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Marketing Research Guide

Research Librarian - Bernadine Hardin

Subjects

books & journals
[print & electronic]

These web guides include materials purchased by the Library (print and electronic) and Internet resources. All Internet resources selected for this guide offer some free research information.

General Resources

GMID (Global Marketing Information Database) [NEW! subscription]
GMID contains over a million demographic, economic and marketing statistics for 205 countries worldwide. The database also contains 6-year historic market size data for more than 330 consumer products in 52 countries, plus 5-year forecasts.

Scholarly peer reviewed articles in the Business Source Complete database. See this sample search result for:
 
SU marketing research and (china or chinese)

Statistics links to the statistics section on the Databases web page.

Marketing and Communications  - Intute C2006
Each resource has been evaluated by subject specialists based at UK universities. Includes: marketing management, advertising, market research, consumer behavior.

Marketing - Copyright © 2006 Entrepreneur.com, Inc.
The range of guides on this web site includes "How to write a Marketing Plan", "How to work a trade show",  "How to attract visitors to your site".

Search Engine Watch [Incisive Interactive Marketing LLC. 2006]
An Internet magazine with marketing information and ClickZ Ad  Resource Guide, conferences, statistics, news. The Experts section has "Advice & Opinions. By & for Marketers".

CEIC -[NEW! subscription]
Macroeconomic, industry and financial time series database for global emerging and developed markets. product information

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Consumers

Scholarly peer reviewed articles in the Business Source Complete database. See this sample search for articles published after 2002: SU consumer* and (SU behavior or SU preferences or SU attitudes) and SU decision making

GMID (Global Marketing Information Database) [NEW! subscription]
GMID contains over a million demographic, economic and marketing statistics for 205 countries worldwide. The database also contains 6-year historic market size data for more than 330 consumer products in 52 countries, plus 5-year forecasts.

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission  
Includes Business rights & obligations, legislation, conferences, glossary, public registers. See also Publications - most are available online or search the Library Catalogue.

Consumer.gov.au  for Business  - Australian Government - Treasury.
Information on consumer policy and consumer rights. The website also provides information for businesses including the coverage of legal issues relating to consumers.

Federal Trade Commission (USA) for the Consumer
Links to a papers on a broad range of issues subdivided into Consumer Information, Business Information, Cases, Public Comments etc.  See also the link to OnGuard Online.gov   for tips on preventing computer fraud. Also has a link to "Competition & Consumer Protection Authorities Worldwide"

E-consumer.gov  
A joint project of consumer protection Member countriesAlso a link to econsumer complaints.

Trendwatching.com  © 2002-2008
Global consumer (advertising/marketing) trends, ideas and insights.  A free magazine.  Search for articles on products and/or consumers.

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Company information

Information on public companies is more readily available than for private companies. 
See Company (Annual) Reports or information in newspaper and journal reports (particularly for private companies) by searching databases  such as Factiva, Australian Business Index, APAIS.  Also a few links for China

Mint Global [NEW! subscription]
Mint Global is the ORBIS database of over 50 million companies from around the world. Includes listed and unlisted companies. The information is presented in five modules: companies, news, market research, directors and scanned reports.

Business Who's who of Australia (by Dunn & Bradstreet) [subscription]
Search this database by product, employees, address, company name etc and download records to a spreadsheet.

Company Information   Intute C2006 - produced by UK universities.  Lists a range of web sites related to company information.

ASX Australian Stock Exchange - Company search
Search for companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange to find names of senior management, address, prices, dividends and company announcements.

Products and Tradenames Guide [PTG] Australia by Dun & Bradstreet [subscription]
Company details plus a source for products & services of Australian public and private companies.

Company incorporation information (Companies House. UK)
Has worldwide links to governmental company incorporation registries.

Corporate Information  ©2000- 2008 by The Winthrop Corporation
Basic details for leading companies in 55 countries- over 31,000 Companies (free). See the search box -top left hand corner of the page .

