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The Business Researcher Newsletter |
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January 16, 2007 Vol 10, No 1 |
Celebrating Our 10th Year! |
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| Introduction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Over the last ten years I have had the privilege of helping many Canadians start or expand their small businesses. I have researched business ideas that for short periods of time seemed to be "bandwagon businesses" - everyone rushing to start their own coffee shop, self-storage units, E-commerce sites - and I have been involved in exploring the market potential of some of the most innovative business concepts imaginable. GDSourcing and now Stats Link Canada have and continue to be the most fascinating "jobs" I have even had. It also helps I get along so well with the boss! To help celebrate our tenth anniversary, we hope to include some special features in the newsletter over the course of this year and introduce some new and exciting resources. As I promise ever year, my New Year's resolution for 2007 is to publish this newsletter on a monthly basis. Unfortunately we often get caught up in other projects designed to help make Canadian market research easier for new entrepreneurs and small business owners. Last year was no exception. In the later half of the year we devoted all our energies to launching our new Stats Link Canada web site. The site is full of free and, more importantly, detailed information on how to locate and access Canadian market and industry statistics. Most of the content is based on our popular research guide Researching a Small Business in Canada. Sadly, the guide will no longer be produced. A variety of reasons simply made it unviable to continue. The best content however has not been lost. It is now available at the Stats Link Canada web site including the ever popular source lists. The content is now updated regularly to ensure the sources and advice are useful and relevant. Also new for 2007 is our e-mail delivery agent. We had problems in the past with the former company so we decided to make a change, hopefully for the better. Past subscribers should have received an e-mail asking them to reconfirm their interest in receiving the BR Newsletter. We know from first hand experience the annoyance of unwanted e-mails. Thank you to everyone who indicated their interest in receiving this newsletter. I hope your find this issue helpful. May 2007 bring you happiness and your business prosperity. John White
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| Statistics Canada Releases | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Agriculture Statistics on revenues and expenses of farms -
2005, Preliminary estimates Canada food stats Production and value of honey and maple products -
2005, 2006 preliminary estimates
Arts, Culture & Recreation Annual Survey of Newspaper Publishers - 2005
Business & Financial Services Architectural services - 2005 Survey of Suppliers of Business Financing, 2005 Deposit-accepting intermediaries: Activities and
economic performance - 2005
Business Operation Fixed assets 2006 (by Industry Sector) Survey of Regulatory Compliance Costs - 2005 Product market competition and agency costs Quarterly Financial Statistics for Enterprises
Communications Telecommunications statistics
Construction Investment in non-residential building construction Residential construction investment Measuring housing affordability
Consumer Market Revisiting wealth inequality Spending Patterns in Canada Average household expenditures - 2005 (highlights) Survey of household spending (SHS), dwelling
characteristics at December 31, by province, territory and selected
metropolitan areas Survey of household spending (SHS), household
equipment at December 31, by province, territory and selected
metropolitan areas The wealth of Canadians: An overview of the results
of the 2005 Survey of Financial Security Gift cards: The gift of choice 2003-2005 Savers, investors and investment income 2005
Demographics Quarterly Demographic Estimates International mobility: Patterns of exit and return
of Canadians, 1982 to 2003
Education National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth:
Early reading ability and later literacy skills 1994/1995 to 2004/2005 Salaries and Salary Scales of Full-time Teaching
Staff at Canadian Universities, 2004/2005: Final Report The teaching profession: trends from 1999 to 2005 Readiness to learn at school among five-year-old
children Registered apprenticeship training programs 2004
Health National Survey of the Work and Health of Nurses
2005: Provincial profiles
Internet Annual Survey of Internet Service Providers - 2005
Justice & Security Canadians' Use of Crime Prevention Measures
Manufacturing Energy consumption by manufacturing industries Trade liberalization and the Canadian clothing
market
Non-Profit Sector Satellite Account of Non-profit Institutions and
Volunteering, 1997 to 2003 Charitable donors 2005
Primary & Energy Sector Canada's mineral production, preliminary estimates Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators
2006 Shipments of solid fuel burning heating products Research and development for new energy
technologies in the private sector
Trade Canada's balance of international payments
Transportation Canadian Vehicle Survey - Quarterly Air Charter Statistics - 2004 - Annual Domestic and international shipping - 2004 Canadian Travel Survey: Domestic travel - 2004 Air Passenger Origin and Destination, Canada-United
States Report 2004 Characteristics of international travellers
Workplace Work hours instability Balancing career and care Hours worked and labour productivity in the
provinces and territories - 2005
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One of the most important research tools you can use when you are conducting industry and market research is a periodical database. A periodical database is basically an electronic collection of newspapers and magazines. It allows you to quickly search the text of all these publications at once so that you can easily locate articles and information related to your business or market. Through these media outlets you can access expert opinions, market analysis, consumer views and competitor profiles. You can then following up on the key sources referenced to find even more information.
