Demystifying Government
Sources: Government Business
Information for the Rest of Us.
Stephen Hayes
Business Services Librarian
University of Notre Dame
www.nd.edu/~shayes1
Objectives
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Practical approach
Specific information for a “Business
Plan”
General comments on sites & sources
as applied to a business plan
General comments on sites & sources
as to general business applications
General comments
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Only government information sites and
sources covered (well plus one fee based site
– so shoot me)
Won’t be business experts
Business-economics; Economics-business –
what the difference? – spelling
Become friendly with Depository Librarian
Refer users to Federal Depository Library near
you
Handouts
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Power Point slides
Handouts
Projects I have seen
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Lawn Edging
Errands & more
Weighted Glove
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Hair salon
Lawn chair umbrella
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Rebate Program
Protective device
Flower Service
Tissue dispenser
Sports goods
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Lawn & garden
Concierge services
Sporting equipment; therapist;
exercise; sports
Beauty Salons; Beauty shops
Recreation; concerts; sporting
events
Rebates
Fabrics; household
Florists; lawn care
Motor vehicle accessories
Sporting goods; sports;
Business Plan from WordPerfect
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I used the Business Plan template from
WordPerfect
Information needed –
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Market analysis - Market
Research
Competitors **
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Direct and Indirect (Market
Share; Description;)
Strengths and Weaknesses
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Emerging
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Substitute products
Market Segments- segment you
will be competing in
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Demographics
Geographical area
Target Market (Primary target
markets; Secondary markets;
Demographics)
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Demographics
Geographical area
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as specified in content outline
Marketing Mix Strategy ** –
how you intend to market
Product/Service Differentiation
(Unique features; Potential for
innovation, customer service
plan, inventory control, etc.)
Competitive Advantage(Proprietary protection; Other
competitive advantages
Distribution ** – plan to
distribute your product or
service
Pricing **
Suppliers
Marketing Goals **
** Not Government information
Business Plan
Market analysis - Market Research
Competitors (Identify current and future competitors and
determine their strengths and weaknesses) **
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U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (http://www.sec.gov/)
County Business Patterns
State and Metropolitan Area Data Book
(http://www.census.gov/statab/www/smadb.html)
Statistical Abstract
Industry at a Glance (http://www.bls.gov/iag/iaghome.htm)
(Note: 1997 Economic Census: Bridge Between NAICS and
SIC)(http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naicstab.
htm)
Business Plan - continued
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Market Segments (Analyze size and growth of the market;
industry trends; market structure; identify problems and
potential niches)
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Demographics
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Current Industrial Reports
Statistical Abstract (http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab.html)
Business - Trade and Services
(http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/business.html)
Agricultural Statistics (http://www.usda.gov/nass/pubs/agstats.htm)
Women's Bureau – Statistics (http://www.dol.gov/wb/stats/main.htm)
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- Nontraditional Occupations for Women
State and Metropolitan Area Data Book
(http://www.census.gov/statab/www/smadb.html)
TradeStats Express™ (http://tse.export.gov/)
TradeStats Express displays the latest annual U.S. merchandise trade
statistics : At national and state levels; in maps, graphs, and tables; as
exports, imports, and trade balances; and custom-tailored to your year
and dollar ranges and display preferences.
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STAT-USA/Internet (http://www.stat-usa.gov/)
Business Plan - continued
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Market Segments (Analyze size and growth of the market;
industry trends; market structure; identify problems and
potential niches)
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Geographical area
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Regional Economic Conditions (RECON) (http://www2.fdic.gov/recon/)
World Factbook
(http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html)
International Trade Administration (ITA) (http://ita.doc.gov/)
Virtual World Trade Reference Room
(http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea/ref-room.html)
International Economic Accounts (http://www.bea.gov/bea/di1.htm)
Business - Trade and Services
(http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/business.html)
U.S. Economy at a Glance (http://www.bls.gov/eag/home.htm)
State Department, Business Center (http://www.state.gov/business/)
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Investment Climate Statements provide a thorough description of the
overseas environments in which U.S. investors must operate.
Business Plan - continued
Target Market (Primary target markets; Secondary markets;
Demographics)
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Demographics
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Current Industrial Reports
Statistical Abstract (http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab.html)
Agricultural Statistics (http://www.usda.gov/nass/pubs/agstats.htm)
BEARFACTS - BEA Regional Facts
(http://www.bea.gov/bea/regional/bearfacts/ )
Geographical area
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County Business Patterns
World Factbook (http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html)
Regional Economic Conditions (RECON) (http://www2.fdic.gov/recon/ )
North Star, Minnesota State Government Online (http://www.state.mn.us/)
MapStats (http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/)
STAT-USA/Internet (http://www.stat-usa.gov/)
Maping
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American FactFinder
(http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en)
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American FactFinder (AFF) has two tools for creating, viewing, printing,
and downloading maps.
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Business Plan - continued
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Marketing Mix Strategy ** – how you
intend to market
Product/Service Differentiation
(Unique features; Potential for
innovation, customer service plan,
inventory control, etc.) Competitive
Advantage- (Proprietary protection;
Other competitive advantages
Census Bureau Thematic Map
Percent of Households With Income of $100,000 or More in 1999: 2000
PCensus Sample Map
South Bend, IN MSA
Housekeeping Services
$ per household
Business Plan - continued
Distribution ** – plan to distribute your
product or service
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Bureau of Industry and Security
(http://www.bxa.doc.gov/about/index.htm)
STAT-USA/Internet (http://www.stat-usa.gov/)
State Development Agencies For Trade And
Investment
(http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea/subme
nu4.html)
Business Plan - continued
Pricing **
Suppliers
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STAT-USA/Internet (http://www.statusa.gov/)
Marketing Goals **
General Sources of Business
related information - U.S.
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Bureau of Economic Analysis
(http://www.bea.doc.gov/)
Bureau of Labor Statistics
(http://stats.bls.gov/)
Census Bureau, Publications
(http://www.census.gov/prod/w
ww/titles.html)
Department of Education –
Statistics
(http://www.ed.gov/searchResul
ts.jhtml?ct=1348353648&cl=1)
FRED® II (Federal Reserve
Economic Data)
(http://research.stlouisfed.org/fr
ed2/)
FRASER™ (Federal Reserve
Archival System for Economic
Research)(
http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/)
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Fed in Print - a comprehensive
index to Federal Reserve
economic research
(http://www.frbsf.org/publicatio
ns/fedinprint/index.html)
Fedstats (www.fedstats.gov/)
National Center for Education
Statistics (http://nces.ed.gov/)
U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission
(http://www.sec.gov/)
Small Business Administration
(http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/
)
STAT-USA/Internet
(http://www.stat-usa.gov/)
State Department, Business
Center (http://www.state.gov/b
usiness/
General Sources of Business
related information - State
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State Development Agencies For Trade And
Investment
(http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea/sub
menu4.html)
North Star, Minnesota State Government
Online (http://www.state.mn.us/)
Your local SBA office
(http://www.sba.gov/index.html )
State Libraries
(http://www.loc.gov/global/library/statelib.ht
ml)
General Sources of Business
related information - international
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AusStats
(http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs%
40.nsf/ausstatshome?OpenView)
OFFSTATS - Official Statistics on the
Web
(http://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/subj
ects/stats/offstats/)
Important non-government
Resource Sites
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Google Uncle Sam
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http://www.google.com/unclesam
Questions?
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H:/ala/preconf/GODORTDemustifying.ppt
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Power Point Slides and a web page are available on
my home page
 www.nd.edu/~shayes1