Northern Light Business Research Engine  © 1996 - 2008, Northern Light Group, LLC
A free (American) site that includes pages from public companies, private companies, venture funded companies, venture capital companies, trade ass. & journals, corporate law firms, government sites.

US Securities & Exchange Commission Edgar company search
Search for companies listed on the US Stock Exchange to find names of senior management, address, prices, dividends and company announcements.

MasterSeek Copyright © 2008
Marginal - for difficult to find companies try this global search to 45 million companies in 75 countries.

Mergers &Acquisitions - ZEPHYR [Bureau van Dijk]
containing M&A, IPO and venture capital deals with links to detailed financial company information. ZEPHYR now contains information on over 600,000 transactions (as of December 2008). Up to 100,000 new deals are added per year. ZEPHYR has nine years of global coverage and includes deals involving European companies going back to 1997.

Mergers & Acquisitions database of reports © 2008 Connect 4 Pty Ltd    [subscription]

Mergers & acquisitions journal [subscription
The Library subscribes to a number of databases that index this journal.  Try this search example:
JN Mergers & Acquisition* and SU foreign

Fortune Global 500   © 2008 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company
Sort by country, company, industry, CEO. Includes links to news stories and analysis.  Click on the link in "Get Quote" and then "Advanced Charts" for historical prices SEC filings and more

International directory of company histories / writers and researchers, Gretchen Antelman ... [et al.].  Chicago : St. James Press, c1988-c2008. Indexed by country, industry and company name.
Barr Smith Main Collection (Not for Loan)
338.7409 D429i   [92+ volumes]

Trading Room Copyright © 2009. Fairfax Digital
Company finance information and news.

Company Reports

Annual report collection    © 2008 Connect 4 Pty Ltd    [subscription]
The annual reports of 500+ companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.  Connect4 includes several separate databases: Company Prospectuses; Boardroom; Mergers & Acquisitions; Connect4 Company Announcements.
Alternatively, an internet search may find a companys' web site and this usually includes links to their publications.

Annual report file [microform journal]  use this if you need a pre 1993 annual report.  Covers the top 200 Australian companies between 1950 and 1993. Barr Smith Library, Multimedia, Microfiche Per 7. 

Delisted.
DeListed provides updates and information on failed companies including those in external administration and companies suspended from ASX, NZX, NSX and BSX. It also has all historical name changes and delistings for these exchanges and carries administrators/liquidators declarations for Australian companies for tax purposes.

ASX Australian Stock Exchange - Company search
Search for companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange to find names of senior management, address, prices, dividends and company announcements.

Annual Reports Online    by zpub.com
American site on finding annual reports with a link to this database Annual Report Resource Centre by Investor Relations Information Network (IRIN)

Annual Reports - © Copyright 1996-2008, Rutgers University Libraries   
Includes: United States and Rest of the world. For example
Leisure and Entertainment

 

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Databases - Company / business Reports & Swot Analyses in databases
        
see ALL Business databases by clicking here.

 

Choose - Business Source Complete (Ebsco) - Company Profiles [subscription]
Click on Company Profiles under the "More" heading in the blue bar at the top of the screen and Search (Match Any words) for a company name.
Next  - if you have a result, click on the link to the company name to see both the Datamonitor report and an option to Search Periodicals and Other Sources:.
     If you get a "No results" message - for company - :  XY "ABC Learning Centres Limited"
     try a simpler search such as: "ABC Learning" and ("child care" or "day care")

An image below of the search screen for Business Source Complete database - Company Profiles:


 

Look in the left hand frame under "Source Types" to see if reports such as:  SWOT Analyses (see this example for Cadbury Schwepps) are available for the company you are researching. 

Newspapers / Factiva [subscription]

Newspapers are an essential resource for company research. Click on the link above to the Factiva international newspaper and magazine database  [subscription] .
Then click on the Companies/Markets tab top/center of the screen.
Change the search default  by clicking on Company Search,  then key in the name of the company you want to research.  

A detailed report is displayed for companies listed on the stock exchange.

