The Business Researcher Newsletter

July 6, 2006 Volume 9 Number 4

 

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Opening Comments

 

Hello,

Welcome to the Summer issue of the BR Newsletter.

We have been busy over the last few months redesigning our website.  Don't worry all of the same content is still there.  We have just simplified the navigation system so entrepreneurs can find the relevant data they need from all of our research databases: Canadian Industry Profiles (industry benchmarks), Canadian Market Estimates (household spending), Stats Link Canada (polls, survey and reports) and our original Site Summaries (websites with free Canadian data).

Please note that there is now a subject index for each section conveniently located in the top right corner of every page.

We have also added a Research Consultant module to the web site that guides researchers though the available resources.  It is organized by industry sector.  See:
http://www.gdsourcing.com/works/conresearch.htm

As always you can still submit a query at the QueryDesk if you are unsure where to look:
http://www.gdsourcing.com /QueryDesk/QueryDesk.htm

Over the next few months we plan to add more features to help small business researchers find the Canadian data they need.

I hope you find this issue helpful.

John White
GDSourcing - Research & Retrieval

Return to Table of Contents

 

What's New at www.gdsourcing.com   & www.statslinkcanada.com

 

We did not add any new site summaries to the GDSourcing site over the last few weeks.

 

We did however add the following subject headings to the Stats Link Canada subject index.  Click on the links below to see a free preview of the references now available under each heading. Subscribers can click on the full access links.

 

To view all available subject headings see: http://www.gdsourcing.com/statslinkcanada/IndexFree.asp

 

 

 

Return to Table of Contents

 

Statistics Canada releases

 

The following statistics were released by Statistics Canada over the last few months. We have listed those releases we feel are of the most interest to Canadian entrepreneurs.

Now that Statistics Canada is giving away their online publications free of charge, you can access many of the detailed reports right online.  Simple click on the publication link at the bottom of each reference. For more information of the free Stats Can giveaway see the article below.

For a complete list of all Stats Can releases click here: Stats Link Canada 

  

 

AGRICULTURE

 

Poultry and Eggs Statistics
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=23-015-XIE

 

Net farm income
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060526/d060526a.htm

 

Farm Input Price Index 2005
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060602/d060602c.htm

 

Canadian agriculture in 2005: A tough year in review
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060605/d060605b.htm

 

Agriculture value added account 2005
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060621/d060621c.htm

 

Farm business cash flows 2005
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060621/d060621e.htm

 

 

ARTS & CULTURE

 

Arts, entertainment and recreation services
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060508/d060508a.htm

 

Rural employment in the culture sector
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060612/d060612c.htm

 

International trade in culture goods
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060612/d060612b.htm

 

 

BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES

 

Buying and selling research and development services, 1997 to 2002
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=88F0006XIE2006002

 

Science and Engineering Employment in Canada and the United States

http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11-622-MIE2006011

 

Comparing Science and Engineering Employment in Canadian and US Cities

http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11-622-MIE2006012

 

Annual Survey of Advertising and Related Services
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060502/d060502c.htm

 

Foreign banks in the Canadian market

http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11-621-MIE2006041

 

Screening job applicants
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060524/d060524c.htm

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

Telecommunications statistics
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060509/d060509b.htm

 

 

CONSTRUCTION & REAL ESTATE

   

Review of non-residential construction in 2005
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11-621-MIE2006043

 

Flows and stocks of fixed residential capital
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060613/d060613d.htm

 

 

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

 

Hours worked and labour productivity in the provinces and territories
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060509/d060509a.htm

 

Characteristics of Growth Firms, 2004/2005
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060511/p060511.htm

 

An analysis of consumer prices in 2005
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11-621-MIE2006042

 

Economic importance of transportation
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060519/d060519b.htm

 

Foreign control in the Canadian economy
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060602/d060602a.htm

 

Foreign direct investment
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060524/d060524a.htm

 

Canadian Economic Accounts Quarterly Review
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/13-010-XIE/13-010-XIE2006001.htm

 

How are Canadian regions adjusting to a larger and more integrated North American market?
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11F0027MIE2006039

 

Changing patterns of women in the Canadian labour force 2005

http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060615/d060615c.htm

 

Current economic conditions
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060622/d060622b.htm

 

The Canadian Labour Market at a Glance, 2005
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=71-222-XIE