Most library systems
in Canada now offer access to periodical databases through their
computer terminals. Moreover many now let you access these databases
from home provided you have a valid public library card. To view the
electronic holdings of your own local library system, visit its web
site. If you do not know the online address of your local library, use
the following directory:
Do not expect instant success The biggest challenge for most new entrepreneurs in using a periodical database is getting over the initial visceral resistance to such a “hardcore” research tool. It is very much text based and reliant on user input. If research is not your thing – and for many entrepreneurs it isn’t – periodical databases can be intimidating. When success is not instant (i.e. you don’t find exactly what you need on your first search) many entrepreneurs abandon the whole exercise, claiming it is beyond them. First thing to keep in mind is that if you sat and watched any of our research associates at GDSourcing (or any librarian or other professional researchers for that matter) while they used a periodical database you would immediately realize that searching for information is not an exact science. Search terms are continually revised and re-entered in the quest for “info-success”. Finding key information on the first try is rare so do not be discouraged by initial set backs.
TIME Before you try using a periodical database you need to ensure you have the most important research tool of all: TIME. Do not leave your research to the last minute. The whole purpose behind research is to enlighten your business plan, not be a quick appendage forced into place. Time-pressure leads to panic. To have “info-success” you need to have a clear mind to be able to sit back and see where revisions need to be made to your search and recognize other keywords that can be used. Research relies on problem-solving skills not your reflexes. It is more like golf and less like hockey!
KEYWORDS Next you need to prepared yourself with is a list of unique keywords. Use your own knowledge of your market and industry and write a list of related words, phrases, competitor brands and corporate names. Also add in specific market characteristics you are aware of. For example Aromatherapy is a technique that helps relieve stress. Therefore in your list of keywords include concepts related to this, such as stress, work-life balance, relaxation etc. Take a few days to compile a list. (Remember you have left yourself lots of time for your research). Carry a pad of paper with you and jot down keywords as you think of them. If you are techno-savvy use the "Voice memo" feature on your cell phone and record your keywords verbally. Now armed with time and keywords, grab yourself a coffee or tea – the advantage of searching your local library's resources from home – and log into one of the databases provided.
CBCA - Topic Headings Some libraries offer a variety of periodical databases. Each contains a different selection of newspapers and magazines and uses a slightly different interface. For the most part however they all operate in the same way. Some of the most commonly available periodical databases are: Canadian Business and Current Affairs (CBCA), EBSCO Host and General Reference Centre. We always start our searches with Canadian Business and Current Affairs (CBCA) because it focuses on Canadian content. The others identified above cover many Canadian periodicals as well but they also include more U.S. publications. When you first enter the Canadian Business and Current Affairs database you are taken to the Basic Search page. While it is enticing to just jump right into your search you are best to step back for a moment. Rather than reinventing the wheel, see if the data you require has already been collected for you. Start with the “Topics” tab at the top of the page.
CBCA - Screen Shot: 
Now select “Suggest topics (enter keywords)” then enter a keyword in the search bar. Start with the broadest keywords on your list. CBCA will then provide you with a list of possible topic headings related to your keywords.
You can then select the appropriate Topic heading or choose “Narrow by related topics” to get further Topic suggestions. Click on any headlines that appear relevant. If the article is useful look at the subject heading(s) that have been assigned to it. These are located at the top of the article and are hyperlinked. They may identify other related Topic headings you may not have originally considered on your own keyword list. You can print, e-mail or copy and paste all the useful articles you find. Some are even provided in a PDF format so you can see the article exactly as it appears in the paper version of the publication.
