•  Introduction - Opening Comments
•  What's New at www.gdsourcing.ca
•  Statistics Canada releases
•  Finding data with "Diamond Detail"
•  Ipsos-Reid: Another One Bites the Dust!
•  Small Business Stats Facts

 

RETURN TO ARCHIVES

 

Hello,

Welcome to the August/September issue of our newsletter.  I hope everyone had a great summer!

We have been quite busy over the last couple of months especially with the birth of my second child Hannah Alene.  I suppose you could say I have just got back from paternity leave although when you are self-employed "leave" does not have the same meaning as in does in the corporate world.  I pleased to say that everyone is doing well and finally sleeping through the night!

In other news, I recently came across the following search tool:  Search It!  It is a collection of pre-programmed advanced searches designed specifically to help you find e-commerce related information such as the number of on-line competitors, competitors traffic levels, keyword brainstorming, keyword research etc.

You start by choosing your Search Category then your Search Type.  Ample advice and help is provided with each step.

I have only tried it for a day or two but have often found the results helpful.  Give it a test drive yourself.

Word of warning: At first the help screen that appears between your search criteria and search results is helpful. But once you get the hang of the tool it becomes annoying.  (Unfortunately it is the "price" you pay for this "free" tool.  If you subscribe to Site Build It! you can turn off the help feature.)

Finally our annual small business check-up is now available in the latest issue of Small Business Canada magazine. Check your local newsstand for a copy.

I hope you find this issue helpful.

John White
GDSourcing - Research & Retrieval

 Return to Table of Contents

Betiresmart.ca
Site: http://betiresmart.ca/
Site Summary: http://www.gdsourcing.ca/works/betiresmart.htm
Surveys on proper tire inflation.

Right Management Consultants
Site: http://www.right.com/
Site Summary: http://www.gdsourcing.ca/works/Right.htm
Career Confidence Index on job security, the job market, etc.

Canadian Hearing Society
Site: http://www.chs.ca/
Site Summary: http://www.gdsourcing.ca/works/Hearing.htm
Statistics on hearing loss.

Return to Table of Contents

The following statistics were released by Statistics Canada over the last couple of months. We have listed those releases we feel are of the most interest to Canadian entrepreneurs.

Very few of these statistics are available on-line. The URL listed is a direct link to the press release associated with the data. It provides contact and ordering information.

If you want to purchase any publication related to these releases please see our web site: https://gdsourcing.com/works/StatCan.htm

We offer a 20% discount on most Stats Can publications and a 10% discount on Stats Can electronic products. For more information you can reach us at . Put "StatsCan" in the subject line of your e-mail.

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture value added account
http://www.statcan.ca/english/IPS/Data/21-017-XIE.htm

Balance sheet of the agricultural sector
http://www.statcan.ca/english/IPS/Data/21-016-XIE.htm

Cattle statistics
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/23-012-XIE/free.htm

Farm business cash flows
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=21-018-XIE

Farm business cash flow account, percentage changes and ratios
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040707/d040707e.htm

Farm and off-farm income statistics - 2001
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/21-019-XIE/free.htm

Farm cash receipts - quarterly
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040826/d040826b.htm

Hog statistics
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/23-010-XIE/free.htm

Sheep statistics
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/23-011-XIE/free.htm

Canadian Potato Production - 2004 (preliminary)
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040716/d040716c.htm

Total income of farm operators 2002
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040720/d040720d.htm

Wage Survey of Seasonal Employees in the horticultural sector 2003
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040830/d040830c.htm

ARTS & CULTURE

Filming on the edge: The film industries in British Columbia and Nova Scotia

Private Radio broadcasting - 2003
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040705/d040705b.htm

Radio Listening, Fall 2003
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040728/d040728b.htm

BUSINESS SERVICES

Annual Survey of Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental
and Leasing - 2002
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040630/d040630g.htm

Biotechnology expenditures by the federal government 2002/03
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040719/d040719d.htm

Employer pension plans (trusteed pension funds) - 2002 biennial census
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040420/d040420g.htm

Industrial Research and Development 2000 to 2004
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040805/d040805b.htm

Consulting engineering services price indexes 2002
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040730/d040730e.htm

CONSTRUCTION & REAL ESTATE

Housing costs of elderly families - 1999
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=75-001-X20041076988

Investment in non-residential building construction
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040901/d040901c.htm

Residential construction investment
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040901/d040901a.htm

COMMUNICATIONS

Telecommunications statistics
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040901/d040901b.htm

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

The Canadian productivity accounts
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=15-003-XIE

Multifactor productivity - 2003
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040714/d040714a.htm

EDUCATION

Community college postsecondary enrolment
http://www.statcan.ca/english/Pgdb/educ02a.htm

