Your Librarian
Researching External Trends and Related Industries
This page suggests sources for researching industries, topics, and trends related to convenience stores and their external environments. It is not comprehensive or prescriptive - please always use your expertise and client knowledge to guide your research questions and information searches.
When using any information, especially that found on the open web, it is important to assess its quality before including it in any scholarly reports or professional recommendations. Use SIFT or the CRAAP test to analyze resources you use in this class.
Identifying Trends in the External Environment
External environment analysis is useful in identifying trends that impact a business and its ability to operate - and can also reveal new market opportunities. The sources below are 'best bet' tools for this kind of research.
- Business Source Complete This link opens in a new window
Find relevant articles from trade journals, scholarly journals, and magazines by combining company or industry names with keywords like "regulation", "regulatory", or "policy" - IBISWorld This link opens in a new window
Look at the "Operating Conditions" sections of industry reports to identify important political, regulatory, and technological trends, and the "Product and Market" sections for information about economic factors. - Legal Collection This link opens in a new window
A source for information on current issues, studies, thoughts and trends of the legal world. Search by company name or industry keyword. - Mintel Academic Access This link opens in a new window
Identify key socio-cultural and economic trends within industries in the "Market and Consumer" sections of reports, and factors impacting purchasing decisions within reports detailing specific consumer groups - NetAdvantage This link opens in a new window
Industry Surveys are very robust, and include details about industry drivers, trends, and relevant external forces.
- Pew Research Center Publications
Find reports regarding many aspects of American life, including demographics, consumer behavior, interests, and habits.
Food Retail & Restaurant Industries
Library Sources
SEARCH TIP: Try synonyms for quick service restaurants or foodservice in your keyword phrases, and combine with keywords like trends and innovations
Professional & Trade Organizations
Government & Regulatory Agencies
Alcohol & Tobacco Consumer Markets
Library Sources
SEARCH TIP: Try combining keywords like alcohol, beer, tobacco, cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco with retail, retail sales, market, and consumer behavior
Professional & Trade Organizations
Government & Regulatory Agencies
Fuel & Automotive Industry
Library Sources
SEARCH TIPS: Try combinations of keywords like gasoline, gas stations, personal vehicles, and fuel
