Library Databases

Published: May 24, 2023

Updated: May 25, 2023

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.

The global pilates & yoga studios market grew USD 145.46 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 8.12%.: Pilates & yoga studios market research report by activity (merchandise sales, pilates & yoga accreditation training, and pilates classes), applications, region (Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa) - global forecast to 2027 - cumulative impact of COVID-19. (2022, Aug 11). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
YogaWorks ramps up Live/On-demand classes - 25 live streams per day, 1300+ classes on-demand lead industry: YogaWorks, the world's premier provider of yoga instruction, has ramped up its live stream class schedule, now offering 25+ sessions per day from its Santa Monica studio and locations worldwide. the increased online activity and augmented on-demand content, now counts 1300+ classes. (2022, Mar 08). PR Newswire. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
Global pilates and yoga studios market expected to garner $269,301.8 million in the 2021-2028 timeframe, growing at 10.0% CAGR [276-pages] | announced by research dive: The global pilates and yoga studios market is anticipated to grow tremendously by 2028, mainly due to increasing adoption of new forms of exercises such as flexibility training. furthermore, growing popularity of yoga classes due to rising awareness about health benefits of yoga is expected to make the yoga classes sub-segment the most profitable one. (2023, Jan 10). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
Health and wellness brand, Honor Yoga, taps integrated digital strategies to develop and implement robust digital marketing campaign: Integrated digital strategies, a nationally recognized digital marketing firm servicing emerging franchise brands, is pleased to announce its partnership with Honor Yoga, an emerging health and wellness brand showcasing three robust business models. (2021, May 11). PR Newswire. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
Fitness platforms for disabled global market report 2022: Major players in the fitness platforms for the disabled market are Apple Inc. , Kakana, Adaptive Yoga live, Champion’s RX, Evolve21, Kym Nonstop… (2022, Sep 08). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
Outlook on the yoga global market to 2027 - promotion of yoga for male participants presents opportunities. (2021, Jan 07). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
At 30.5% CAGR, mindfulness meditation application market to outstrip $2.63Bn by 2028 led by APAC region (23% market share in 2021) | the insight partners: The mindfulness meditation application market size is projected to grow from $533.2 million in 2022 to $2,633.4 million by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 30.5% from 2022 to 2028. (2022, Aug 23). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
Yogaworks launches new cross-platform app featuring industry-leading, digitally exclusive instructors: Yoga leader delivers enhanced accessibility with seamless integration across streaming devices and builds upon core teaching philosophy with exclusive world-class talent. (2023, May 02). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
Content Engine, L. L. C. (2023, Mar 29). Meditation, yoga and mindfulness, the stars of a new business that moves millions. CE Noticias Financieras. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
Shafer, J. (2023, Mar 09). Business fridays: Muddy waters yoga an 'inward experience'. TCA Regional News. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
Content Engine, L. L. C. (2022, Aug 15). Yoga in london, without diversity and for the few: The battle for inclusion in a growing business. CE Noticias Financieras. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
Munir, K., Ansari Shahzad (Shaz), & Brown, D. (2021). From patañjali to the “Gospel of sweat”: Yoga’s remarkable transformation from a sacred movement into a thriving global market. Administrative Science Quarterly, 66(3), 854-899. 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.

BCC Publishing. (2020, February). Stress Management Industry: Global Trends [Report Code HLC256A]. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database.
BCC Publishing. (2020, April). Health and Weight Management Market [Report Code HLC253A]. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database.
BCC Publishing. (2023, May). Fitness Apps: Global Market Size, Share & Growth Forecast [Report Code IFT274A]. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database.

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.

Miller, R. K., & Washington, K. (2019). Chapter 84: Yoga: 84.1: Market Assessment. Leisure Market Research Handbook, 384. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
Miller, R. K., & Washington, K. (2019). Chapter 84: Yoga: 84.5: Market Resources. Leisure Market Research Handbook, 386. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
Practicing yoga in the Metaverse with Alo. (2022). Sporting Goods Intelligence Europe, 33(7/8), 1. . Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
Kuuru, T.-K. (2022). Embodied knowledge in customer experience: reflections on yoga. Consumption, Markets & Culture, 25(3), 231–251. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
PE firms invest in yoga: “Yoga is particularly attractive given its high level of consumer penetration.” (2019). Mergers & Acquisitions, 54(5), 8. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
Kell, J. (2020). The Coronavirus Economy: How my job as a yoga studio owner has changed. Fortune.Com, N.PAG. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
Burns, E. (2022). Y7 Studio Commits to Omnichannel Strategy With New Digital Platform. WWD: Women’s Wear Daily, 21. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
Saggers, D. C. (2019). 100% Canadian Franchise Systems. FranchiseCanada Magazine, 83–85. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
Mandelbaum, R. (2020). How A Des Moines-based Yoga Studio is Surviving the Pandemic. Bloomberg.Com, N.PAG. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.