 

 

EDUCATION

  

Educational Outcomes at Age 19 Associated with Reading Ability at Age 15

http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=81-595-MIE2006043

 

Education and earnings 1980 - 2005
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060623/d060623b.htm

 

 

GOVERNMENT

 

Public sector employment
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060529/d060529d.htm

 

Public Sector Statistics: Supplement
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=68-213-SIE

 

 

HEALTH

 

Impact of universal flu immunization in Ontario
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060505/d060505b.htm

 

Estimates of Total Spending on Research and Development in the Health Field in Canada, 1988 to 2005
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060512/d060512c.htm

 

Food consumption
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060601/d060601c.htm

 

Residential care facilities 2002/2003 and 2003/2004
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060602/d060602b.htm

 

Health Indicators
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=82-221-XIE

 

New data on smoking and on diabetes
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060613/d060613a.htm

 

 

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

 

Informatics professional services price indexes
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060505/d060505e.htm

 

 

JUSTICE & SECURITY

 

Aboriginal people as victims and offenders
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060606/d060606b.htm

 

Neighbourhood characteristics and the distribution of crime on the Island of Montréal
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060608/d060608b.htm

 

 

MANUFACTURING

 

The Impact of Trade on Plant Scale, Production-run Length and Diversification
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11F0027MIE2006038

 

Survey of Innovation

http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060602/d060602d.htm

 

 

MARKET

 

Income of individuals
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060523/d060523c.htm

 

Census family income
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060525/d060525c.htm

 

 

OTHER SERVICES

 

Personal services industry
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060512/d060512b.htm

 

Electronic, commercial and industrial machinery and equipment repair and maintenance services
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060616/d060616a.htm

 

 

PRIMARY & ENERGY

 

Electric Power Capability and Load
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=57-204-XIB

 

Contract drilling and services to the oil and gas extraction industry
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060516/d060516c.htm

 

Non-metallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying, 2004
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=26-226-XIB

 

Metal Ore Mining, 2004
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=26-223-XIB

 

General Review of the Mineral Industries, Mines, Quarries and Sand Pits, 2004
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=26-201-XIB

 

Diamonds: Still shining brightly for Canada's North
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=65-507-MIE2006007

 

 

SOCIAL STATISTICS - NON-PROFIT SECTOR

 

Income and the Outcomes of Children

http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11F0019MIE2006281

 

Caring Canadians, Involved Canadians: Highlights from the Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating, 2004 
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=71-542-XIE

 

Why did employment and earnings rise among lone mothers during the 1980s and 1990s?
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11F0019MIE2006282

 

 

 

TRADE

 

International Merchandise Trade Annual Review, 2005
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=65-208-XIE

 

Profile of Canadian importers 2002
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060515/d060515d.htm

 

Foreign affiliate trade statistics
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060605/d060605c.htm

 

Motor vehicle fuel sales
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060608/d060608e.htm

 

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Couriers and local messengers industry
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060504/d060504c.htm

 

Characteristics of international travellers
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060529/d060529b.htm

 

Taxi and limousine service industry - 2004
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060607/d060607d.htm

 

An analysis of the transportation industry in 2005
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11-621-MIE2006044

 

Return to Table of Contents

 

The "Deathing Project"

 

Statistics Canada released their December 2005 business counts in March 2006. Prior to releasing the new data, Statistics Canada undertook a "Deathing Project"  to "clean up" their database. While the process sounds menacing, the aim was simply to eliminate inactive establishments.  The result was that there was a noticeable drop (3.8%) in the number of businesses identified in Canada between December 2004 and December 2005. 

It is important to note that this decline in counts is due to the Deathing Project itself and not to any extraordinary economic factors.  Whether you are consulting business count data from our Canadian Industry Profiles or from another source, make sure you understand the change in the source parameters before you jump to any conclusions about industry strength or closures.

First of all the inactive business establishments have been accumulating over a period of years.  These "dead" businesses did not all cease activity in 2004.  Of course with hindsight, this means that business counts from previous years have be skewed somewhat by these inactive businesses.  Unfortunately there is not a great deal we can do about past comparisons.

