Library Databases

Published: March 2, 2022
Updated: June 29, 2022

Library Databases

The Expensive World Of Business Information

Believe it or not, you cannot find everything on Google! Have you ever done an online search and found the perfect industry report only to find that it costs over $5,000? Did you know that libraries pay for many expensive databases that could be helpful in your secondary market research? 

Search engines like Google can only provide direct access to freely available information. Most of the web, including business information, lives in databases behind expensive paywalls. This paywall-protected section of the Internet is known as the deep web. Fortunately, some libraries pay to subscribe to databases so they can provide free access to their patrons — and many business databases can contain useful information such as articles, market research, and company reports.

There are several strategies you can use to access relevant business information on the deep web. First, we urge you to look up what business resources your local public or academic library can provide access to. Each database has its own arrangement, with unique interfaces and search features. It helps to know the structure and search terms of the specific database you are working with in order to retrieve effective results. 

Also, it is important to know that library databases are restricted by specific usage agreements. It can help to consult with a librarian if you have trouble navigating a specific database. They may also be able to help you find comparable information elsewhere. Libraries with robust business collections might have useful e-books, directories and trade journals. As you conduct your secondary market research you will likely need to consult both free and deep web resources.

For more information about how and why to use business databases, check out our video tutorial, Module Four: Conducting Your Industry Research.

Business Resources at Academic Libraries 

Colleges and Universities with business programs will have useful business collections you may be able to get access to through their academic library. Often these academic libraries can provide the general public with access to their collections, which include electronic resources like databases and e-books. For example, they could have alumni or community cards, and can provide temporary "guest" passes in certain situations. Contact your local college or university library to see what they can provide. Please note: you probably will not get access to their electronic resources with remote access.
 

UBC Library Business Databases

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you may have access to business databases through the David Lam Management Research Library and Canaccord Learning Commons through the links below.

Full Listing By Title or Full Listing By Subject

There are two different ways to identify databases: Use "by title" if you already know the name; otherwise you can search the list "by subject" to find starting places for undertaking market research, finding articles or researching companies. To learn more about how you can access library resources if you are a community user or temporary visitor, check out the UBC Library Community Users & Visitors Guide. Community users and temporary visitors may have additional access restrictions to specific databases because of license agreements.

Provincial Library Database Partners

How to access: Check out the database list and note the License Participants to find out which institutions have access. Otherwise, contact your local post-secondary library to see what they offer.

BC Electronic Library Network (ELN) Research Databases

ELN licenses databases with partner academic libraries. These include LexisNexis, Canadian Newsstream, Hoovers, CBCA Business, ABI/INFORM Complete and others that may be of interest to business researchers.

City of Vancouver’s Open Data Portal

How to access: The guide can be viewed through the link above and is free to use.

The Government of Canada routinely collects vast quantities and kinds of information on a diverse spectrum of topics. Now the City of Vancouver is making this information available to the public in a single concise searchable portal called Open Data 101. This data is accessible to the public and structured in an easy to understand format.

 

ABI/INFORM Collection 

  • Canada Food and Drink report - Q1 2022. (2021). London: Fitch Solutions Group Limited. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.

  • Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Coffee Market Size Worth $2,722.3 Million by 2027 | CAGR: 15.3%: Astute Analytica. (2021, September 7). PR Newswire. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database. 

  • RTD coffee market to reach $42.36 billion by 2027; increasing investment in flavored and cold-brew products will aid growth, says fortune business insights™: Top players covered in RTD coffee market are PepsiCo, the Coca-Cola Company, Nestle S.A, JAB Holding Company, Asahi Group Holdings, ltd, McDonald's Corporation, Danone S.A, Dunkin’ Brands Group, inc, Suntory Beverage & Food, Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co. ltd and other players. (2020, Nov 18). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 

Mergent Online

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Provides access to US and international public company data. This database also contains data on companies that were acquired, went bankrupt, liquidated or merged out of existence from 1995 forward. Users can compare companies and export data into programs like Excel.

BCC Research Centre

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Otherwise, contact your local library to see if they provide access.

Publishes 250 reports annually that are complete with market intelligence, five-year forecasts, statistical and analytical data, key players, market share, industry structure and dynamics, and technological shifts and trends.

 

Business Source Ultimate

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Otherwise, contact your local library to see if they provide access.

Includes financial data, books, videos, company profiles, SWOT analyses, industry profiles, country reports, market research reports and case studies. Also includes information on industry trends, forecasts, outlooks, competitors, how to run a specific business and much more.

  • (2021). 2022 U.S. Coffee & Tea Manufacturing Report: NAICS 31192: Coffee & Tea Mfg. Barnes Reports. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 

  • Jacobsen, Jessica (2020). What’s Old is New: Pandemic bolsters in-home coffee consumption. Beverage Industry. 111(9), 12-16.
  • Jacobsen, Jessica (2021). Taking Coffee to the Next Level. Beverage Industry. 112(2), 4. 
  • Kalkowski, John (2020) SPILLING THE BEANS ABOUT COFFEE PACKAGING: As coffee consumption grows worldwide, pouches and bags prove popular despite increasing use of new forms such as pods and RTD bottles and cans. Flexible Packaging. 23(2), 22-23.
  • Ferreira, Jennifer (2018). Fostering sustainable behaviour in retail: looking beyond the coffee cup. Social Business. 8 (1), 21-28.
  • Thorn, B. (2018). A more compelling cup of coffee. Nation’s Restaurant News, 52(2), 1.