Hint - see the News brief section and click on the "View More"

Also - Use the left hand side menu to display a range of further information.  Click on the "Charting" function to view share price fluctuation over a given period.

 

Industry information

GMID (Global Marketing Information Database) [NEW! subscription]
GMID contains over a million demographic, economic and marketing statistics for 205 countries worldwide. The database also contains 6-year historic market size data for more than 330 consumer products in 52 countries, plus 5-year forecasts.

You can also find some industry reports in these databases:

Business Source Complete (EbscoHost) database [subscription]
Copy and paste the following search example but substitute the industry for the one you are researching. Note do NOT select the Peer Reviewed/ Academic journals limits for these searches:-

wine* and (global or international or world or australia)

  • Then when you have a search result see left hand frame "Narrow Results by" Source Types and
  • click on Industry Profiles

Tip: look at the result list, left hand frame, "Subject: Thesaurus term" for alternative (synonym) keywords to use in your search.

Factiva  [subscription]- newspapers & industry magazines are key sources of industry information. See this 4 minute video demonstration.

Change the "Date" field then Select More Options and "Search for free text terms in "Full Article"

Select one or more Subject Terms such as:

(Industry Profile Or Editor's Choice - Industry Trends/Analysis Or External Markets Or Research/Development Or Analyst Comment/Recommendation Or Share Price Movement/Disruptions)

In the Free Text box key in a search such as:

wine* and (australia or global or international or world)

Now click on the box labelled Run Search

 

Useful websites

Austrade - Industry Overviews - © 2007 Australian Trade Commission
Reports on a wide range of industry and country information including "key opportunities". See this sample report on Australian Wine exports.  The end of each report has links to government and industry contacts / associations.

Business Who's who of Australia (by Dunn & Bradstreet) [subscription]
Search this database by product, employees, address, company name etc and download records to a spreadsheet.

Products and Tradenames Guide [PTG] Australia [subscription] by Dun & Bradstreet
Company details plus a source for products & services of Australian public and private companies.

Directory of Australian Associations [subscription]
Search by keyword for name, category and/or acronym. Alternatively, click on the link to "Lists".

Economist Intelligence Unit - Asia [subscription]
Provides independant, authoritative analysis and forecasts on country, industry and management analysis. Note: the Library provides access to other Economist Intelligence Unit titles via the Factiva database (click on Source and search for Economist Intelligence)

Kompass [free service]
Find companies by industry. (note: no download available via the Library).

Productivity Commission - Australian Government
A wide range of governments reports.  Click on the Search (top right hand side) and enter the name of the industry.

Dept. of Industry, Tourism and Resources - Australian Government
Find industry reports on this A-Z page or use the search functions.  See also AusIndustry

The Library subscribes to a number of industry specific databases see or email your research Librarian, Bernadine Hardin, for information.  For example WineFacts- © 2003 Australian Wine & Brandy Corporation

Patent Lens (A service of CAMBIA)
For finding information about industry research and development.

China /Asia - see these links under Country Information

Industry Codes
Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®)
The GICS classifications aim to enhance the investment research and asset management process for financial professionals worldwide.The GICS structure consists of 10 sectors, 24 industry groups, 67 industries and 147 sub-industries.

NAICS & SIC  - US Industry Codes (Census Bureau)
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) has replaced the U.S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system.  SIC and NAICS Codes (Milner Library, Illinois State University)

 

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Advertising

Scholarly peer reviewed articles in the Business Source Complete database. See this example: 
  advertis* n3 health*

Ad*Access  © 2008 Duke University. All rights reserved
images and database information for over 7,000 advertisements printed in U.S. and Canadian newspapers and magazines between 1911 and 1955.

Adforum  
Ad agencies and commercial ads.  Information on over 18,000 agencies and 50,000 ads (tv, print, interactive, etc.) from around the world. Also see the page on Resources.

Roy Morgan Research    (Australia)
Includes info on TVs top 10 and Readership for magazines and newspapers.  "Consumer Confidence" and "Industries" web pages are a helpful guide to advertising issues.

