Library Databases

Published: February 17, 2022
Updated: March 9, 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.

 

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.

 

ABI/INFORM Collection

  • Global Coffee Shops Market to Reach $201.4 Billion by 2027: Abstract: Global Coffee Shops Market to Reach $201. 4 Billion by 2027. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Coffee Shops estimated at US$156. (2021, July 19). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database. 

  • The Specialty Coffee Shops Market is expected to grow by USD 80.78 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 13% during the forecast period: Global Specialty Coffee Shops Market 2020-2024 The analyst has been monitoring the global specialty coffee shops market and it is poised to grow by USD 80. 78 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 13% during the forecast period. (2020, February 17). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database. 

  • 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. 

  • Global Specialty Coffee Shops Market 2020-2024 | Increasing Consumption of Coffee to Boost Growth | Technavio. (2020, February 20). Business Wire. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database. 

  • The global market for Coffee Shops is projected to reach US$237.6 billion by 2025: driven by the silent importance and role by them in our society. Coffee is the second most popular beverage after water. Not surprisingly coffee performs a very important social function and plays a vital role in building social relationships. (2020, August 19). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database. 

  • Adeleke, Abi (2019). Marketing Strategies of Successful Coffee Shop Owners. (Publication No. 13885584). [Doctoral dissertation, Walden University]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database. 

  • STUDY: 'Coffee and Green Go Together' - American Cities with the Most Coffee Shops Correlate to Most Eco-Friendly Cities: Infogroup study reveals Western cities make up 80 percent of top coffee shop cities, positively correlating with cities in Infogroup's Green Adopters for businesses. (2015, July 8). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection 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.

  • 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.

  • Kim, S., Kim M., & Holland, S. (2018). How Customer Personality Traits Influence Brand Loyalty in the Coffee Shop Industry: The Moderating Role of Business Types. International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration. 19(3), 311-335.

  • Ferreira, Jennifer (2018). Fostering sustainable behaviour in retail: looking beyond the coffee cup. Social Business. 8 (1), 21-28.
  • Perez, M. G. (2021). U.S. Coffee Chains Face Two-Year Recovery From Covid Sales Hit. Bloomberg.Com, N.PAG.

     

 

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 Shops- Quarterly Update 7/19/2021. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from Business Market Research Collection database. 
  • (2021) Specialty Food Stores - 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) 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.
  • (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.

     

 

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.

  • DellaCamera, Christopher. Coffee and Snack Shops in Canada. (2021, September). Canada Industry (NAICS) Report 72221bCA | Accommodation and Food Services in Canada. Retrieved from IBIS World Industry Reports database.
  • Couillard, Lucie (2020, August). Specialty Food Stores in Canada. (2021, May). Canada Industry (NAICS) Report 44529CA / Retail Trade in Canada. Retrieved from IBIS World Industry Reports database.
  • Thomas, Brigitte. Specialty Food Stores in the U.S. (2021, May). US Industry (NAICS) Report 31192A. Retrieved from IBIS World Industry Reports database.
  • Koronios, Eva. Coffee and Tea Production in Canada. (2021, May). Canada Industry (NAICS) Report 31192CA. 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.

     

 

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.
  • Freedonia Focus Reports. (2021, August). Beverage Retail: 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.

 

Statista

  • Lock, S. (2021, November 4). Coffee and snack shop industry market size in Canada 2011-2021. IBISWorld. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • (2020).Statista dossier on the coffee shop and café industry in the U.S. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Conway, Jan. (2021, October 8). Coffee market in Canada: statistics and facts. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • (2020). Coffee market worldwide. Statista. 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. 
  • (2020, August 3). How Starbucks is using the COVID-19 crisis to differentiate the brand. WARC. Retrieved from WARC: World Advertising Research Center database.

 

Newspapers and News Sources - UBC Library Research Guide

How to access: The guide can be viewed through the link below. Individual resources and databases will have different access requirements.

UBC Library has an excellent collection of current and historical newspapers from B.C., Canada, and around the world. UBC affiliates will have access to these resources.

  • (2020, December 10.) City postpones fee on single-use cups and ban on plastic shopping bags to 2022. Impact News Service. Retrieved from NexisUni database. 
  • McSheffrey, E. (2022, January 27). ‘We didn’t get it right’: City of Vancouver to revisit new single-use cup fees. Global News Canada. Retrieved from NexisUni database.