By looking at the types of businesses that were deathed however, we can at least gain some insight into the types of businesses where the likelihood of inactivity is highest.  In total 172,374 businesses were removed from the Statistics Canada Business Register.  Of these, 172,235 or 99.92% were from the Indeterminate size grouping (businesses without full-time employees), an additional 0.06% were from the 1-4 employees grouping.  In total 99.98% of the deathed businesses belonged to the smallest of businesses in Canada.

All industry sectors were affected by the Deathing Project but four in particular stand out.  Among indeterminate deaths Finance and Insurance (11.1%), Construction (11.1%), Retail Trade (10.9%), and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (10.6%) account for 43.7% of the total.  Among employer businesses Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (19.4%) and Construction (13.7%) alone account for a third of the businesses removed from the register.

 

Indeterminate Employer Businesses
# % share # % share
TOTAL 172235 100.0% 139 100.0%
11 - Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 3120 1.8% 4 2.9%
21 - Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction 1338 0.8% 2 1.4%
22 - Utilities 118 0.1% 0 0.0%
23 - Construction 19144 11.1% 19 13.7%
31-33 - Manufacturing 8314 4.8% 5 3.6%
41 - Wholesale Trade 12813 7.4% 6 4.3%
44-45 - Retail Trade 18715 10.9% 11 7.9%
48-49 - Transportation and Warehousing 6663 3.9% 3 2.2%
51 - Information and Cultural Industries 2977 1.7% 0 0.0%
52 - Finance and Insurance 19140 11.1% 9 6.5%
53 - Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 13101 7.6% 10 7.2%
54 - Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 18296 10.6% 27 19.4%
55 - Management of Companies and Enterprises 12328 7.2% 9 6.5%
56 - Administrative and Support, Waste Management and
           Remediation Services
9443 5.5% 9 6.5%
61 - Educational Services 1074 0.6% 0 0.0%
62 - Health Care and Social Assistance 2042 1.2% 2 1.4%
71 - Arts, Entertainment and Recreation 3051 1.8% 1 0.7%
72 - Accommodation and Food Services 10317 6.0% 6 4.3%
81 - Other Services (except Public Administration) 10230 5.9% 16 11.5%

 

 

When the distribution of deathed indeterminate businesses is examined at a 6-digit NAICS level, only ten business have a 2% or higher share with Portfolio Management (7.76%) and Holding Companies (7.16%) accounting for nearly 15% of all indeterminate deaths. 

 

 

Rank

Industry

Indeterminate

# % share
1. 523920 - Portfolio Management 13361 7.76%
2. 551113 - Holding Companies 12327 7.16%
3. 541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services 6174 3.58%
4. 236110 - Residential Building Construction 5804 3.37%
5. 531111 - Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (except Social Housing Projects) 4484 2.60%
6. 561990 - All Other Support Services 4453 2.59%
7. 541510 - Computer Systems Design and Related Services 4146 2.41%
8. 722210 - Limited-Service Eating Places 3970 2.30%
9. 722110 - Full-Service Restaurants 3839 2.23%
10. 237210 - Land Subdivision 3520 2.04%

 

 

Similar sectors appear on top among employer-businesses with the exception of Civic and Social Organizations. Of course here the numbers overall are quite small with the top industry (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services) losing only 12 businesses due to the Deathing Project.

 

 

Rank

Industry

Indeterminate

# % share
1. 541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services 12 8.63%
2. 551113 - Holding Companies 9 6.47%
3. 813410 - Civic and Social Organizations 6 4.32%

 

The order of ranking changes when you consider which business types experience the biggest impact from the Deathing Project, that is industries with the highest percentage variation in business counts.  Clearly the most distorted are those where there is a high number of indeterminate businesses (e.g. Portfolio Management) and/or a low total number of businesses (e.g. Infants' Cut and Sew Clothing Manufacturing).

 

Rank Industry

Indeterminate & Employer Businesses

Business deaths Total Counts with deathing Total Counts without deathing %difference in counts because deathing
1. 523920 - Portfolio Management 13365 24239 37604 35.54%
2. 315291 - Infants' Cut and Sew Clothing Manufacturing 47 105 152 30.92%
3. 212210 - Iron Ore Mining 4 11 15 26.67%
4. 522299 - All Other Non-Depository Credit Intermediation 2714 7475 10189 26.64%
5. 315234 - Women's and Girls' Cut and Sew Suit, Coat, Tailored
                     Jacket and Skirt Manufacturing
59 174 233 25.32%
6. 212233 - Copper-Zinc Ore Mining 5 15 20 25.00%
7. 315990 - Clothing Accessories and Other Clothing Mfg 130 412 542 23.99%
8. 416310 - General-Line Building Supplies Wholesale 365 1195 1560 23.40%
10. 532310 - General Rental Centres 322 1121 1443 22.31%
11. 713120 - Amusement Arcades 146 513 659 22.15%

