Product/service situation analysis

What is the market for your product or service in a given country? Use JMU library databases to locate information that will support your proposal.

• Factiva
• Business Source Premier

Try a few different search strategies when using these resources:

1. Free-text search your product name and country name.
2. Use the on-board “indexing” tools to limit your search by date, country or region, company, industry sector, publication type.

Consumers

These reference books compile data on consumer expenditures, lifestyle and demographic trends and other related indicators:

• Consumer Asia
• Consumer China
• Consumer Middle East
• Who Buys What
• World Consumer Lifestyles Databook

Business guides

These guides help you to get a sense of how to conduct business abroad, including information on local economies, industry trends, startup considerations and more.

Example sources

• Business Briefings Japan
• China Business Guide
• The Complete Guide to Doing Business in Mexico
• Doing Business With Poland
• The Handbook of Country Risk
• Search the library catalog for more:
  Tip: Free-text search your country or region and “business.”

These resources can help with gathering background data on global market trends and consumers.

Cultural background

Carrier Library has a number of encyclopedia-type sources that will aid in understanding the customs and cultures of countries and regions worldwide. Some of these works are nation-specific; others are more comprehensive.

• Encyclopedia of Mexico
• Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East
• Encyclopedia of World Cultures
• Europa World Yearbook (also online)
• Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures & Daily Life
• Search the library catalog for more resources
  Tip: Try searching your country or region name and “encyclopedia.”

Technology trends

In today’s economy, launching a new product or service can depend heavily on existing technology trends. These resources will help you get a sense of what’s happening in particular market sectors and how consumers use new technologies.

• eMarketer
• ClickZ

Marketing

Lots of great reference books in Carrier Library to help you understand and plan your marketing effort abroad…

Statistical overviews

These collections of statistical tables illustrate a variety of economic, social and market trends that aid in marketing planning abroad.

• European Marketing Data & Statistics
• Asian Marketing Data & Statistics

Advertisng & media planning

• Americas Market & Mediafact
• Asia Pacific Market & Mediafact
• Central & Eastern Europe Market & Mediafact
• Middle East & Africa Market & Mediafact
• Western Europe Market & Mediafact

Economic & market trends

These resources can help with gathering background data on global markets, industries and economic indicators.

E-RESOURCES

• STAT-USA | Country Commercial Guides
  (Tip: Follow the the link.)
• Europa World
  (Tip: Click the Countries tab.)
• LexisNexis Academic | Country & Region Reports (Tip: Click on the Sources tab.)
• U.S. State Department Background Notes

BOOKS

• China Marketing & Data Statistics
• Europa World Year Book (also online)
• Handbook of Markets & Economies: East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand
• International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics
• Retail Trade International
• World Economic Factbook
• World Retail Data & Statistics
• Worldmark Encyclopedia of National Economies