All Secrets Revealed.


Template Index


Market Research - Product

MARKET RESEARCH

Understand the facts of the market by doing market research.

1. KNOW THE PRODUCT/SERVICE

Know as much about the product or service as possible, i.e. annual sales or receipts, number or stores of businesses in area, success of these businesses, projected earnings or growth, leading competitors, etc.

2. KNOW YOUR TARGET MARKET AREA

Know who will buy your product or service, age range, salaries, consumer buying habits, etc. Locate the information at public or educational institutional libraries in your community. Your local library may have most of the resources listed below.

  • Printed Sources
  • Statistics
  • Statistics from Standard Industrial Classification Manual
  • Economic Census such as Census of Retail Trade, Census of Wholesale Trade, or Census of Selected Services.
  • Predicasts F & S Index - covers company product and industry information of over 750 publications.
  • Trade Journals
  • Other governmental statistic sources published by federal, state, and local agencies.
  • Periodicals
  • Indexes are the best way to look for articles because material is arranged in subject form. Recommended indexes are: Business Periodicals Index, Wall Street Journal Index, Predicasts F & S Index.
  • Books
  • Entrepreneur Series
  • Small Business Source Book
  • Look in library card catalog or check on-line computer system
  • People Sources
  • Trade Associations - address and information found in Encyclopedia of Associations.
  • Trade Periodical or Journals - contact editors or writers
  • Managers or owners of businesses
  • Potential customers
  • Data Base Searching

  • Return to Business Plan