* Only those industries with at least 10 businesses were ranked

The Deathing Project appears to have been well overdue.  Going forward the Business Register will now provide a more accurate picture of the smallest Canadian businesses.  For current analysis however it is not possible to compare indeterminate business counts between 2004 and 2005.  The only option to analyze this size of business over this period is to use the Labour Force Survey.  CANSIM tables 282-0011 and 282-0012 provide the ability to retrieve data on the self-employed without paid employees by month and by year.

The employer business counts are not as seriously affected by the Deathing Project.  Comparisons are certainly possible although caution should be used when examining businesses with less than 5 employees especially at the full 6-digit NAICS level. 

All of our Canadian Industry Profiles (http://www.gdsourcing.com /CIP/Cip.htm) now include information on the number of businesses removed due to the deathing project.  If you require detailed data  related to the effect of the Deathing Project on your specific industry, please contact us at contact@gdsourcing.com.

 

Return to Table of Contents

 

Stats Can Pub Give Away!

 

The rumours are all true!  Statistics Canada is now giving away all of their electronic publications free of charge.

Of course the trick is still finding the publication most suitable to your research needs.  You can locate Stats Can publications a number of ways.  You can use their online catalogue  (http://www.statcan.ca/english/search/ips.htm), or browse by major subject area (http://www.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/downpub/freepub.cgi) but the simplest and most effective way we find to locate relevant publications is to use The Daily.  Use the search  box at the top of the linked page.  Any publications related to The Daily release are listed at the bottom of each entry.

Another non-Stats Can option is our Stats Link Canada database.  We track and update each Stats Can publication as it is released.  One advantage of Stats Link Canada is that it has a detailed subject index that covers both Stats Canada and non-Stats Can publications and our publication descriptions are not abridged abstracts but rather keyword dense listings of the statistics actually covered.

While the free publication give away is a generous offer to the Canadian research community, do not mistake this for free access to all Stats Can data.  Data that is only available in CANSIM or from stand alone databases (e.g. Business Patterns, Financial Performance Indicators) or any data that requires a custom retrieval are not included.  Research charges will still apply here as well as for any paper versions of publications.

However for now do not dwell on the negative.  This give away is still a major boon to researchers across Canada.

To get you started on your new electronic Stats Can library here is a list of links to some of the "research crown jewels" you can now access free of charge:

Canadian Economic Observer
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11-010-XIB
Monthly summary of the economy, major economic events

 

Market Research Handbook
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=63-224-XIB
Comprehensive source of socio-economic statistics for all those who study the Canadian consumer market - market researchers, strategists, product planners and sales leaders.

 

Retail Trade
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=63-005-XIE
Monthly retail sales estimates for all retail locations in Canada, by trade group and by province/territory

 

Spending Patterns in Canada
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=62-202-XIE
Statistical highlights and key tables from the Survey of Household Spending (SHS).

 

Annual Demographic Statistics
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=91-213-XIB
Population estimates by age and sex for Canada, provinces, territories, census divisions, census metropolitan areas and economic regions. It also includes, for provinces and territories, estimates by age, sex and marital status as well as estimates for census families.

 

Women in Canada: A Gender-based Statistical Report
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=89-503-X
This report analyzes the situation of Canadian women by exploring their demographic and cultural characteristics, living arrangements, income, labour force activity, health and criminal and victimization characteristics.

 

Population Projections for Canada, Provinces and Territories, 2005 to 2031
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=91-520-XIE
Population projection scenarios by age group and sex up to 2031 for the provinces and territories and up to 2056 for Canada.

 

Population Projections of Visible Minority Groups, Canada, Provinces and Regions, 2001 to 2017
http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=91-541-XIE
Population projections according to some ethnocultural variables (visible minority group, immigrant status, religion, mother tongue) for Canada, provinces and selected metropolitan areas.

 

Return to Table of Contents

 

Google is as Good as Your Keywords
 

I recently learned an important lesson about using Google.  I have always known that the success of a Google search is based entirely on keyword selection but every once and a while you experience a search episode that drives home the point succinctly. 

