Library Databases

Published: January 5, 2024
Updated: March 4, 2024

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.

 
 

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.

  • Introducing wedding realm: Transforming the wedding industry with innovative online platform. (2023, Aug 09). PR Newswire. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • Bridal wear market size is to grow by USD 13.88 billion from 2022 to 2027. (2023, Jul 25). PR Newswire. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • The knot rebrands, unveils largest marketing campaign ever to reach next generation of couples and fuel demand for wedding vendors. (2023, Jul 25). Business Wire. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • Global bridal wear market to reach US$69.9 billion by the year 2026. (2022, May 05). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • Perri, O. B. (2022, Nov 17). I made $247,000 last year running a bridal boutique. Here are the networking and marketing strategies I used to grow my business from the ground up. Business Insider. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • Wedding market 2022 with COVID-19 impact on industry: Growth global industry size, top manufacturers entry, analysis, share, trends, market demand, growth, opportunities and forecast 2027. (2022, Sep 08). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • How to establish and grow A successful bridal boutique: Marina Andriichenko, founder of bridal breeze wedding boutique in SF, shares some helpful tips to guarantee success at your bridal boutique. (2022, May 09). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • Global bridal wear market report 2022-2026 - rise in micro weddings spur interest in unconventional bridal wear. (2022, Aug 03). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • Kirkpatrick, S. (2021, Jul 06). Destination weddings make a come back after COVID lockdown. TCA Regional News. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • Bridal conversion: This is how the wedding business adapts to the new reality. (2021, Jun 18). CE Noticias Financieras. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • Bertino, B. (2019). Defining titles in the special event industry. Special Events Magazine. 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.

 

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.

  • Feitelberg, R. (2023). David’s Bridal Responds to Bankruptcy Filing Rumors. Women’s Wear Daily. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate.
  • Feitelberg, R. (2023). Bridal Industry Rolls With Consumers’ Concerns and Fashion Trends. WWD: Women’s Wear Daily, 14. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate.
  • Negi, L. (2022). Expert discourse. Micetalk, 13(6), 16–19. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate.
  • Feitelberg, R. (2022). Splurge or Purge? Bridal Companies Adjust to a Changing Market. WWD: Women’s Wear Daily, 16. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate.
  • Seo, J. (2022). Hoteliers celebrate bumper wedding season amid staffing and supply chain challenges: As the wedding plans of many couples were put on hold thanks to Covid-19, hotel venues are experiencing a bookings boom this year. Caterer (2055-7817), 207(5219), 6. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate.
  • Jones, L., Anitsal, I., & Anitsal, M. M. (2022). Brides and Bridal Stores: Online or Brick-And-Mortar. Atlantic Marketing Journal, 11(2), 1–27. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate.
  • Wheless, E. (2022). How TikTok is reinventing the bridal business: #WeddingTok has more than 2.4 billion views. Advertising Age, 93(11), 6. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate.
  • Pastore, A. (2022). Wedding Economy Provides Strong Growth Opportunities for Small Businesses. Women’s Wear Daily, 18. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate.
  • Orton, T. (2022). No more waiting at the altar: wedding boom looms: Industry revenue up in B.C. but still down $96 million compared with pre-pandemic levels. Business in Vancouver, 1697, 7. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate.

 

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.

 

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.

  • Thomas, B. (2023, March). Party & Event Planners in the US / US SPECIALIZED INDUSTRY REPORT OD4414 / CONSUMER GOODS AND SERVICES. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.
  • Rose, A. (2022, October). Wedding Planners in the US / US SPECIALIZED INDUSTRY REPORT OD4412 / CONSUMER GOODS AND SERVICES. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld 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.

 

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.

  • Hoover Company Records. (2023). Weddingchannel.com, inc.. Mergent. Retrieved from Business Market Research Collection.

 

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.

  • Future Market Insights. (July 31, 2023). Size of the destination wedding market worldwide in 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2033 (in million U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved from Statista.
  • Holidu.uk. (June 18, 2022). Most expensive wedding location for couples worldwide in 2022, by category (in euros) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved from Statista.
  • Holidu.uk. (June 18, 2022). Most expensive wedding location for guests worldwide in 2022 (in euros) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved from Statista.
  • Holidu.uk. (June 18, 2022). Most expensive wedding location for guests worldwide in 2022, by category (in euros) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved from Statista.
  • Weddings and Marriage - Statistics & Facts https://www.statista.com/topics/797/weddings-and-marriage/#topicOverview
  • Average cost of a wedding in Canada in 2017 https://www.statista.com/statistics/807306/cost-of-wedding-in-canada/ 
  • RateSupermarket. (April 2, 2017). Average cost of a wedding in Canada in 2017 (in Canadian dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 24, 2023, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/807306/cost-of-wedding-in-canada/ 

 

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.

  • “My big fat metaverse wedding.” (2022). World Advertising Research Centre. Retrieved from WARC database. 
  • “What we know about marketing on Pinterest.” (2022). World Advertising Research Centre. Retrieved from WARC 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.

  • Piché, G. (2023, Jul 08). Big costs for the big day: Couples forced to trim wedding plans as prices climb. Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream.
  • “I do-flation: Cost of weddings ranked as top concern among majority of Canadians according to new tip top study.” (2023, Jun 06). Canada NewsWire. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream.
  • Kolluru, S. (2022, Jul 18). Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s wedding is part of a trend toward smaller events. Canadian Business (Online). Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream. 
  • Deschamps, T. (2022, Jun 27). Inflation hits the wedding industry; personal finance; couples advised to add 30% more to budgets. National Post. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream.
  • “The rise of the microwedding.” (2022, Feb 02). Ponoka News. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream.
  • This could be the most important person at your wedding: Meet the industry's hottest new service provider (2023). Toronto: Torstar Syndication Services, a Division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/blogs-podcasts-websites/this-could-be-most-important-person-at-your/docview/2824462094/se-2
  • Anandanayagam, J. (2022, Mar 05). Happily ever after?: REOPENING: Wedding planning business picks up as pandemic eases. Chronicle - Herald Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/happily-ever-after/docview/26360972…