiles link from the main page. Like Lexis Nexis, this is a
good source for finding competitors for specific companies.
- Another good place to look for competitors in a particular area
is to check the yellow pages for that city. Or, try Ward's
business directory of U.S. private and public companies Reference
Table 6 HG4057.A575 2001. Excellent source for private
companies.
Provides access to business
periodicals with a trade industry perspective. Most of the major
industries are covered in this database.
Provides access to leading
international, national, and local newspapers including:
- The Wall Street Journal
- The New York Times
- Salt Lake Tribune
Demographic
sources will provide a variety of information about a specific population,
including income distribution, age level, ethnic groups, etc.
The level of coverage (state, county, city, etc.) will vary depending
on the source you use. The following sources may be useful
to you in completing this particular assignment.
- U.S.
Census Bureau
Provides links to both national and international statistics.
A good place to start, particularly for regional demographic and
economic data. For U.S. geographic area data choose 'Geography'
from the opening screen, then 'Map Stats'. For all other
topics choose Subjects A to Z which includes links to other government
statistics sites. Their International
Data Base provides online socioeconomic data for many countries
in such categories as population, vital statistics, literacy,
labor force, employment, and income.
- Sourcebook of ZIP Code Demographics Reference
Table 5B HA203.S66
Includes statistical data on more than 150 characteristics such
as age, race, income, households.
- American
Fact Finder
Lots of Census data, including facts about population and housing,
business and industry, community information, and maps.
This is a great starting point, as it goes down to the city and
county level.
- County
and City Data Book
Official population and housing data from the 2000 Census
plus business and other data for all U.S. counties, cities with
25,000 or more inhabitants, and places of 2,500 or more inhabitants.
- Statistical
Abstract of the United States
Text of the Statistical Abstract of the US available in PDF
format. A good starting point for general statistics on
almost any subject, this resource provides a digest of statistics
from many sources. Check the sources listed at the end of the
statistical tables for updated or more detailed data.
- State
and Metropolitan Area Data Book
From the U.S. Bureau of the Census. A collection
of statistics on social and economic conditions in the United
States at the State and metropolitan area levels.
- CensusScope
Provides census data for states, counties, and metropolitan areas.
Use the tabs at the top of the page to select charts, maps, or
rankings. Data includes information such as multiracial
and population growth, population by race, age structure, and
family structure.
WESTERN
AREA DEMOGRAPHICS
If you need specific information
about a local area (ie. land or construction costs for a particular
location) that is not available via standard statistical or demographic
sources or via local online sources (ie. chambers of commerce or
city Web sites), try contacting the local chamber of commerce via
telephone.
- Online
Chambers of Commerce
Chambers of commerce are great places to gather specific data
about a particular location, and many of them have Web sites.
This directory of chambers includes U.S. cities and states, Canadian,
and National chambers, and links to other online chamber directories.
These sources provide information about individual magazines, newspapers,
radio and TV stations, cable and satellite systems, and web sites.
They may provide information about circulation numbers, broadcast
power and range, network affiliation, target audiences, physical formats,
and rates charged for advertising.
- Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media
Reference Table 6A PN4867. G3
This source provides detailed information on newspapers, magazines,
journals, radio stations, television stations, and cable systems.
Includes advertising rates and circulation statistics, and population
and top industries for each city. International coverage.
- Dataplace
From Advertising Age. Provides lists of top magazines and
circulation rankings.
- Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook Reference Table
6A TK1.B86367
Covers television, cable, satellite broadcasting, and radio industries
in the US and Canada. Includes market sizes for television in
metro areas and target audiences for reatio stations. Some
advertising rates. Includes twelve sections: A: industry
overview plus a directory of group owners; B: directory of television
stations by state and city, and TV market statistics; C: cable
rankings by household and penetration percentage; D: directory
of radio stations, call letter lists, radio formats by state,
and radio market statistics; E: satellites and other services;
F: programming services; G: technical services; H: brokers and
professional services; I: associations, events, education, and
awards; J: law, regulation, and government agencies.
Trade
publications and associations can be valuable and detailed sources
of information about a particular industry or your competitors.
There are several strategies you can use to search for information
in these sources:
- Directory of Business Information Resources
Reference HF54.52 .U5 D567 2000 Provides lists of associations,
newsletters, magazines & journals, trade shows, directories
& databases, and Web sites for particular industries.
- Encyclopedia of Business Information Sources Reference
Z7164.C81E93
This encyclopedia is organized by industry/topic. A list of "Periodicals
and Newsletters" is provided for all the industries listed. The
Encyclopedia also describes the abstracts and indexes, directories,
encyclopedias and dictionaries, handbooks and manuals, statistical
sources, trade and professional societies, and electronic databases
available for each industry.
- Encyclopedia of Associations Reference Desk
- National Trade and Professional Associations of the United
States, 1999 Reference HD2425.N37 1999
- Associations
on the Net (Internet Public Library)
"A collection of over 2000 Internet sites providing information
about a wide variety of professional and trade associations, cultural
and art organizations, political parties and advocacy groups,
labor unions, academic societies, and research institutions. Abstracts
summarizing information about the association and its site are
provided."
Keep in mind when searching
for industry information that different sources will classify industries
a little differently; some classify industries into broader areas
than others (ie. 2 digit SIC versus 6 digit SIC). Some use
the SIC classification, some use NAICS, and some use both.
It is a good idea to look up your industry classification code first.
- North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
Provides common industry definitions for Canada, Mexico, and the
United States. This new system is replacing the countries' separate
classification systems with one uniform system for classifying
industries. In the US, NAICS will replace the Standard Industrial
Classification system (SIC). Provides information about new industries
and sectors as well as correspondence information between NAICS
and SIC.
- Standard
Industrial Classification Code Search
Allows a search of the 1987 version SIC manual by keyword, access
of descriptive information for a specified 4-digit SIC, and examination
of the manual structure. The SIC manual may be searched by keyword
or by SIC code from this site.
- Standard industrial classification manual : SIC 2 +
2 Reference Table 6 HF1042.S73 1988
- North American industry classification system
Reference Table 6 PREX2.6/2:IN 27/997/
FINANCIAL/INDUSTRY
RATIOS
- RMA Annual Statement Studies Reference
Table 6 HF5681. B2 R58
Contains composite financial data on manufacturing, wholesaling,
retailing, service, and contracting lines of business. Arranged
by SIC code, this work makes it possible to compare one company's
performance relative to other companies in the same line of business.
- Industry Norms & Key Business Ratios Reference
Table 6 HF5681. R25153
Includes both public and private US corporations of all sizes.
If you can't find what
you are looking for or you have further questions...
- Come to the Reference Desk located on the middle
level at the north end of the library
- Call the Reference Desk at (801) 626-6415 or
Toll free (877) 306-3140
- Click on Live Assistant from the Library Home
Page during library hours
- Email the Reference Desk at refdesk@weber.edu
Or contact the Business
& Economics Librarian
- Ed Hahn
- Business & Economics Librarian
- Office: 144
- Phone: (801) 626-8662
- email: edwardhahn@weber.edu
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