Research Guides: CISB 5397: Entrepreneurship: Overview

Company Resources

Mergent Intellect
Find information on comparable companies to assist with determining number of employees, revenue, and industry classification.
If you don't know a specific company, use Advanced Search to look by Industry and Geography or Location Type.

To access First Research industry reports, click on First Research below the main search box and then, the orange Submit button on the left side of the page.
View the Company Searching tutorial for more insights.
PrivCo
Find private companies, mainly in the U.S., with M&A potential. Many will be in trending industries.

Frequent users will want to create an academic account using your SMU email address.

Industry Resources

Associations can be a great source of free information on industries. In addition to what is available on the website, you can contact them using your SMU email address and let them know you are working on a class project. You may also want to reach out to a local chapter for personalized assistance. Each of these databases includes a list of appropriate associations for the industry.

Mergent Intellect
Search by company and click on the Industry Details tab to access First Research reports. The Questions section contains items to address in your business plan.

To access First Research industry reports, click on First Research below the main search box and then, the orange Submit button on the left side of the page.
View the Company Searching tutorial for more insights.
IBISWorld
Search by NAICS code or keyword for U.S.-based industry information. The Competitive Landscape includes Success Factors and Competition.

View the Industry Research tutorial for more insights.
Business Insights: Global
Search by company and select industry or search by NAICS code. Reports include both American and Global perspectives.

Market Research Resources

Mintel Reports
Access U.S. business-to-consumer market research by selecting from the Category drop-down list.
Download the Databook within a report for all the survey findings.

Restricted to only current SMU students, faculty & staff.
View the Market Research tutorial for more insights.
Passport
International business intelligence on industries, countries, and consumers.

Restricted to only current SMU students, faculty & staff.
View the Market Research tutorial for more insights.

Demographic / Psychographic Resources

Data.Census.gov
Use Advanced Search to select Topics (e.g., age, marital status) and Geography (whole country down to zip code).

Mintel Reports
Use Demographics dropdown to locate Lifestyles reports with psychographic data. Product-specific reports contain Consumer tab.

Restricted to only current SMU students, faculty & staff.
View the Market Research tutorial for more insights.
Mergent Intellect
Click Demographics to search by zip code, town or MSA and see basic Census data.
PRIZM Household Distribution contains detailed psychographic groupings. Select spreadsheet, then enter SMU email to obtain data. Read Segment Definitions.
Click Consumer Data to view self-reported lifestyles and hobbies.

To access First Research industry reports, click on First Research below the main search box and then, the orange Submit button on the left side of the page.
View the Company Searching tutorial for more insights.
Simmons Insights
Use crosstabs to compare psychographic preferences among demographic groups.
Includes brand data

View the Simmons Insights Training Research Guide for more insights. Simultaneous users permitted: 5

Resources for all areas

Library Search
Good starting point for finding information in local newspapers and non-business publications.
Statista
Statistics & studies gathered by market researchers, trade organizations, scientific publications, etc, Use to find original source for more information.

View the Finding Data tutorial for more insights.
SimplyAnalytics
Create maps and visualizations from many demographic sources including Simmons and PRIZM.

Restricted to only current SMU students, faculty & staff. To create an account, click on "create an account" and enter your SMU e-mail address and a password. Also, only 5 users can use this resource concurrently. Please log out when done using this resource.

Sample APA Citations

These citations are based on APA 7th edition but have been modified to meet the requirements of SMU Cox School of Business instructors. Check with your professor regarding the appropriate citation style for your course.

The following is an example of references on a reference page for the type of articles you will be using for this assignment. Examples of in-text references can be found in Citing Business Sources.

References

Bloom, B. (2021, April). Salty Snacks – US - April 2021. Retrieved from Mintel database

eMarketer. (2020). Retail e-commerce sales including digital services in the United States from 2014-2020. [Chart]. Statista. Retrieved from http://www.statista.com

FTSE Russell. (2020). Consumer data. Retrieved from Mergent Intellect database

Mintel. (2020, May). Marketing to Gen Z – US - May 2020. Retrieved from Mintel database

MRI-Simmons. (2022). Spring 2019 NHCS adult 06-month. [Computer software]. Retrieved from Simmons Insights database

Pew Research Center. (2019, Jan. 8-Feb. 7). College graduates especially likely to read books in a variety of formats. Retrieved from http://pewresearch.org

SimplyAnalytics (2020). Map with % housing tenure. Retrieved from SimplyAnalytics database

The Nielsen Company (2020, January). Prizm household distribution 2018 [Collin County report]. Retrieved from Mergent Intellect database

U.S. Census Bureau (2020). Means of transportation to work in Texas. [Data]. American Community Survey. Retrieved from http://data.census.gov

Why Do I Need This Guide?

To create a business plan you will need to include data on the industry, competitors and potential customers. This research guide will direct you toward potential sources to ensure success.

The Business Plan Template is used for the Big iDeas Business Plan Competition and some classes.

CISB 5397 Library Resources Presentation

Industry & Market Research Presentation
PDF version of the Powerpoint presentation on Business Library resources
Research Worksheet
Use this worksheet to find useful information using the resources discussed in class.

Related Guides

Further Your Skills with Workshops

The one-hour, hands on Demographic & Consumer Research workshop focuses on resources that provide demographic and psychographic data.

Business Research Workshops

Need a different time? If you have a group of 4 or more, we can add a session for you. Request a workshop.

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