Family background and access to post-secondary education:
what happened over the 1990s?
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11F0019MIE2004226

Salary and Salary Scales of Full-Time Teaching Staff at Canadian Universities, http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=81-595-MIE2004019

Saving for post-secondary education
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=75-001-X20041076987

School board revenues and expenditures 2000
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040705/d040705a.htm

University finances 2002/2003
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040819/d040819a.htm

University qualifications granted by level, Canada and the provinces
http://www.statcan.ca/english/Pgdb/educ20.htm

University tuition fees 2004/05
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040902/d040902a.htm

Variation in Literacy Skills among Canadian Provinces, 2000
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040714/d040714b.htm

GOVERNMENT

Provincial and territorial government finance: Assets and liabilities March 31, 2003
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040811/d040811a.htm

Federal Government Payments to Industry, 1997/98 to 2001/02
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=88F0006XIE2004012

HEALTH

Cancer Statistics
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=84-601-XIE

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=82-003-X20030046978

Estimates of Total Spending on Research and Development in the Health Field in Canada, 1988 to 2003
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=88F0006XIE2004014

Health of Canadians living in census metropolitan areas
http://www.statcan.ca/english/research/89-613-MIE/89-613-MIE2004002.htm

Inflammatory bowel disease: hospitalization
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=82-003-X20030046975

Pregnancy and smoking
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=82-003-X20030046981

Infection after cholecystectomy, hysterectomy or appendectomy
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=82-003-X20030046974

INTERNET

Household Internet Use Survey 2003
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040708/d040708a.htm

JUSTICE

Breaking and Entering in Canada
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040708/d040708b.htm

Crime statistics 2003
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040728/d040728a.htm

Family violence in Canada: A statistical profile - 2004
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/85-224-XIE/free.htm

Family violence: Demonstration study of sentencing outcomes 2004
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040706/d040706a.htm

Private Security and Public Policing in Canada - 2001
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040810/d040810b.htm

Use of cannabis and other illicit drugs - 2002

MARKET & DEMOGRAPHICS

A Portrait of Aboriginal Children in Non-reserve Areas: Results from the 2001 Aboriginal Peoples Survey
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040709/d040709b.htm

The deteriorating economic welfare of immigrants and possible causes
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11F0019MIE2004222

2003 General Social Survey on Social Engagement, Cycle 17: An Overview of Findings
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/89-598-XIE/2003001/article.htm

Immigrants in Canada's Census Metropolitan Areas
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040818/d040818b.htm

Recent immigration and the formation of visible minority neighbourhoods in Canada's large cities
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11F0019MIE2004221

Widowhood: Consequences on Income for Senior Women
http://www.statcan.ca/english/research/11-621-MIE/11-621-MIE2004015.htm

MANUFACTURING

Industry Profile: Canada's Food Processing Industry 1992 to 2003
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040730/d040730c.htm

Effect of changing technology use on plant performance in the manufacturing sector 1993-98
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11F0027MIE2004020

Energy consumption by manufacturing industries 2002, 2003
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040416/d040416d.htm

Industrial Competition, Shifts in Market Share and Productivity Growth
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11F0027MIE2004021

Industrial concentration in the manufacturing sector 2002
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040721/d040721e.htm

Measuring industry concentration in Canada's food processing sectors 1990-2001
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=21-601-MIE2004070

PRIMARY

Production and value of wildlife pelts
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040817/d040817c.htm

Production and value of ranch-raised pelts
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040817/d040817b.htm

Oil and gas extraction industry: Capital and operating expenditures - 2003
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040823/d040823b.htm

SMALL BUSINESS

Trends in Non-Farm Self-Employment Activity for Rural Women, 1981 to 2001
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=21-601-MIE2004071

Self-Employment Activity in Rural Canada: 1981 to 2001
http://www.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/downpub/listpub.cgi?catno=21-006-XIE2004005

TRADE

Canada's international trade in services 2003
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040817/d040817a.htm

TRANSPORTATION

Characteristics of international travellers
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040827/d040827b.htm

Couriers and local messengers industry 2001 & 2002
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040714/d040714c.htm

Domestic travel - Quarterly
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040827/d040827c.htm

For-hire motor carriers of freight, top carriers
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040903/d040903a.htm

For-hire motor carriers of freight, all carriers
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040831/d040831d.htm

Port activity
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040220/d040220b.htm

WORKPLACE

The union movement in transition
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040831/b040831a.htm

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Nearly every business and marketing plan has one detailed stat that is deemed essential.  Finding this “diamond detailed data” however can be a daunting task.  Most entrepreneurs are at a loss of even where to start looking for it. 

The most important rule to remember is to search for the data not the detail.

