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.
Databases For Industry Research
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.
ABI/INFORM Collection
How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.
Created by ProQuest this database contains full-text articles from over 1,000 business magazines and journals that track business conditions, trends, management techniques, corporate strategies, and industry-specific topics.
- Contributor, G. (2020). Letter to the editor: Food industry responds to grocery store recall report. Denver: Newstex. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/docview/2354593145?accountid=14656
- Truck driver shortage fuels rising grocery store prices: A serious and worsening shortage of long-haul truck drivers is helping cause an uptick in U.S. shipping costs--and higher prices at the grocery store--advanced training systems comments on solutions to increase long-haul trucking workforce. (2018, Dec 03). PR Newswire Retrieved from http://ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/docview/2140889646?accountid=14656
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.
- (2019, May). Retail Market Global Briefing 2019. BCC Research. Retrieved from https://www-bccresearch-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/partners/tbrc-market-briefs/retail-market-global-briefing-mkb030c.html
- (2019, November). Retail Market Competitor Briefing 2019. BCC Research. Retrieved from https://www-bccresearch-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/partners/tbrc-market-briefs/retail-market-global-briefing.html
- (2018, September). The U.S. Retail Beverage Landscape: A look at what is trending and detailed examples. BCC Research. Retrieved from https://www-bccresearch-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/partners/datassential/the-us-retail-beverage-landscape-a-look-at-what-is-trending-and-detailed-examples.html
- (2017, May). The U.S. Retail Snacks Landscape: A look at what is trending and detailed examples. BCC Research. Retrieved from https://www-bccresearch-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/partners/datassential/the-us-retail-snacks-landscape-a-look-at-what-is-trending-and-detailed-examples.html
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.
- Isabel, Togoh. (2020, February 25). Amazon Opens First Cashierless Grocery Store. What Next For Whole Foods? Forbes.com. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=c6e3f4bf-fcf5-4d38-9cf7-469c46900975%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=141922883&db=bsu
- Begley, Steven, Marohn, Eric, Mikha, Sabah, & Rettaliata, Aaron. (2020, February 14). Digital Disruption at the Grocery Store. McKinsey Insights. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=be0233a7-3d13-4152-9c06-6bf35b1fa6c0%40sessionmgr4007&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=141773256&db=bsu
- Peters, Bill. (2019, September 19). Impossible Burger To Hit Grocery Stores In Retail Debut, Heating Up Fake-Meat Battle. Investors Business Daily. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=d872b9f4-0cba-46fb-bde2-a1db6f9397c6%40sdc-v-sessmgr01&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=138737241&db=bsu
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.
- Belavina, Elena. (2020, January 30). Grocery Store Density and Food Waste. INFORMS. Retrieved from https://pubsonline-informs-org.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/doi/10.1287/msom.2019.0800
- Carroll, Kathryn & Samek, Anya. (2018, August). Field Experiments on Food Choice in Grocery Stores: A “How-to” Guide. ScienceDirect. Retrieved from https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/science/article/pii/S0306919218301465?via%3Dihub
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.
- Mieles, Carlos. (2019, August). Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in Canada. IBISWorld Canada Industry Report. Retrieved from https://my-ibisworld-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/ca/en/industry/44511ca/about
- Ross, Olivia. (2018, November). Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in Ontario. IBISWorld Canada Industry Provincial Report. Retrieved from https://my-ibisworld-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/ca/en/industry-provincial/on44511ca/about
- Fernandez, Cecilia. (2019, December). Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in the US. IBISWorld US Industry Report. Retrieved from https://my-ibisworld-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/us/en/industry/44511/about
- Ross, Olivia. (2019, July). Convenience Stores in Canada. IBISWorld Canada Industry Report. Retrieved from https://my-ibisworld-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/ca/en/industry/44512ca/about
- McGrath, Shawn. (2019, October) Grocery Wholesaling in Canada. IBISWorld Canada Industry Report. Retrieved from https://my-ibisworld-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/ca/en/industry/41311ca/about
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.
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.
- Mergent – Retailing North America – A Company and Industry Analysis (2018). FSTE Russle Retrieved March 26, 2020, from Mergent 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.
- Chain food stores market share of grocery store sales in Canada in 2017 and 2018, by region
- Distribution of grocery store sales in Canada in 2018, by region
- Year-on-year growth of grocery store sales in Canada in 2018, by province
- Change in retail sales of supermarkets and other grocery stores in Canada from 2012 to 2019
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.
- Whiteside, Stephen. (2016, March). Brands, Contradictions and Driving Growth. WARC. Retrieved from https://www-warc-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/content/article/warc-exclusive/brands-contradictions-and-driving-growth/106913
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.