Resource Catalog
Libraries
These resources are only available in print or they're expensive e-resources, but they may be available through your library membership (along with a vast array of other resources). Visit the website of your local or university library for access, or make the trip to your library (not "fast" unfortunately).
Associations Unlimited Associations by name, acronym, keyword or geographic location. Good for non-profit organizations and professional/trade associations. Standard & Poor’s Industry Surveys Tracks more than 50 North American industries and 10 global Industries. Includes information about the current industry environment, industry trends, key industry ratios and statistics, how to analyze a company, a glossary of terms and a comparative company financial analysis. Encyclopedia of Emerging Industries, Gale Research Insight into nations with social or business activity in the process of rapid growth and industrialization. Covers emerging industries within those economies as well. Encyclopedia of American Industries, Gale Research Volume 1: detailed profiles of American manufacturing and service industries. Volume 2: essays on agriculture, mining, construction, wholesale and retail. Volume 3: essays on finance, insurance, real estate, services and public administration. Typical entries include an overview; description of the industry's size, status, organization and structure; discussion of its history, development and current conditions; profiles of pioneers in the field; trends and long-term outlook; leading companies; employment outlook; a bibliography of further reading sources; and more. Lifestyle Market Analyst, SRDS Psychographic data. |
Directories & Databases
No list is ever complete. If you haven't found what you're looking for so far, you may want to try these directory sites.
ASAE Associations Directory CIA World Fact Book History, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military and transnational issues for 267 world entities. Find maps of major world regions, flags of the world, political map, world oceans and standard time zones. Global Edge Reference Desk Resources for information ranging from culture and economic information to trade tutorials, trade law and statistical data. Nation Master Massive data source and graphical nation comparison. Includes data from: CIA World Factbook, UN and OECD. Generate maps and graphs on all kinds of statistics. Reference for Business Encyclopedia of Small Business, Business Biographies, Business Plans and Encyclopedia of American Industries. ReferenceUSA Business, residential and specialty databases. Available through your library membership. They provide a library lookup and will connect you directly to your library. SBTDC (North Carolina's Small Business and Technology Development Center) Links to a wealth of websites, from directories of associations through statistical. |
Major Research Firms
Many of the following firms typically perform research for large companies, and purchasing their reports can be quite expensive. However, they sometimes release free reports on a wide range of subjects. Some will only ask you to register. Others offer snippets for free. See what they're researching lately
Connexity Their blog offers lots of free data. Shopping patterns and consumer behavior specialty, including online. Frost & Sullivan (registration) Specialties: more than can be listed here. Gallup (free) Specialties: survey results on politics, economy, well being and the world. Javelin Strategy & Research (free section) Specialties: financial, payments, security, mobile. Neilsen (lots of free reports) Specialties: what people watch and buy. Packaged Facts Consumer market data. PEW Internet (free) Specialties: vast number of topics, particularly about behavior and Internet usage. Plunkett Research (free/premium) Specialties: 20-30 different industries. Scarborough (registration) Specialties: a few trends and lifestyles reports are free. VALS Strategic Business Insights (free) Specialties: consumer, financial, media and more. Several free reports available. |
