November 2014
C.B. “Bud” Johnston Library
buslib@ivey.uwo.ca

Business plans

Company research
◦ Competitors
◦ Non-profits
◦ Manufacturers, suppliers, distributors

Market research
◦ Supporting your idea

Statistics
◦ Demographics, financial performance data

Legalities
◦ Copyright, Patents

Advertising
◦ Successful campaigns, Costs

Citing & Writing
www.lib.uwo.ca/business/
Managing Expectations
1. Why would this information be
collected? Who, what?
2. Would it be published? Why,
when?
3. Remember to look outside the
box – search for broader
categories rather than just a
niche market
Business Plans
See how others have started their businesses.
• Library Catalogue
 Title: Business Plans Handbook
• 26 volumes of business plans
• Businesses from all industries types
For costing out your business – use
Financial Performance Data
The Competition
Identify who is in the industry.
Screening
Public
Companies
MarketLine
Factiva
Mergent
Online
Capital IQ
Screening
Bloomberg
Thomson
One
Analyst
Reports
Private or Subsidiary
Sources
PrivCo
Angel
Investing
Venture
Capital
Lexis Nexis
Academic
Company
Dossier
D&B
Million
Dollar
Database
Non-Profit & NGO Sources
Imagine
Canada
Grant Connect
Foundation
Center
Canada
Revenue
Manufacturers & Suppliers
Frasers
Mergent
Online –
Horizon
tab
Encyclopedia
of Products
& Industries
Market Research
Determine successful means by which you can identify, attract, and
convince your customers
Mintel +
Mintel GMN
Statista
eMarketer
IBIS World
Print
Measurement
Bureau
MarketLine
Passport
The Customer – By the numbers
Find data on demographics, household spending habits by geographic
regions
Statistics
Canada
National
Household
Survey
Statista
Western
Facts
Legalities
Copyright
Canadian
Intellectual Property
Office
•
• www.cipo.ic.gc.ca
Patents
• Scopus
• LexisNexis
Advertising
Discover successful advertising strategies from other companies
including costs.
CARD
SRDS
WARC
Articles
Dotting the “i”s and Crossing the “t”s
• Use the library CITATION guide
• Assess your sources
 Are they Relevant, Reputable, Accurate, Unbiased, Current
 Google may not be unbiased or reliable
• Explore the resources available to you via the library
 Chat with us for help!!
Writing Help
• Writing Support Centre
• Student Development Centre
• Room 4100
• www.sdc.uwo.ca/writing
• Sign up for an appointment – call 519-661-3655
• 1 hour-long
• One-on-one meeting with a writing counselor
 Chat with us for help!!
Mine the expertise of the library staff
Hands on practice
We are here to help you – please ask if you
need assistance!
Thank you!
buslib@ivey.uwo.ca