My seven year old son recently picked up a board game from a garage sale.  The game "The Lion King" came with most of the pieces but the instructions were missing and the game board itself did not provide much insight into how the it should be played.

Being a professional researcher, I thought it would be a snap to solve this problem.  Surely the rules to a game from the late nineties would be online. Confident of instant success, I started with a basic search in Google:

"Lion King"  +rules

I found sites that celebrated the movie (The Lion King rules!)  and sites that sold the "Vintage" game in question.  I was happy to see that our $2 purchase was well below the market value of $20.  My son however was not impressed.  The savings meant nothing if we could not play the game.  Preferably right away!

It was clear my research problem required a strategy.  When you are looking for market or industry data the best advice is to look for sources of the data not the data itself.  This advice actually applies to any type of search.  In the business world this often involves associations, government departments and specialized media outlets.  When you are searching for the rules to a "vintage" game this involves the manufacturer. 

I was confident that Milton Bradley would have a section on their site devoted to lost rules. After all this could not be a unique problem, especially in a world of garage sales and eBay.

So I tried to qualify my search and went for the home run:  "milton bradley" "Lion King" +rules

This search resulted in a list of entrepreneurial web sites trying to sell the instructions in question for $4 (twice our purchase price!).  Regardless of the price, the fastest delivery time offered was "8-24 hours after ordering"  which was well past bedtime.  The pressure was mounting by the minute!

Next I figured it was time to get serious and stop trying to be fancy (i.e. pull the rules up on the first link of the Google results page.  This time I aimed to go straight to the source: "milton bradley" +rules

My first hit was another rule seller - although this time the price was only $2.  The next link looked very promising: Rules and Instructions for Board Games  It was from About.com (http://about.com/) For those unaware of this online resource, it is an excellent link source.  It was started in 1996 on the premise that people make the best guides to the Internet.  Each topic heading has an "editor" who compiles and explains the value of each link collected. The links are coherent and helpful unlike some of the automated link farms you come across online.

The first link on my About.com result page was: How to Find Game Rules and Instructions  "BINGO!"  I thought, now I am getting somewhere.  The article was a simple 'how to' feature with tips on locating lost rules or instructions for board games.  

Unfortunately it only provided generic advice. The last suggestion even caused signs of frustration to appear on my son's face.  "Be persistent. If at first you don't succeed, try again in a couple of weeks. And keep trying until you're successful"  Not exactly what a seven year-old want to hear!

This was getting serious!  Corporate clients have nothing on your own son's expectations.

I was not however ready to give up on About.com just yet.  It is a very rich resource, much like your local librarian.  I scanned the same page and noticed the following link:

Hasbro, Parker Brothers, Milton Bradley, Avalon Hill
Hasbro's official sites includes PDF files of many game rules. Very helpful for Hasbro, Parker Brothers and Milton Bradley games, as well as games published by the Hasbro-owned Avalon Hill.

However when you click on the link you are sent to the generic Hasbro home page.  I can tell by the About.com link that the original target was the instructions section of their site.  Note the end of the rather complicated URL:

http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=boardgames&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hasbro.com%2Fdefault.asp%3Fx%3Dcc_gameandtoyinstructions

But some sites do not want you jumping inside them.  They want you to follow a set path. At the Hasbro home page, after scanning the available navigation buttons, I decided to try their site search engine. The "Lion King" search words produce a product description and ordering information.  (This time the price is $15.95).  No link for rules however.

There was a link for replacement parts but "rules" are not considered a replacement part.  Now what!

A pout was starting to appear on my son's face.  This was not going to be pretty if I do not find the required rules fast!  In desperation I try the "customer service" link. 

And there with a picture of Mr. Potato Head waving triumphantly is the link "toy and game instructions" with the description: Tired of making up your own rules? Check out the official instructions for some of your favorite Hasbro toys and games. 

Seconds later we were printing up the PDF of the rules we required for free!

I was a bit surprised at the effort it took to find this information.  Later, after playing the game - which I lost! and no I didn't let him win! - I went back to examine my search steps in a less frenetic way.

