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LIBRARY RESEARCH:
Workshop for Oregon Small Business Development Center Network
INDUSTRY RESEARCH
Industry Classification Systems
It is often necessary to identify the proper numeric classification code when researching an industry. To find the corresponding codes, use the following sources:
Standard Industrial Classification Manual (SIC) (1987= latest edition)
DOCS REF HF 1042 .A55 or DOCS-REF HF 1042 .U622 [On Business Index Table]
The four-digit Standard Industrial Classification Code is used to gather and analyze information on U.S. businesses. The first two digits describe the general industry. The third and fourth digits describe the specific activity. Users should note that effective with the 1997 Economic Census, the SIC has been replaced by the North American Industrial Classification.
| 1987 SIC | Name | Classification Level |
|---|---|---|
| D | Manufacturing | Division (Letter designation) |
| 20 | Food and Kindred Products | Major Group |
| 205 | Bakery Products | Industry Group |
| 2052 | Cookies and Crackers | Industry |
Search SIC on the Web:
- Standard Industrial Classification Search -- This is the 1987 SIC manual available at OSHA site. Searchable by keyword(s) or code number.
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
DOCS REF HF 1041.5 .N674 1997 [On Business Index Table]
NAICS uses a six-digit coding system to identify particular industries and their placement in this hierarchical structure of the classification system. The first two digits of code designate the sector, the third designates the subsector, the fourth digit designates the industry group, the fifth digit designates the NAICS industry, and sixth digit designates the national industry.
NAICS is replacing SIC. It has not yet come into wide use among commercial providers of business data, however.
| 2002 NAICS | Name | Classification Level |
|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector |
| 326 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | Subsector |
| 3261 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | Industry Group |
| 32611 | Unsupported Plastics Film, Sheet, and Bag Manufacturing | Industry |
| 326111 | Unsupported Plastics Bag Manufacturing | U.S. Detail Industry |
You can search NAICS on the Web:
- 2002 NAICS Search -- Search by keywords.
Industry Norms and Ratios
The following reference sources provide a "typical" balance sheet and income statement for a company in each industry with ratios. Usually arranged by SIC. (Located on Business Index Tables.)
- Almanac of Business and Industrial Financial Ratios
- DOCS REF HF5681.R25 T68 2001
- Annual Statement Studies. Robert Morris Associates
- DOCS REF HF 5681 .B2 R6
- Financial Studies of the Small Business
- DOCS REF HD 2346 .U5 F55a
- Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios
- DOCS REF HF 5681 .R25 I53
Industry Surveys / Overviews
Industry overviews or industry surveys include information on product analysis. The library has the following reference sources.
- Encyclopedia of American Industries
- DOCS REF HC 102.E53 2001 (On Business Index Table)
Brief (1-10 pages) descriptions of industry groups, by SIC, with lists of recent articles. - Encyclopedia of Emerging Industries
- DOCS REF HD 2324 .E528 (On Business Index Table)
Details the inception, emergence, and current status of 108 newly flourishing U.S. industries and industry segments. - Yahoo! Organizations
- IPL Associations on the Net (AON)
- Collection of over 2000 Internet sites providing information about a wide variety of professional and trade associations, cultural and art organizations, political parties and advocacy groups, labor unions, academic societies, and research institutions.
LOCAL BUSINESSES / COMPANIES
- D & B Regional Business Directory, Oregon Area
DOCS REF HF 5065 .O7 D80 [On Business Index Table]
- Oregon Business Directory
DOCS REF HF 5065 .O7 O67 [On Business Index Table]
- ReferenceUSA
Contains entries for over 12 million US firms and business establishments of all sizes, including directory data and information on type of business, sales volume, number of employees, executive names and titles, and stock exchange information. - Willamette Valley Business Directory
DOCS REF HF 5065 O7 C66 [On Business Index Table]
BUSINESS COMPETITORS
- Market Share Reporter
DOCS REF HF 5415.2 .M37 [On Business Index Table] - ReferenceUSA
Information on 12 million businesses in America. Custom search is available.
**To find information on Oregon business rankings, use
- Oregon Business
HF 5001 .B873Z (Located in Special Collections)
This magazine provides annual rankings on Oregon's public companies, statistics on employment in addition to information on Oregon businesses.
MARKET RESEARCH
onsumer information is a key element of the market research process. Who are your potential customers? A solid understanding of your current or potential customers is essential if you want to direct your marketing efforts at the population segment that is most likely to buy your products or services.
Demographic Information
- U.S. Census Bureau
- Statistical Abstract of the United States
HA202 [Print version on Business Index Table]
- American Demographics (periodical)
HB 3505 .A66
Consumer Behavior and Lifestyle Interests
The lifestyle characteristics of your target consumers influence their buying habits. The following resources are useful to identify interests, beliefs, attitudes, and activities of your potential customers.
- Lifestyle Market Analyst
DOCS REF HF 5415.33 .U6 L54 [On Business Index Table] - American Attitudes: who thinks what about the issues that shape our lives
Knight HN90.P8 .M58
Buying Power and Spending Habits
The following resources will answer these questions: How much money does your target market have to spend on your product or service? What type of purchases does your target market make?
