Research Tips for ACCO470

This is a guide to key resources that you can use for your ACCO 470 case study research. These are not the only resources available to you, and you will find many more suggestions by exploring Concordia Libraries' Research Guides by Subject - Business. Help is available in person at the library reference desk, by phone or by CHAT. You may also contact the Subject Librarian for Accountancy.

Industry Information

Industry Reports

Industry Canada - Canadian Industry Statistics
This Canadian government database summarizes statistics and other information for Canadian Industries. If you search by the NAICS code 4481 (clothing stores) you will find information about establishments, SME benchmarking, retail revenue and expenses, company directories and other information about Canadian clothing retailers. You can also go directly to the Industry Canada report Overview of the Canadian Apparel Industry for valuable industry analysis.

Standard and Poor's Net Advantage
Search Industries section for industry reports and sub industry reviews to find information about trends and key industry ratios. Also provides detailed company information including financials, competitors, valuation.

Business Source Complete
This database gives access to industry and market research reports. It also searches both scholarly and trade articles. Hint* try searching the words apparel and Canad*, and narrowing your search to Industry Overview. This database contains Company Reports as well.

Statistics Canada - The Daily
The Daily is a newsletter produced by Statistics Canada describing their studies. Try searching for StatCan industry data and analysis using the search box provided on the site. Hint* keep an eye out for CANSIM table numbers that you can then use to search CANSIM, described in the following section.

You can also search Statistics Canada Publications for publications related to the clothing, apparel or retail industry.

Mergent Online
You can find industry reports for the general retail sector by searching the "Industry Reports" section. This database also provides detailed company information.

FP Advisor
Find industry reports and company information for all publicly traded companies in Canada. Includes Historical, Investor, Corporate Analyzer and other reports.

Additional Industry Statistics/Ratios

Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios
Available onsite at Webster library. Provides Canadian industry ratios by SIC classification. Hint* if you want to find out which SIC code a company falls under check to see how it is listed in Mergent Online or D&B Million Dollar Database. As well, you can check with Statistics Canada.

CANSIM (via Statistics Canada)
Provides access to Canadian social and economic statistics including statistics on businesses and industries. This resource can be browsed by subject or keyword searched. Data can be displayed and manipulated online, printed or downloaded in various formats. You may want to search Statistics Canada - The Daily for relevant articles, and then search CANSIM for any tables that were mentioned.

Annual Statement Studies
US industry ratios (Print).

Almanac of business and industrial financial ratios
US financial ratio benchmarks (Print).

Industry - Articles

Business Source Complete
This database searches major sources of business information, including both scholarly and trade articles.

ProQuest Business Databases
This database allows you to search all business related ProQuest resources simultaneously. It is a major source of business information from both scholarly and trade publications, with some international coverage. Includes a lot of Canadian content.

Factiva
This database provides full-text access to international newspapers, newswires and magazines. Tip* See "examples" for tips on searching. You may want to change the default setting from "3 months" to a longer date range.

Industry - Websites and Portals

There are a number of trade associations representing the clothing and textile industry worldwide. You can find information on their websites and also through other portals by searching the free Internet. For example, some of your classmates have found this site useful: Fibre2Fashion. Be sure to check the "about us" pages of websites to help you determine whether they are reputable sources.

Industry - Books

CLUES
Don't forget about books when doing your research! You may want to try searching "fashion merchandising," "apparel trade,""retail trade," "retail management." Try searching by subject as well as keyword.

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Market/Consumer Information

Market/Consumer - Reports and Statistics

Global Market Information Database (GMID) by Euromonitor
Provides reports on countries (including Canada), companies, consumer type markets (ex: alcoholic drinks, consumer electronics, clothing and footwear etc.) and consumers, as well as extensive socio-economic statistics. Go to Search >text search from the top left corner of the home page, to search reports and statistics by keyword.

PMB Print Measurement Bureau
Provides survey data of Canadian consumers relating to their product usage (ex: "Amount Spent on Women's Clothing", "Where Women's Clothing was Bought") and lifestyles. To access statistical tables click on "Product Data">"Members Only Click Here". See also: Logging in to PMB (FYI Flix)

CANSIM (via Statistics Canada)
Source for Canadian social and economic statistics. Provides data on household spending at national and provincial levels. Data can be displayed and manipulated online, printed or downloaded in various formats. Hint* try searching the phrase household spending to find data on all types of spending (ex: on clothing) for Canada and the provinces.

Market/Consumer - Articles

Business Source Complete
This database searches major sources of business information, including both scholarly and trade articles. You may find articles concering consumer behaviour or trends in the apparel or clothing retail industry.

ProQuest Business Databases
This database searches major sources of business information from both scholarly and trade publications with some international coverage. You may find articles concering consumer behaviour or trends in the apparel or clothing industries. This database is strong in Canadian content.