Advertising Agencies on the World Wide Web Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
A list of links to American companies -note the See also list at the bottom of the page.

Advertising Federation of Australia -
Marketers can search for AFA Member agencies in each state and also access a list of agencies enrolled in the new AFA Accreditation Program.

B&T magazine's company directory
Search this directory for people, media, advertisers, awards etc. See also the Library subscriptions to this magazine.

Web Marketing Today  Copyright © 1995-2007 by Ralph F. Wilson
Has a magazine format. Take a look at Marketing tools and The Web Marketing Checklist

 

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Market Research

Alexa.com : Web information company.
Website traffic statistics. Including top 500 sites, site dmographics, hot URLs.

Statistics databases but for a comprehensive resource guide see the Library guides produced by Chris Smith which has Australian and overseas web sites on a broad range of subjects including: manufacturing, economics, finance, trade,  commodities, employment - click here  and here for demographic statistics.  

GMID (Global Marketing Information Database) [NEW! subscription]
GMID contains over a million demographic, economic and marketing statistics for 205 countries worldwide. The database also contains 6-year historic market size data for more than 330 consumer products in 52 countries, plus 5-year forecasts.

Australian social trends (Australian Bureau of Statistics - updated annually)
Includes the following: population; family and community; health; education and training; work; economic resources; and housing. Each section is supported by summary tables including key social indicators, as well as how social conditions differ across Australian. Also compares Australia with 17 other nations.

Market research & statistics - Australia.gov.au
Highly recommended - how to guides on - Market research, government statistics, marketing and advertising, developing a market plan.

Market Research Software   ©Copyright 2004 by Venture Data, LLC.
demos, freeware and shareware applications that are of use to market research professionals.

Northern Light - SinglePoint - Market Research Portals  © 1996 - 2008, Northern Light Group, LLC
A free (American) site that includes pages from public companies, private companies, venture funded companies, venture capital companies, trade ass. & journals, corporate law firms, government sites.

Sample size calculator    ©Copyright 2008 by Venture Data, LLC
Use the calculator to determine how many people you need to interview in order to get results that reflect the target population.  Has explanation  and instructions.

Web Pages that Perform Statistical Calculations!
Lists free multi-platform statistical software as well as online statistics books, tutorials, downloadable software.

Research Reports
Market research reports are difficult to get hold of.  These documents are usually produced by a consultants and very expensive to purchase. Try the Business Source Complete (EbscoHost) database for the following search example but substitute the product name for your research. Note do not select the Peer Reviewed / Academic journal limits:-

  • research report* and health*
  • white book and health*
  • black book and health*

Tip: look at the result list, left hand frame, "Subject: thesaurus terms" for alternative (synonym) keywords to use and revise your search.

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Country information

These sites are broadly international see the list below for Asia/China web sites.

GMID (Global Marketing Information Database) [NEW! subscription]
GMID contains over a million demographic, economic and marketing statistics for 205 countries worldwide. The database also contains 6-year historic market size data for more than 330 consumer products in 52 countries, plus 5-year forecasts.

ViewsWire - Asia [subscription database] - Economist Intelligence Unit. UK
Analyses (including Excel spreadsheets) for each country under the following headings:-

Politics /       News analysis, Background, Political structure, Outlook.
Economy /       News analysis, Background, Economic structure, Latest indicators, Outlook, 5-year forecast, 5-year summary, Country risk rating, Background Data.
Finance/      News analysis, Outlook, EIU currency forecasts, Consensus currency forecast, Interest rate forecast, Equity prices, Euro exchange rate, Daily US dollar exchange rates
Business /       News analysis, Background, Business environment, Outlook, Corporate strategy, Industry overview
Regulations /      News analysis, Investment, Competition and price, Licensing and IP, Trade, Foreign exchange, Tax
Country forecasts / Country Risk Summary / Country briefing

ViewsWire Asia [via Library Catalogue]

World development indicators online (WDI)  / World Bank / [subscription database]
Obtain country spreadsheets of time series indicators such as: consumption, savings, education, employment, banking, health, roads, agriculture, stocks, markets   etc etc.  (see the online help).

