Step 4a - Trade Associations
Trade Associations often serve as clearinghouses for industry data. Examples of this are the National Retail Federation and the International Dairy Foods Association. One consideration to be aware of is that many associations reserve industry statistics for association members only. However, there are industry statistics available to non-members. It is just a matter of knowing where to look. You also need to be able to interpret statistics within the context they are presented and not try to make them mean what you want them to mean.
To find appropriate trade associations, use one of the following resources:
- Encyclopedia of associations.Call Number: Jones Ref (Latest Issue) HS17 .G32
Step 4a - Trade Associations
Trade associations also serve as publishers of trade-related periodicals and other industry related publications. You can search the library’s online catalog for any industry related publications by using the association’s name as an author. You can also use the Encyclopedia of Associations to locate any trade publications such as newsletter and trade periodicals.
The following databases can be used to locate trade publications which provide industry-related news:
- ProQuest One Business This link opens in a new windowTip: Click on the "Publications" tab to search for a particular trade association journal
- Business Source Complete This link opens in a new windowTip: Limit to "Trade Publication" under "Publication Type"
