Research Resources
Databases
Dissertations
Electronic Books
Journal Locator
Other Catalogs
Research Guides
Search Engines
Subject Sites

Library Catalog
Building the Collection
Forms
Site Map

INDUSTRY RESEARCH


Many of these websites are from colleges and universities.   Aside from Internet links, they may contain other types of industry-related data.   Many contain lists of print resources of interest to industry researchers. Others offer search tutorials.  Most of these sites contain at least two of the above data types; some include all three.

Print sources listed on academic websites refer to those sources held by the library or academic source site for that institution. Many print resources are widely represented in many academic libraries or large public libraries.

Some of websites below are for proprietary databases, which the website's issuing institution or library subscribes to and which are only available to on-site patrons.  However, it may be worthwile to locate them in a library near you.

In addition to the websites below, much information on industry trends and news can be found in JWU's subscribed BUSINESS databases.


Business & Industry News

•  Sponsored by the Louisiana State University Libraries
•  One of the best sites for a wide variety of industry news, both domestic and foreign, and for economic and corporate research reports
•  Succinct but useful annotations accompany each link
•  Links to major business and finance journals which cover industry news


Google Web Directory: Business

•  Provides links for over 50 industries
•  In addition to industry-specific topics, categories for each industry include associations, consultants, directories, employment and publications
•  Great source for quick links to industry websites and affiliated information


Industry Information Via the Net

•  Sponsored by James Bondra
•  Well-designed, thorough guide to comprehensive research on a wide variety of industries
•  Provides links to industry overviews, trade publications, trade shows and conventions, legal and regulatory information
•  Excellent tutorial for guidance on conducting industry research


Industry Research

•  Sponsored by OhioLINK
•  This tutorial gives a thorough, well-designed analysis of the industry research process
•  Areas of analysis are comprised of the following: industry structure, industry profiles, current industry developments, industry statistics
•  Each area of analysis links to a wide variety of web and print resources pertinent to the subject at hand
•  Excellent annotations accompany most citations and links
•  The organization and development of this site makes it one of the best on the Web for understanding all aspects of industry research


Industry Research

•  Maintained by the Rutgers University Libraries
•  Combines print resources and links for conducting general industry research
•  Topics include: industry overviews, classification schemes, manufacturing and service industries, financial relations, international business
•  Heavily dependent on U.S. Census Bureau data
•  Well-organized with short but useful annotations; excellent in all regards


Industry Research Desk: How to Learn about an Industry or A Specific Company

•  Sponsored by Polson Enterprises
•  Probably the most comprehensive industry research site on the Web and certainly one of the best
•  Provides links and search strategies to a wide variety of industry topics, including topics not often included in other pages, such as the effect of weather on industry, regulatory issues and media sources for corporate/industry information
•  Most links are to free sites; wherever appropriate, fee-based sites are identified
•  Excellent in all regards


Retail & Wholesale Trade

•  Sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau
•  Provides monthly retail sales, monthly retail inventories, annual retail trade survey, census of retail trade
•  Provides monthly wholesale trade survey, annual wholesale trade survey, census of wholesale trade
•  Best and most direct source for official government statistics on the retailing and wholesale industries


Services

•  Sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau
•  Provides annual statistical information for service industries in 8 broad categories
•  Provides "Economic Census" for service industries (conducted every 5 years)
•  Best and most direct source for official government statistics on service industries


Sources of Industry Information

•  Sponsored by the Thomas J. Watson Library, Columbia University
•  Columbia University's LIBRARYWeb
•  Presents annotated websites and print sources for industry classification, industry overviews, statistics, ratios, rankings and associations
•  Many of the print sources may be found in many academic libraries or large public libraries
•  Annotations accompanying citations and links are excellent
•  Links to companion site, "Resources for Industry Research"
•  Excellent, especially for statistics sources


Websites discussed on this page are for informational purposes only. Johnson & Wales University Library is not responsible for the accuracy, content, or stability of any websites linked to this page.

Compiled by Rick Keogh 7/00; updated 3/04; links last checked 1/08

back to top