Australia Government Online Directory - © Commonwealth of Australia
A-Z of Government Departments, councils, committees, boards, contact numbers and links to legislation. Also links to state and territory web directories.

Business Planet (World Bank)
An interactive mapping interface that allows users to discover how easy (or difficult) it is to do business in 181 countries. visitors can toggle on and off various filters.

Corporate Information  ©2000- 2006 2006 by The Winthrop Corporation
Also lists useful web sites for each country.

Country reports  © 1997-2008  by CountryReports.org™
The usual coverage: government, economy etc. Also has a compare countries feature.

Business Source Complete (EbscoHost) database [subscription]
Try the following search examples but substitute the country name with the country you are researching.  Note do not select the Peer Reviewed/ Academic journals limits:-

  • country report and indonesia*
  • OECD economic survey* and turkey
  • country monitor and philippines
  • country commerce and thailand
  • TI "doing business with" and china 

Tip: Sortby: Date. Also, look at the result list, left hand frame, "Subject: subject term " for alternative (synonym) keywords to use for your search.

Doing Business : Measuring business rankings
Provides measures of business regulations and their enformcement across 181 economies and selected cities. See raw data, on starting/closing a business, paying taxes, employing workers, getting credit and more ....

Eldis country profiles gives data related to economic development from the British Institute of Development Studies in Sussex.

Ethnologue: Languages of the World    © 2006 SIL International
Statistics on the number of languages spoken in each country and the number of people who speak each language.

globalEDGE  Copyright © 2001-2008 Michigan State University
A wealth of information on all countries, more than 5,000 online resources, latest issues in international business and Market Potential Indicators for Emerging Markets.

OECD factbook - economic, environmental and social statistics [subscription]
Data accompanied by explanatory analysis and charts enable cross-country comparisons of long-term trends in the following areas: population and migration; macroeconomic trends; economic globalisation; prices; labour market; science and technology; energy; environment; education; public policies; and quality of life. Historical data going back at least 10 years and some projections of future trends in areas such as population ageing, economics and the environment.

SourceOECD is a major source of statistics and reports. [subscription]
Access available only for: The DAC journal -- Energy prices & taxes -- Financial market trends -- Higher educational management and policy -- Indicators of industry & services -- Main economic indicators -- OECD economic studies -- OECD economic surveys -- OECD papers -- Oil, gas, coal & electricity quarterly statistics -- Quarterly national accounts.

World fact book      U.S.A.  CIA
International directory includes country profiles covering, government, economy, demographics etc.

Asia / China - a few useful sites to supplement those above :

Asia Pacific business links on the Finance page
All roads Lead to China - covers many aspects.
Huxia Credit.  Consumer credit consulting service
China Commodity Net   - information on 600,000 companies.
World Importers Net - Chinese Ministry of Commerce
Ministry of Commerce of the peoples republic of China

 

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Books & Journals

 

Library electronic journals subscriptions for Marketing
If a journal you need is not listed here please search the Library Catalogue for your journal title.

Advertising Age   
Access to full text is available via the Library's subscription - use the "Business Source Complete " database link.  You can go to the  Adage web site but to avoid charges use the Library catalogue link.

Reference for Commerce  - catalogue search
or - check the Reference shelves at call number 658.8 ....

Library Catalogue - Subject Heading search for Marketing:-
Some quick links.  Click a link below then browse the list (see also previous and next buttons) when you click on a Subject Heading a list of titles is displayed.

Marketing   and  Marketing Research
Advertising
Business enterprises
Brand name products
Communication in marketing
Consumer behavior
Export marketing [includes international marketing]
Internet marketing

Use the Sort by:  drop down list to display most recently published records first.

Click on Headings again to go back to the list of Subject Headings.

The examples above are a very small sample of the Libraries resources, you should also Keyword search   the catalogue for your specific topic.

Updated: 11th November, 2009 by Bernadine Hardin