simonk2 started this topic @ 23:44 on 21/05/2006
Hi there,
I'm in the process of writing a business plan. However, i haven't got a clue where i can find detailed information and statistics about my market for FREE. Obviously, this part is crucial in a business plan and is the deciding factor when asking for finance.
I can't afford to pay for market research. I'm not sure if this is possible, but i need information such as:
How many of a particular product sold in a year
The financial size of the market
Estimiated growth/decline
Number of companies in market
I haven't research outside the internet as of yet. Would a business library hold such information?
any thoughts would be appreciated
Thanks
RE: Finding it very hard to Get Market Information/Statistics
ecom-solution.co.uk | 22/05/2006 12:34 AM
you could try asking some ? in forums like here most people will spend a few mins trying to help a newstart in here 
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RE: Finding it very hard to Get Market Information/Statistics
cjd | 22/05/2006 08:49 AM
It would help if you told us what market you want to research.
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RE: RE: Finding it very hard to Get Market Information/Statistics
simonk2 | 22/05/2006 11:41 AM
Sorry, it's the general Football Goods Market. Football Equipment and Football
For example, is it possibile to find out how many Manchester United Shirts were bought in 2005? etc.
And the size of this market?
RE: Finding it very hard to Get Market Information/Statistics
ecom-solution.co.uk | 23/05/2006 12:56 AM
Wouldnt you just have to phone Manchester United for that or you could check there company out at www.companieshouse.gov.uk ( i think it is for checking ltd's) you can get everything about a Ltd company for a few £ including a company that is allready doing what you want to do that might give you a better idea of the market you want to play in but Im no expert in these matter but loads on startups are and im sure they will post (and correct me ) .
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RE: RE: Finding it very hard to Get Market Information/Statistics
sandyh | 23/05/2006 12:13 PM
When I started, I had this strange understanding that the competition was the enemy. Wrong! I've actually been in conversation with many of my competitors and on the whole some have been very helpful (probably because they think I'm too small to worry about). They gave me a lot of information for my market research.
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RE: Finding it very hard to Get Market Information/Statistics
robert05 | 23/05/2006 01:44 PM
Yes id try business libraries, also quite often people who do market reports will let you have the summary, or sample chapter which can help. id also look at marketing/PR part of the organisations to provide some of this.
You could always do "best guestimates" (e.g if the market is XX we would target YY) and write that sourcing high quality market info would be priority for activity. Theyre often dated tho' and rear-view mirror (tell you what happened but not will happen)
RE: Finding it very hard to Get Market Information/Statistics
SPower | 23/05/2006 01:50 PM
Using Companies House is difficult because they provide simply raw financial data. Try Business Link, as they have access to a wide range of data sources. If the information is held by a PLC, they will produce an annual report. Within the annual report there is a wide range of information in there, and I would expect the value of all merchandising to be highlighed, if not individual items such as shirts. An alternative in this case is to find a Man Utd fan to visit the shop and ask the managers in there. Also, as a plc they will divulge this information to shareholders (their plc status may have changed since the takeover).
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RE: RE: Finding it very hard to Get Market Information/Statistics
Hi
im willing to help you with the getting the marketing statistics, my email is 02238367@student.mmu.ac.uk get back to me, thnx