The library subscribes to a wide variety of databases that provide industry reports. There are essentially two types of reports:

Financial Reports 

These reports are mainly written by Credit Rating agencies and focus on the financial risks and opportunities of the industry at large

Market Research Reports

Market Research Reports also provide in-depth analyses of industries with a focus on selling (i.e., how they sell, where they sell, to whom they sell and the competitive environment.)

The library subscribes to numerous Market research databases. Once again, it pays to be flexible with your search terms. For example, "medical concierge" information can be found by searching: physicians, concierge medicine, retainer based medicine, doctors, etc.). Below are two examples of our marketing research databases:

Trade Journals

Most industries/product categories are tracked in trade journals that provide continuous and updated coverage of:

• Demographic trends
• Management trends
• Regulatory/legal issues and their industry impact
• M&A activity
• Rankings of top brands/companies

and much more. 

While the business magazines occasionally contain articles on an industry, the trade journals specialize in that industry. Many trade journals have websites that contain access to some of the articles and overviews contained in the journal itself. 

Library Databases

The library databases provide access to thousands of business magazines, trade journals and academic/scholarly journals. They are especially useful for:

• Honing in on an aspect of your topic. By combining your industry term with an aspect (management, marketing, new products, regulation, etc.) one can fine-tune or focus the topic for precise information.
• The databases also allow one to search for niche industries/markets (e.g., concierge medicine).
• Important!
• Be flexible with your terminology and watch for the terms the databases use. Use related terms, alternate or related terms (e.g. clothing, fashion, apparel, textiles). . 

Associations monitor industry trends, collect industry data and promote the interests of their members.  Their publications and websites are excellent sources of industry data.

Finding Trade Associations:

Use these databases to identify the names of & in some cases, the links to trade associations:

Factiva

1. Mouse over the Company/Markets tab on top and select "Industry"
2. Select an industry from the list on the left
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a list of trade associations (with links to their websites)

IBISWorld:

1. For a list of trade associations, find a relevant report.
2. Click on "About this Industry" on the top left corner
3. Trade Associations are listed in the "Additional Resources" section.

Search online for industry association websites:

1. Use Google or your favorite Web search engine. Be sure to include inurl:org in your search.
2. The following are links to lists of trade associations. No list is comprehensive but these will give you a start.

• Food and Beverage Trade Associations
• List of Major Trade Associations
• ITA - List of Stakeholders
• Select USA List of Trade Association
• Directory of Associations

Many industries are regulated or overseen by government agencies. These agencies often provide detailed data about the industry itself. A particular benefit to the government generated industry information is that the data are provided using industry specific metrics. Sometimes, company financial information can also be accessed through the government agency websites.

Google:

Try the following Google search:

intitle:your term inurl:gov