MGMT 429 Hickman: Industry Research

To supplement company-specific information, get a better sense for the total market by researching the overall industry.

When locating industry reports, pay attention to the 1) publication date, and 2) geography (global, US, India, etc.). 

Online Resources (for off-campus access, you will be prompted to login with your SU username and password - same as for Gullnet, MyClasses, etc.)

• ABI/INFORM Global This link opens in a new window

  For Industry Reports: Go to Advanced Search. After entering your search terms, use the options below to limit your Document Type to Industry Report.

• Business Source Complete This link opens in a new window

  Start your search using the NAICS code for the industry, or some keywords relating to the industry. Narrow the publication or document type to Industry Profile, Industry Report, or Market Research.

• Statista This link opens in a new window

  --Select Industry Reports from the Reports tab, then click on "Show more industry reports." You can search for an industry by keyword or browse the available reports. These are limited the US, France, UK, and Germany.
  --OR, click on Consumer Markets. Select a market then choose a country from the drop-down menu at the top of the following page. More countries exist here.

• Value Line Investment Survey This link opens in a new window

  Check out the Markets tab. You can browse industry and market news, or scroll down to click on "View all industry analyses" to view all reports. Another option is to search directly for a company (using the search field at the top of the screen), then locate the Industry Analysis box on its page. This section will likely have more brief, yet up-to-date commentary.
  --To get a different perspective, try using the Browse Research tab, then select an industry from the drop-down menu for "Industry Screens."

Associations keep track of industry data for their members and may have valuable information on an industry that would not be found in standard business sources. ABI/INFORM (ProQuest) offers trade publications for some associations or organizations.

Aside from using the databases linked below, you can also use Google to find association websites and publications. Try using keywords such as [industry or product description] trade association. e.g., home inspection trade association. Once you find one, be sure to evaluate the website with a critical eye before using any information or data it provides. If it seems legitimate, look for pages that mention a newsletter or journal, member directories, industry outlooks/data, an "about us" summary, or other sections that would provide insight into the existing conditions of the industry. Keep in mind that not all associations will have this information publicly available (membership benefit).

Simplify your research and keep things consistent by FIRST defining your industry by selecting the industry code that classifies your business or service.

You could search by company within the databases and be on the lookout for the NAICS or SIC code. Or, you can search by a keyword that describes a particular product/service using the links below.