Types of industry information to research
From this list of suggested industry topics, select which issues you will focus on.
̈ General industry overview and analysis
̈ key technological, sociological, distribution, or other factors dramatically affecting your
industry
̈ Current and historical financial performance of the industry, including:
— Total revenues, overall and by product lines, if possible
— Total number of units sold, by product lines, if possible
— Total profits and average profit margins
— Growth rates over the past few years
̈ Companies in the industry, including:
— Total number of companies
— Leading companies in the industry
— Total employment in the industry
— Market share distribution of each company
̈ Industry’s performance in relation to your target market (geographic and demographic),
including:
— Total revenues and profits from that target market
— Number of companies serving that target market and market leaders
— Trends relating to that target market
̈ Impact of seasonal changes and economic cycles on the industry
̈ Trends and forecasts, especially the projected future growth rate of the industry
̈ Industry resources, including major suppliers and vendors, trade publications,
associations, and research companies
Types of Target market information to research
From this list of suggested market topics, select which issues you will focus on.
̈ General size of market
— What is the approximate size of the target market?
— What is the historic rate of growth of the target market?
— What changes are occurring that could affect the size of the market (including income levels,
need for product/service, social values)?
— What are forecasts for market growth?
̈ Demographic characteristics of consumer customers
— Age range — Income level — Educational level — home ownership — Marital
status/household size — Ethnic/religious group — occupation
̈ Demographic characteristics of business customers — Industries
— Revenue level — Number of employees — Business stage/age
Types of company information to research
From this list of suggested company topics, select which issues you will focus on.
̈ Names of the company:
— official corporate name
— Parent/subsidiary companies
— Product names
— Trademarks
̈ Company information:
— headquarter sand locations
— Names of officers, executives ,and staff
— Press releases
— Product announcements
̈ Products/services of a company:
— Leading product lines
— Pricing
— Features
— Distribution methods
— Patents/copyrights and other intellectual property
̈ Financial condition of the company, including:
— Current revenues and profit figures
— historical sales, financial performance ,and growth rate
— Stock performance/market value
— Sales by product lines
̈ other key issues:
— Is the company publicly traded?
— Customers/client list/testimonials
— Legal/regulatory compliance issues