Before you start looking anywhere, take a close look at your information requirements and separate the detail from the data.  For example if an entrepreneur wants to find out if charities in Toronto are increasing their use of special events in 2004, she must first determine the basic data at the heart of this search.

The most sought after detail for business researchers is usually geography (e.g.“local market detail”).  They want data that specifically addresses their exact market boundaries.

First of all, it is important to keep in mind that despite its great demand, oftentimes this detail is not available.  Survey sample sizes are usually not big enough to provide countrywide local market detail and rarely are surveys conducted on the exact neighborhood you are interested in. 

Even when local stats have been collected they are rarely made available via the media or Internet.  In the research world detail equals dollars.  Research firms make the most money by providing specialized data.  You pay a premium for each extra variable you want attached to your data request. 

What all of this means is that if you focus on searching on a specific geographic detail from the start you will likely not even find the data you need.  But if we locate a source for the data first, we will then have an expert contact who can tell us if local level figures exists and what the cost (if any) would be to access them.

After geography, the most sought after detail is time. 

Everybody wants data that was collected today at 9am or yesterday at the latest!  Beyond that they consider it out-of-date.  Don't hold your breath!  Quality data requires some time to be compiled, verified and published.  Be realistic in your time expectations.  You will not find many detailed stats that are not at least one month old.  Anything collected within the last year should be considered excellent. 

Just as with local geography boundaries, time constraints are only a detail of the data we require.  Do not dismiss information because the data is too old.

If you dismiss any information prior to 2004 you will likely never locate the information you require.  However if you remove this detail from your data search, you open the possibility of finding highlights from a previous report. 

The highlights themselves can be helpful but even more important is that you will have identified the source itself!  You can then follow-up with an expert contact and find out if they have released more current data.

Returning to our example, let’s trim the detail from the data.  “Are charities in Toronto increasing their use of special events in 2004?” now becomes “Are charities increasing their use of special events?” 

Once the details of geography and time are stripped away from your search, you need to examine your data requirements to see if they still include “details”.  This can usually be determined by asking the question is any aspect of your data requirement a sub-grouping of a larger subject area?

For example charities are a type of “non-profit organization” and special events in the non-profit context are a type of “fundraising”.  Therefore the core data we are looking for is “non-profit fundraising”.  Even this is somewhat redundant.  We could simplify our search even further to “fundraising”.

Our basic data search therefore is focused strictly on: fundraising.

Keep in mind we are stripping away the detail so we can find the data.  We are not giving up on finding the detail, simply waiting until we find a source or sources for the data before we refine our requirements back to the original “diamond data” request.

Now that we are at the core piece of data we can start our data search.  The best way to start is to look for possible sources.  Who would be interested in fundraising in Canada?  The usual answer is people actively involved in fundraising. The directory Associations Canada available in most libraries and business development centres identifies the Association of Fundraising Professionals with a link to the Greater Toronto Area chapter (http://www.afptoronto.org)

If the Associations Canada directory did not have any appropriate sources, or if when we followed-up, we found the organization did not have any useful data or suggestions, our next step would be to keyword search a periodical database or even an Internet search engine for our core data.  Oftentimes you will find a relevant article which will quote a research source.  In some cases it will be an association, in others a research company that specializes in a specific market or industry.  Contact any that are appropriate.

SEARCH HINT: In addition to keywords related your core data needs add the words "poll", "study", "survey" and "report".  Use each separately or with "OR" between each.  This helps to focus your results on statistical information only.

In the example above we find an interesting report at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (Toronto chapter) site on corporate gift giving to charities in Canada ().  There is also a study on the characteristics, experiences and views of fundraisers across Canada. Unfortunately, it does not examine types of fundraising. 

The next step is to follow up with the sources suggested at the site.  Look at the “Useful Links” or  "Industry Links" section of any sites you visit.  They can often point you in the right direction.  We also need to contact the organization directly to see if they can suggest further sources.

In this case we see many different and promising links related to the non-profit sector: http://www.afptoronto.org/links/index.htm

Since the local chapter has looked promising, we will start by following up with the national organization: www.afpnet.org

We immediately recognize that this is a North American organization but remember we are still focused on the data and not the detail.  (That means we will first see if anything is here about fundraising before we dismiss this site as not having the Canadian detail we are looking for.)

There is a very promising section called “Research & Statistics” and in that an annual report called AFP State of Fundraising with a related press release dated July 12, 2004.  http://www.afpnet.org/tier3_cd.cfm?folder_id=2365&content_item_id=17268

When we actually look at the report we find the question "How did your funding of various development strategies change from 2002 to 2003?"  The tables have specific Canadian results and cover a variety of specific fundraising activities including "Special Event Funding". It also includes details on "Special Events Practices" (i.e. type of event undertaken: several small events, one large event and others, one main event, no special event). 

