Companies & Industries 

Add to a search:

• brand name, e.g. Weetbix
• product type, e.g. toothpaste
• company name, e.g. Billabong
• SIC (Standard Industry Classifications) codes (see Industry information for codes)

Use a company and industry database.

Which Library databases have product  information? Try this guide: Where do I start? [PDF 48 KB] Look for the following columns: Product Information, Brands/trade names, Market segments (by product)

Use limits of database:

• Business Source Premier: limit to "Product Review"
• Proquest 5000: limit to "Product Name"
• Exapnded Academic ASAP: limit to "Brand Name"
• Computer Database: limit to "Brand Name"
• Business databases:limit results to "Magazines" or "Trade publications"
• Non-business databases: enter product type, then limit results by business subjects e.g. "Business & Economics"
  

Choice of database. Depending on the product, search in a non-business database.

• Engineering/materials products try: Ceramic Abstracts, Aluminium Industry Abstracts, Cooper Data Center, Materials Business File, Metadex
• Health/Pharmacy products try: Access Pharmacy, Australian Medicines Handbook
• Informatics products try: Computer Database

Think broader! 

• Find Industry information. You may need to apply industry information to your product. Example: find information about toothpaste in Personal Care or Personal and Household Products. Some industry data includes named products or product types (e.g. cheddar, hard, mould, fresh cheeses, etc)
• Use primary sources. Interviews, surveys, product assessment. Example: contact wholesalers for cost per metre.

• Best Australian Brands 2009 (Interbrand)
• Best Global Brands 2009 (Interbrand)

Market segmentation by product

Databases: Where do I start? guide [PDF 48 KB]