Business Plan Research
Week 3: Market Trends

1. What are the sales patterns?
   1. Understand the differences between consumer and industrial products.
   2. Be familiar with standard U.S. Government and private sector sources of sales data.
   
   
   
2. What are the characteristics of the consumers?
   1. Understand some limitations of available demographic and consumer data.
   2. Be familiar with standard sources of demographic and consumer data.
   
   
   
3. Do some look-ups
   1. Use Statistical Universe to find sales figures for your industry.
   2. Search the ABI Inform database for articles on consumers and consumption of your product or service.
   3. Use American FactFinder from the U.S. Census Bureau to obtain a demographic profile for your target location (city, metro area, state).
   
   
   
4. For further assistance, consult the Market Research Guide.