We have found near diamond data.  We will still need to contact the Association directly to see if they can provide any more details than what is provided online (e.g. subnational information) and to see if they can suggest other sources of information.

Arriving at the above example may seem complicated but it is really the result of a methodical approach.

1. Trim all detail from your data needs
    
2. Identify someone who would be interested in collecting the core data you require.
    
3. Visit their web site and contact them directly to see if they have the data you require and what details they have available.
    
4. Follow up with any links or sources they suggest and repeat Step #3

Now for the bad news.  Detailed data has not been collected on everything.  In some cases you will find the core data you need but will not find any of the diamond details you want.  While “coal mines” are not as valuable as “diamond mines” they can still be profitable. 

When secondary sources fall short of your data needs you have to talk to people in your industry and market directly to see if they can enlighten some of the data.  You will also need to make your own estimates.  This is especially true in the case of local geographical information.  Rely on your business network to help you establish these and to ensure they are realistic.

Even the best diamonds need to be “cut” to show off their true brilliance.  When you find any data regardless of its detail make sure you talk to people in your industry and market. Only then can you understand how the results apply to you.

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After seven years of using the Internet to research businesses you would think I would be used to it but I still find it distressing when a wonderful on-line resource suddenly disappears.

As of September 2004, the Ipsos-Reid (http://www.ipsos.ca) web site has stopped providing free access to its detailed news releases.  This used to be a wonderful resource for entrepreneurs because it provided reliable poll results on a wide variety of topics.  Oftentimes the results also included demographic details.

It was extremely generous on the part of Ipsos-Reid to provide free access to their archives and provided great exposure for their corporate partners funding each poll.  Unfortunately now you need to become a member to access the detailed information. The cost of a basic subscription is $95.00.  While this may be a reasonable price for medium to large-size companies that require insight into a variety of public opinion polls, it is a prohibitive price for most new entrepreneurs and micro business owners.  These researchers are only interested in a specific poll and while the "premium content" is useful I think most will find it is not worth $100 for the one survey that may or may not meet their needs.

To make this turn of events even more discouraging is the fact that Ipsos-Reid has gone from over-delivering with their news releases to drastically under-delivering.  They now provide the least amount of information per release of all the major Canadian polling firms.

If you come across a reference to an Ipsos-Reid poll in the press or on TV you are now better is most cases to go to the Canada Newswire website (http://www.newswire.ca), to the website of the poll sponsor or to the actual newspaper article first before visiting the Ipsos-Reid website. (This is the exact opposite of what I used to suggest!)  

For example in a recent survey on public attitudes towards trucking in Canada the Ipsos-Reid site provided very little information free of charge while the actual news release was at least helpful:

To find releases at the Canada Newswire web site (http://www.newswire.ca) simply keyword search on the topic, the poll sponsor or Ipsos-Reid.

Unfortunately not all Ipsos-Reid polls are released via Canada Newswire or through the media in which case you may be stuck with the extremely limited data provided at the Ipsos-Reid web site or with the prospect of paying $100 for the unknown details of one poll.

For the "little guy" out there with a limited or non-existent research budget, you are now better to consult other firms for your public opinion needs such as

• Decima Research (http://www.decima.com/research/en/media_releases.asp)

• Environics Research Group (http://erg.environics.net)

• Leger Marketing ( http://www.legermarketing.com/eng/)

• Pollara (http://www.pollara.com/new/POLLARA_NET.html)

• SES (http://www.sesresearch.com/main.html) 

• TNS Canadian Facts (http://www.nfocfgroup.com/) 

All of the companies listed above now provide more substantial free highlights than Ipsos-Reid. It was great while Ipsos-Reid provided quality free content to the Internet.  Sorry to see them go.

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Each Business Researcher Newsletter ends with a collection of five statistics related to Canadian small businesses.

1. What percentage of self-employed entrepreneurs over the age of 55 have employees?

Source: CIBC (September 2004)

 

2. What is the underlying reason entrepreneurs aged 55+ opened their own business?

Source: CIBC (September 2004)

 

3. How many hours do business-owners work a week?

Source: CFIB (September 2004)

4. What is the top motivation for being a business owner?

Independence & control to make decisions
(89% of respondents)

Source: CFIB (September 2004)

 

5. What is the number one limitation to being a business owner?

Running a business is stressful
(92% of respondents)

Source: CFIB (September 2004)

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Copyright 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 GDSourcing - Research & Retrieval. All rights reserved. You may circulate this newsletter freely as long as GDSourcing is clearly credited as the source. We encourage people to subscribe directly. There is no charge for this newsletter. A subscription form is available at http://www.gdsourcing.ca/newsletter.htm