Salisbury & Maryland Resources
These resources could help determine target market size for the geographic/market area around Salisbury, MD.
- Maryland State Data CenterThe Maryland State Data Center (SDC) is an official partner with the U.S. Census Bureau.
- Salisbury, MD Area Chamber of CommerceOnline source for information on Salisbury and Wicomico County, MD.
- Salisbury University - University Analysis, Reporting & AssessmentFor college student population demographic in Salisbury.
- SBDC - Maryland Small Business Development Center - Eastern RegionCounseling services offered on campus in the Perdue School of Business.
- Delmarva NowLocal news
Trends, Reports via Marketing Trade Associations
Browse these association websites for trends, updates, and reports on the marketing industry. While the information may not pertain to your company's industry, it may spark ideas for your marketing plans.
Target Market & Consumer Research
With any research endeavor, it is crucial to ask yourself as many questions as possible to ensure you are thinking critically about the subject. For target market research, consider not just the age, but the lifestyle, gender, household size, location, culture, and other factors that would influence that market's consumer tendencies. Alternate your focus between the company/product and the consumer (who would buy X product? would person Y buy it? what prevents them from doing so? what could the company/product do to change this?).
As you research, look for data/information that answers these questions. If you have trouble finding data/information to support your theory, you may be asking the wrong questions, or are trying to shoehorn data to support an answer that you created from the start. Let the research process guide you to the answer rather than begin your research with an answer in mind.
- Statista This link opens in a new windowLibrary database - will require SU credentials for off-campus access.
Statista.com, by Statista, Inc. provides data on over 60,000 topics from over 18,000 sources, categorized into 21 market sectors. Statista.com provides quantitative data on media, business, finance, politics, and a wide variety of other areas.
- Consumer Expenditure Survey (bls.gov)This survey provides data about American consumer expenses. The most recent survey is for 2016. The survey can be viewed in a variety of formats, including tables, news releases, and reports. Select the type of resource you would prefer from the top paragraph.
- Statistical Abstract of the United States (census.gov)Summary statistics on just about any topic (often for a range of years) - lacks detail to lower levels of geography (ie. counties, etc.) but is a good pointer to other sources. Covers up to 2012. Annual editions beyond this are now published by ProQuest. The latest edition is in the 1st floor Reference collection.
- Data.gov"The home of the U.S. Government's open data...Here you will find data, tools, and resources to conduct research, develop web and mobile applications, design data visualizations, and more."
- United Nations Statistics Division - Demographics and Social Statistics (un.org)Demographic Yearbook and other publications; Demographic and social topics; Statistical Databases; and more!
- American Customer Satisfaction Index (.org)Organization that analyzes and ranks certain economies, industries, companies, and governments based on customer satisfaction. Created by University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.
- The National Retail Federation (.com)This industry association website provides great insights into consumer behavior, spending habits, trends, and more. Start with the "Resources" page.
- NPD Group (.com)Check out the Industries tab to find overviews, insights, reports, and infographics relating to an industry and its consumers. Note that some content may only exist behind a paywall.
Databases for Scholarly Articles, Research
Try searching databases by keywords describing your product/service. One search strategy could be to search by industry code AND keywords such as "consumers" or "market."
- ABI/INFORM Global This link opens in a new windowProvides indexing and abstracting for 1000 periodicals with full text for more than 600 publications.
- Academic Search Ultimate This link opens in a new windowComprehensive, scholarly, full text database for multidisciplinary research
- Business Source Complete This link opens in a new windowBusiness Source Complete is an essential tool for business students. It covers all disciplines of business, including marketing, management, accounting, banking, finance and more. Content includes many full-text journals and topical video content.
- Statista This link opens in a new windowStatista.com, by Statista, Inc. provides data on over 60,000 topics from over 18,000 sources, categorized into 21 market sectors. Statista.com provides quantitative data on media, business, finance, politics, and a wide variety of other areas.
Demographics eBooks
The baby boom : Americans born 1946 to 1964 by
Call Number: HC110.C6 .B339 2015ebISBN: 9781940308890Publication Date: 2015
Best Customers: Demographics of Consumer Demand by Call Number: HC110.C6 B384 2014ebPublication Date: 2014
Household Spending: Who Spends How Much On What by Call Number: HC110.C6 H385 2014ebPublication Date: 2014
The American Marketplace: Demographics and Spending Patterns by Call Number: HF5415.3 .A44 2014ebPublication Date: 2014Provides the demographics and spending patterns of American consumers. Includes data on education, health, housing, income, labor force participation, living arrangements, population, spending, and wealth.The generation X : Americans born 1965 to 1976 by
Call Number: HF5415.332.Y66 .G464 2015ebISBN: 9781940308869Publication Date: 2015The millennials : Americans born 1977 to 1994 by
Call Number: HQ796 .M555 2015ebISBN: 9781940308838Publication Date: 2015