- American Incomes : demographics of who has money
DOCS REF HC110.I5 A4 - American Marketplace : demographics and spending pattern
DOCS REF HC 79 .C6 R87 - Best customers : demographics of consumer demand
DOCS REF HC79 .C6 .R87
- Consumer Expenditure Survey
- Household Spending : who spends how much on what
DOC-LC HC110.C6 O34
Target Markets
The Library has a number of publications covering particular market segments (e.g. teenagers, baby boomers, women, Hispanics). The following selection of books will help you learn more about the lifestyle, attitudes, and buying habits of your specific target market
- American Generations: who they are, how they live, what they think
REF HC110 .C6 .M545 - Americans 55 & Older : a changing market
Knight HQ1064 .U5 .A6455 - Racial and Ethnic Diversity: Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Whites
REF E 184 .A1 R 78
Databases / Web Sites
- ERsys.com -- Provides demographic information on over 2600 US cities. Open the "Drop Down Manual" and select a state and then click "GO". Select a city on next page.
- Data for Local Communities: Search for Information on Oregon Communities --This website is a gathering place for statistical, spatial, and descriptive information about the cities, counties and other civil, economic and natural regions of Oregon. The Local Data database lets you retrieve web-based information by topic and geography, while Additional Resources provides links to geospatial data and other organizational websites.
- PRIZM NE -- PRIZM NE is Claritas' newest segmentation system, which assigns every neighborhood in the U.S. to one of 67 clusters. Each cluster describes the predominant demographics and lifestyles of the people living in that neighborhood. You can also access to MicroVision Standard Segmentation System, which defines 50 lifestyle types in the U.S. Enter the 5-digit zip code in the search box and also enter the security code shown below and then click "Submit".
- Tablebase
Tablebase is a database comprised of tabular information. The tables provide information such as market share, market size, capacity, production, imports, exports, sales, product and brand rankings, forecasts, healthcare statistics and demographics.
FINDING ARTICLES
- Academic Search Premier
- Covers current news, business and company information, government and legal information.
- Business Source Premier
- Full text from nearly 930 journals covering business, management, economics, banking, finance, accounting, etc.
To find regional news, use:
Once you find the citation of an article, you need to search he library's online catalog, to find the call number of a journal or magazine. Current periodicals are on the second floor, Current Periodical Room, arranged by call numbers.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Best Web Sites
- BizStats.com (http://www.bizstats.com/)
- Includes
national business statistics, national averages profitability and
operating ratios for small business industries, and retail industry
benchmarks.
- Entrepreneur.Com: The Online Small Business Authority
- Contains
selected articles from the publication and resources for business
developers. "Small Business Tools" section enables one to download
ready-made business forms and search a software library;
"Entrepreneur's Databases" include links to categories of franchising
opportunities (fastest-growing, top new, home-based, etc).
- Entrepreneur's Reference Guide to Small Business Information
- This
is a guide compiled by the staff of the Business Reference Services'
Science, Technology, and Business Division, Library of Congress.
Contents include: "Introduction, Getting Started, Raising Capital,
Managing Your Business, Human Resources, Marketing, Doing Business with
Government, International Opportunities, Research and Information
Gathering, Looking At the Numbers, Handbooks and Guides, Information
about Companies, Indexes, Databases, Other Information Sources, Keeping
Current, and Index."
- eVenturing
- Provides
original articles, written by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, and
other materials related to starting and running high-impact companies.
- Fambiz.Com
- Provides 300 family
business articles covering such topics as Inter-Generational Issues,
Sibling Rivalry, Strategic Planning and Non-Family Managers/Employees.
It also links to other family business sites and "Best of the Web"
articles.
- Idea Cafe: The Small Business Channel
- Include
resources, ideas, practical advice, business news, and humor to make an
entertaining site. Business site links are summarized and reviewed.
There are serious, yet informative sections (e.g., "Y2K and Small
Business"), as well as your "Biz Horoscope."
- NYC Small Business Resource Center
- Developed
by the New York Public Library, Science, Industry & Business
Library. Includes information on services directories, business
manuals, business forms, citations to 130 sample business plans, and
more.
- Patent Cafe
- A menu
approach from Patent Cafe: World's Gateway to Inventor's Resources.
Selections include patents and trademarks, resources for invention and
innovation, manufacturers and suppliers, U.S. Government Offices,
international inventors, and a link to Inventive Kids Cafe for science
research. Includes a search engine and FAQ link for guidance and
helpful tips on how market new products and inventions.
- SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)
- The
SCORE organization is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business
Administration. It is dedicated to aiding in the formation, growth and
success of small business nationwide. The organization offers
counseling and workshops to business owners.
- U.S. Small Business Administration
- Official
starting point for resources and programs offered by the SBA. Begins
with Starting Your Business, Financing Your Business, and, Expanding
Your Business. Includes links to most frequently asked startup
questions (FAQs), informative articles, a startup kit, and locations of
Small Business Development Centers throughout the U.S. The primary
destination for seeking financing. BusinessLINC ("Learning,
Information, Networking, Collaboration") site contains business plans
and a mentors network.
- Women's Business Center
- Created
in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of
Women's Business Ownership, this is an interactive business training
web site for entrepreneurial women dedicated to the development of
professional and personal skills. Content sections are marketing,
finance, management, technology and procurement.
Business Planning
Search the Library's Online Catalog to look for books on how to write business plans. The following sites might be helpful in writing business plans.
- AllBusiness -- Covers various issues for entrepreneurs and growing businesses. Includes business plans and other resources.
- Bplans.com -- Includes free sample business plans, sample marketing plans, plan outlines, tips, start-up business, financing, venture capital, and related information.
- Center for Business Planning-- Provides sample small business plans and outlines in addition to business and marketing planning, and business strategy information, advice, and software.
- Morebusiness.com -- Information on business and marketing plans, and how to start and run a small business.
- Small Business Planner -- From SBA.
Search the following sites for information on Oregon small business development centers:
Maintained by: Kaiping Zhang, kzhang@uoregon.edu
Last Modified: 12/28/2007