     

 

First Research Industry Profiles

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, or faculty you can access many of these reports through ABI/INFORM and/or Business Market Research Collection (Proquest).

Covers over 900 industry segments. Updated on a quarterly basis, these industry profiles contain critical analysis, statistics and forecasts to help you engage key prospects, coach key clients, and deepen customer relationships. You can search for reports by NAICS, SIC or keyword or browse by category.

  • (2021) Coffee & Tea Manufacturing - Quarterly Update 11/22/2021. First Research Industry Profiles. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection; Business Market Research Collection. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles database.
  • (2021) Bakery Product Manufacturing - Quarterly Update 11/15/2021. First Research Industry Profiles. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection; Business Market Research Collection. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles database.
  • (2021) Nonalcoholic Beverage Manufacturing - Quarterly Update 10/18/2021. First Research Industry Profiles. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection; Business Market Research Collection. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles database.

 

IBISWorld Industry Reports

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

IBISWorld research is an independent, professional publisher of high-quality market research reports. These reports analyze the underlying structure and external forces that drive an industry.

  • Koronios, Eva. Coffee and Tea Production in Canada. (2021, May). Canada Industry (NAICS) Report 31192CA. Retrieved from IBIS World Industry Reports database.
  • Wood, Grace. Coffee Production in the U.S. (2021, June). US Industry (NAICS) Report 31192A. Retrieved from IBIS World Industry Reports database.
  • Diment, Dmitri. Tea Production in the U.S. (2021, June). US Industry (NAICS) Report 31192A. Retrieved from IBIS World Industry Reports database.
  • Per capita coffee consumption. (2021, November). U.S. Business Environment Profiles Report F411. Retrieved from IBIS World Industry Reports database.
  • World price of coffee. (2021, October). Canada Business Environment Profiles Report A5117. Retrieved from IBIS World Industry Reports database.

 

Marketresearch.com/Freedonia Focus

How to access: Check your local public or academic library to see about access. If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

While you can search this website only some Canadian libraries provide full-text access to the market research reports on industries and demographics for North American industries. They can range from 50 to 400+ pages in length, and contain charts, tables, and graphs, and key facts. Marketresearch.com has varied industry coverage and includes US and international information.

  • Packaged Facts. (2021, August). U.S. Beverage Market Outlook 2021. Marketresearch.com Academic. Retrieved from Marketresearch.com Academic database.
  • Freedonia Focus Reports. (2021, June). Beverages: United States. Marketresearch.com Academic. Retrieved from Marketresearch.com Academic database.
  • Packaged Facts. (2021, November). Functional Beverages: Market Trends and Opportunities. Marketresearch.com Academic. Retrieved from Marketresearch.com Academic database.

     

 

Business Market Research Collection (Proquest)

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Business Market Research Collection brings together four sources to help students more easily conduct the research they need to produce business plans, marketing plans, startup plans, market growth analysis, and strategic and financial plans. Includes access to: Hoover's Company Profiles, OxResearch, Barnes Reports, and the older Snapshots Series, which includes market research overviews on over 40 industries and 40 countries to 2008.

  • Nonalcoholic beverage manufacturing - quarterly update 1/24/2022. (2022). Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from Business Market Research Collection. Retrieved from Business Market Research Collection database. 
  • Coffee & tea manufacturing - quarterly update 10/19/2020. (2020). Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from Business Market Research Collection database. 
  • 2019 U.S. coffee & tea manufacturing industry-industry & market report. (2018). Bonita Springs: Barnes Reports. Retrieved from Business Market Research Collection database. 

Statista 

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

A simple to use statistics portal that integrates statistics from thousands of sources, on topics related to business, media, public policy, health and others. Statistics can be exported in PPT, XLS, PDF, and PNG formats. Some basic content available for free.

  • (2020). Coffee market worldwide. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Conway, Jan. (2021, October 8). Coffee market in Canada: statistics and facts. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Shabandeh, M. (2021, March 4). Coffee market: worldwide production 2003/04-2019/20. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Conway, Jan. (2021, February 4). Coffee consumption worldwide from 2012/13 to 2020/21. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Conway, Jan. (2021, February 4). Export volumes of coffee-producing countries December 2020. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • O’Neill, Aaron. (2021, September 14). Average prices for Arabica and robusta coffee worldwide from 2014 to 2025. World Bank Commodities Price Forecast.  Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Conway, Jan. (2021, December 6). Coffee-drinking consumers in the U.S. by age group, 2020. National Coffee Association. National Coffee Data Trends 2020. Retrieved from Statista database.

 

WARC: World Advertising Research Center

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

WARC has case studies from major companies and advertising agencies, as well as articles from leading advertising journals and unpublished papers. It also includes company profiles, advertising spending statistics, and demographic and economic data.

  • (2021). What’s working in hot drinks. WARC. Retrieved from WARC: World Advertising Research Center database. 
  • (2021). BOSS Coffee: Touch-and-Go Coffee. WARC. Retrieved from WARC: World Advertising Research Center database. 
  • (2021). Cafedirect: Branding & Packaging. WARC. Retrieved from WARC: World Advertising Research Center database. 
  • (2018). Hot drinks global industry overview. Euromonitor International. Retrieved from WARC: World Advertising Research Center database.