MKTG 329: Marketing Research: Industries

• North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) - the 6-digit standard used by federal agencies to classify business establishments. ABI/Inform, Business Source Elite, and Nexis Uni allow you to search for articles about industries using NAICS codes.
• Economic Census - offers data tables by various industry sectors
• Value Line Investment Survey - one-page industry snapshots provide data and analysis. Choose "Markets" in the top black bar, then "Industries" in the upper right.

Identify Suppliers

• ThomasNet, a giant directory with good search options. Basic information is free.
• IQS Directory, a comprehensive listing of U.S. and Canadian manufacturers and suppliers in 180 industry categories, including company and product information as well as industry descriptions and definitions.

Identify your Competition using Company Dossier from Nexis Uni

• Open the menu (very upper left of the screen) to find Company Dossier
• Note that the default search is to "Find a Company", but you have other options
• Click on "Create a Company List"
• Fill in the blanks with an industry code and other criteria
• Results can be customized - you choose the fields you want included in the (downloadable) report

Ratios

• Industry Norms & Key Business Ratios (Dun & Bradstreet) REF HF5681.R25I525, annual [uses SIC codes}
• Almanac of Business & Financial Ratios (Troy) REF HF 5681.R25A44, annual (print & CD) [uses NAICS codes]
• Annual Statement Studies: Financial Ratio Benchmarks (RMA) REF HF 5681.B2R6, annual [uses NAICS codes]

Rankings

• Market Share Reporter, Gale Research, REF DESK HF5410.M37, annual
• Ward's Business Directory of U.S. Private and Public Companies, Gale Research, REF HG4009 .W35, annual, volumes 5 and 8 rank companies within SIC and NAICS industry codes
  
• Business Rankings Annual, Gale Research, REF DESK HG 4050.B88, annual