CBCA - Keyword Searching I wish I could say that is all there is to it. But I can’t. Remember you need TIME to achieve “info-success”. Usually you will be able to find some helpful articles via the Topic search method. However it is important to realize that not all relevant articles have been assigned an appropriate Topic heading. For example the article Retail Intelligence – Hair Care Category in the August 2006 issue of Canadian Grocer is not assigned any specific Topic headings which means when you search on hair care subject headings this article does not appear and you will miss out on important data such as Brown accounts for 37% of total sales in the hair colour market, versus 32% for blonde, 22% for red, 7% for black and 2% for bleach. Now before you throw your hands up in the hair and say “Oh! this is far too complicated for me!” remember research is about readjusting, revising and trying again. Keyword searching is not really that complicated and armed with your keywords and time it will not be as painful as you fear! Go back to the CBCA Basic Search page. This is the first page that appears when you enter CBCA and has a tab at the top of the page you can click on. Now simply begin entering some of the words and phrases from your keyword list. Look at the first few results. If they are useful read the articles. If they are not appropriate try adding more keywords or phrases to your search, or try another keyword set altogether. (For more information on selecting keywords and the revision process see our BR Newsletter article: Google is as Good as Your Keywords (Vol 9. No 4) While there are a number of special terms, symbols and research strategies you can use to increase the complexity of your keyword search, there are two basic guidelines to remember. If you are search on a phrase surround the words in the phrase with quotation marks “ “ and if you are searching on more than one word or phrase use AND (in capital letters between each keyword/phrase.)
Successful market research cannot be conducted without using a periodical database. Do not be intimidated by this resource. The greatest obstacle to info-success is your own reluctance to try.
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| Ten Year Profile: Self-Employment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As part of our 10th anniversary celebrations we are
going to devote one article in each issue of the BR Newsletter to
exploring trends in small business and entrepreneurship in Canada over
the last 10 years.
Detailed tables will be included at the end of each article.
While the growth has been consistent, the real fire of entrepreneurship did not start burning until the turn of the millennium. The growth rate since 2001 (10.3%) has been more than double that of the previous five years (4.8%) and this increase alone accounts for more than 70% of the net gain in self-employment since 1996. This rapid growth can be contributed in part to the phenomenal enthusiasm of women entrepreneurs. The number of self-employed women in Canada expanded at triple the rate of the previous five years. (12.0% vs. 3.8%) On a provincial basis, B.C., Alberta and Newfoundland & Labrador have fueled the surge in entrepreneurial growth. All these provinces recorded growth rates of near or above 20%. What is even more remarkable is the turn around experienced by two of these provinces. Prior to 2001 both Alberta and Newfoundland & Labrador actually saw a decline in self-employment among their residents. The biggest gains over the full ten years were made by B.C. (27.2%) and Ontario (23.8%)
This variation in self-employment growth rates however has had little effect on the distribution of the self-employed in Canada. This of course is due to the overall population distribution in Canada. Provinces with significantly higher population counts will always have a greater relative share of self-employment. Nevertheless some provinces are "punching above their weight" when it comes to entrepreneurship.
In 2005 both Alberta and B.C. held a share of self-employment above their respective population size. Alberta accounted for 10.0% of the population in Canada yet boasted 13.4% of the self-employed. Similarly, B.C. held a higher share of self-employed as compared to the general population (16.6% vs. 13.1%). On the other side of the coin self-employment was underrepresented in the two largest provinces. In Quebec the share was 3.5% less than that of their population while in Ontario there was at a deficit of 2% or 50,000 potential self-employed Canadians. Self-employment remains a popular career option and will likely continue to grow especially with the much heralded mass retirement of the Baby Boomer generation. In fact 19% of Canadian boomers find the idea of entrepreneurship at age 62 as an appealing way to spend "retirement". There is no doubt that this expected wave of Senior-preneurs will effect the entrepreneurial landscape in Canada. In ten more years we will be looking back on even faster growth.
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Canada is a nation of confident
entrepreneurs. Nearly half of us believe we have the necessary
skills to start and run a successful business. Over the last ten years
self-employment in Canada has grown steadily. In 1996 nearly 2.2 million Canadians ran their own business.
Ten years later after a net gain of 340,000 (including yours truly) the
number now stands at 2.5 million 