First of all I took a closer look at the game box.  Sure enough - I am embarrassed to admit - below the bold MB for Milton Bradley in the top left corner of the box lid was the tiny copyright information "© 1994 Hasbro Canada Inc" in the bottom left corner.  If my initial search had of been: hasbro +rules "lion king"  The first link of the first page returned would have been exactly what I was looking for.

Hasbro Toy and Game Product Instructions

Product Instructions for Hasbro Toy and Game products. ... The Lion King. www.hasbro.com/default.cfm?page=cs_ instructions&letter=T - 188k -
Cached - Similar pages

The key research lessons relearned by this exercise were:

  1.  Milton Bradley is owned by Hasbro.  (The more generic lesson is to make sure you are looking for the right source - read the fine print!)

 

  1. Don't rely solely on the top search engine results returned.  They are not necessarily the most relevant to your search needs.  They are based on nothing more than the keywords you have used.  Results are therefore often driven by entrepreneurial forces.  

    Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a key component of any successful e-commerce business' marketing strategy.  Site content and meta tags are optimized to ensure the highest ranking based on specific keywords.  In the above example, companies and web pages attempting to sell the rules of the game itself ranked higher in Google results because they were optimized for the keywords "rules" and "Milton Bradley".  (A wise marketing decision for a web site selling board game rules!)

    Even at the Hasbro website the site search engine focused on selling the game itself.  The rules were actually buried below their site search engine feature.  I have no problem with this reality. In many cases entrepreneurial sites provide enhanced value or services otherwise unavailable.  However all researchers must recognize this as a feature of Google results and the Internet as a whole and revised and adjust their search strategy as needed.

 

  1. Even if Google does not return exactly what you are looking use any relevant links to help you with your search. About.com did not have the rules we required but it did have the information necessary to help us find them.

 

  1. Google is only as good as the keywords you enter.  Stop and think of the best way to find the source of the data not the data itself.

AND REMEMBER: Milton Bradley is owned by Hasbro!

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Small Business Stats Facts

 

Each Business Researcher Newsletter ends with a collection of five statistics related to Canadian small businesses.

Click here to see the latest Canadian Small Business stats referenced in the Stats Link Canada database. 

 

 

  1. What are the top three sources of financing used by High-growth SMEs as compared to other SMEs in Canada.

Top Sources of Financing for Canadian SMEs

  High-growth SMEs Other SMEs
1. Commercial loans and lines of credit Commercial loans and lines of credit
2. Trade credit from suppliers Trade credit from suppliers
3. Personal credit card of owner(s) Personal savings of owner(s)

Source: Industry Canada (May 2006)
(
Click here to view more information about this
Stats Link Canada reference
)

 

  1. What are the absence rates for employees in small businesses vs. medium and large businesses?

Absence Rates by Firm Size in Canada (2005)

  Under 20  employees 20 to 99 employees 100 to 499 employees Over 500 employees
Incidence 7.3 8.1 9.0 9.6
Days lost per worker per year 8.1 9.2 10.9 12.0

Source: Statistics Canada (April 2006)
(
Click here to view more information about this
Stats Link Canada reference
)

 

  1. What % of small businesses as compared to larger businesses have had positions open in their companies for more than 4 months (long-term vacancies)?

Source: CFIB (April 2006)
(Click here to view more information about this
Stats Link Canada reference
)

 

  1. What percentage of businesses with 0 to 19 employees in 1991-1993 were the same size ten years latter? What percentage grew into larger companies?

Growth Mobility of Small firms in Canada
 over a Ten-year Period

  Business Size in 2001-2003
  0 - 19 employees 20 to 99 employees 100 to 499 employees Over 500 employees
0 to 19 employees in 1991-1993 94.2% 5.6% 0.2% 0.0%

Source: Statistics Canada  (March 2006)
(Click here to view more information about this
Stats Link Canada reference
)

     

  1. According to a survey of Canadian mid-cap CEOs, what is the most important measure of success?  How would they liked to be remembered after they retire?

Top Measures of Success for Canadian Mid-Cap CEOs &
 How They would like to be Remembered after Retiring

    Most important measure of success   Preferred description after retired
1.

  Increasing profit

  Ethical/respected/honest

2.

  Enhancing quality of leadership team or staff

  Successful company/business

3.

  Enhancing loyalty of leadership team or staff

  Contributed to society/mentoring

Source: COMPAS Research (Feb 2006)
(Click here to view more information about this
Stats Link Canada reference
)

 

 

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