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.

(2023, April 24.) Fitness Centers- Quarterly Update 4/25/2023. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from Business Market Research Collection database.
(2023, April 24.) Rehabilitation Therapy Services- Quarterly Update 4/25/2023. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from Business Market Research Collection 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.

Govdysh, A. (2023, January). Gym, Health, and Fitness Clubs in Canada. Canada Industry (NAICS) Report 71394CA / Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation in Canada. Retrieved from IBIS World Industry Reports database.
Wood, G. (2023, March). Pilates & Yoga Studios in the US. US Specialized Industry (NAICS) Report OD4185 | Life Sciences. Retrieved from IBIS World Industry Reports database.
Govdysh, A. (2023, January). Gym, Health, and Fitness Clubs in the US. US Industry (NAICS) Report 71394 / Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation. 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.

Freedonia Focus Reports. (2022, May). Recreation: United States. Retrieved from Marketresearch.com 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.

(2023, April 24.) Fitness Centers- Quarterly Update 4/25/2023. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from Business Market Research Collection database.
(2023, April 24.) Rehabilitation Therapy Services- Quarterly Update 4/25/2023. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. 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.

Target group: Yoga & pilates enthusiasts in Canada. (2023, March). Statista Consumer Insights. Retrieved from Statista database.
Kunst, A. (2023, March 8). Fitness and health service online purchases in Canada in 2022. Statista Global Consumer Survey. Retrieved from Statista database.
Kunst, A. (2023, March 8). Fitness and health service purchases in Canada in 2022. Statista Global Consumer Survey. Retrieved from Statista database.
Target group: Gym & fitness club members in Canada. (2023, March). Statista Consumer Insights. Retrieved from Statista database.
Kunst, A. (2022, February 23). Online fitness and health purchases by brand in Canada 2020. Statista Global Consumer Survey. Retrieved from Statista database.
Statista Research Department. (2022, December 9). Market size of the pilates and yoga studio sector in the United States from 2012 to 2020, with a forecast until 2022 (in billion US dollars). IBISWorld. Retrieved from Statista database.
Statista Research Department. (2016, April 26). Revenue of the yoga industry in the United States from 2012 to 2020 (in billion US dollars). Sports Club Advisors. Retrieved from Statista database.
Statista Research Department. (2016, April 26). U.S. yoga and pilates industry segmentation in 2015, by products/services. IBISWorld. Retrieved from Statista database.
Gough, C. (2023, January 31). Revenue of the fitness, health, and gym club industry in the United States from 2021 to 2022 (in billion US dollars). IBISWorld. 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.

(2017). California Fitness & Yoga Centre: #IAMMOREVIETNAM. MMA Smarties. Retrieved from WARC database.
Phipps, E. How coronavirus has reshaped the fitness industry. ANA Magazine. Retrieved from WARC database.
(2022, August 22). Influencer interview: How Shekinah Monee builds authentic partnerships with lifestyle brands. WARC Opinion. Retrieved from WARC database.
Pena-Taylor, S. (2021, September). Peloton’s engagement-first design philosophy. WARC Event Reports, DMEXCO. Retrieved from WARC database.
Thompson, W. (2023, April). Inclusion’s next wave. WARC Best Practices. Retrieved from WARC database.
(2016, March 30). Yoga guru challenges global trends. WARC News. 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.

'I was just trying to survive that first year': Cambridge-based atlas yoga receives $10,000 small business grant. (2022, Aug 18). Times. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.
Austin, J. (2021, Aug 19). Business building supportive 'yoga mom' community. The Brandon Suns. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.
Modo Yoga looks toward a positive future: Store openings, pizza subscriptions and other hamilton business news. (2021, Mar 03). The Spectator. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.
Griffin, K. (2020, May 10). Fitness industry eager to get moving; yoga studios, gyms among businesses awaiting provincial guidelines allowing them to reopen. The Province. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.
Business profile: Golden Lotus Yoga Studio. (2019, Nov 09). The Golden Star. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.
Female business owners collaborate to bring goat yoga to the South Cariboo. (2019, Jul 25). 100 Mile House Free Press. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.
Pilates and yoga studio market is booming in upcoming period 2030. (2023, May 4). MENA. Retrieved from Nexis Uni database.
Yoga studios market by platform, en user, component, and region, global forecast to 2030. (2023, April 12). MENA. Retrieved from Nexis Uni database.