Basic Business, Fashion and Marketing Research Advice:

Before you begin to do any research here is a few insights of where to look and why!

To begin we suggest you try traditional resources such as your local library, including both your city, county or campus libraries. .

There are non-traditional resources such as the Internet. However before you begin it maybe to your advantage to know where to look within each and why!

Why not begin by reviewing this list below.:

You can access most of these directly online, try typing the name such as:

http://chicagotribune.com or go to a search engine and type the company name. For beginners not comfortable with doing a “Boolean Search”…as a suggestion try typing http://www.ask.com , then in the field query box try one of the titles such as, Hoovers

Suggested sources to find this information Why

Standard and Poors Trends and Projections Strong economic overview

Standard and Poors Industry Surveys Identifies industry growth/concerns

Consumer Buying Guide Shows how and where consumers are spending their money.

Government Resource Numerous resources are providing information

Such as Economics, Tax and Tariff Info as well as:

Stats on companies, banking and consumers.

Daily newspapers Illustrates consumer spending habits

.i.e: Wall Street Journal

Business Periodicals Discusses economic shifts and issues

world-wide, i.e.: Newsweek, Time and Fortune

Featured authors /consultants/books Provides researched concepts on consumer attitudes, i.e:

Faith Popcorn's Clicking.

Leading trade publications Identify key trends, textile reports

i.e.: WWD, DNR, Bobbin, Knitting Times

Leading Fabric Councils and Firms Identify fabrications/use, care and

innovations.

i.e.: Cotton Council

Wool Bureau

Burlington Industries

The Fiber Society,

The Textile Institute,

AAMA,

Computer Integrated Textile Design Association

Just to name a few!

International Trade Show Directory Locate trade domestic and international trade shows for textiles and findings.

Leading Fashion and Color Services Focus on color projections

fabric and fibers, ie: Promostyl

Tobe

Hue Point

Bill Glazer and Associates WGSN-edu.com

Leading books on Costume

and Costume History Details, fabrications and silhouettes, from the past often provide inspiration for lines in the future.

Leading Industry Magazines/Publications Provides trend projections,

i.e.: Bobbin , Textile Suisse, The Knitting Times

The Arts: including Libraries, Theatre

And Museums Provide a plethora of inspiration for the design.

Seminars and Workshops These are frequently a great place to mine for information.

WWD Buyers Guide To identify manufacturing companies

Brands and Companies by Gale Title is self-explanatory

Companies and their Brands by Gale

Dunn and Bradstreet Leading source on companies

World Trade Center To connect international supplier and

Manufacturers.

US Gov . All the latest “ stats ” and policy for trade and tariff information. As well labor information/regulation.

Including such sources as:

GIDC- Garment Industry Development Corp .

Dept. of Commerce Office of Textiles and Apparel

The International Trade Administration

BEM /Big Emerging Markets

The World Bank

Global Export Market Information System

ITC/ Int'l. Trade Commission

The Thomas Registry List of many of the leading small and large Manufacturers.

Leading Industry Magazines

/Trade Publications To read about leading equipment and

manufacturing firms.

Press Kits, Annual Reports/ Sales Materials To learn about new technology and

from leading equipment manufacturers systems.

Leading trade publications Identify key competitors advertising and promotion techniques i.e.: WWD, DNR

Leading Advertising Publications To review advertising campaigns

and leading advertising/pr firms

i.e.: Advertising Age

World Trade Center Appropriate freight forwarding companies. International Sources and

affiliations.

Sheldon's Locate retail stores and buyers

Resident Buying Offices

Hoovers Index guide to leading

companies

Thomas Registry List of both small and large manufacturers.

Misc. Info found in most any library for more hands-on-research….( Note* info sources may vary library to library however your librarian should recognize the titles and can easily suggested a substitute.)

Sirs Researcher ----General reference database with thousands of full text articles….especially of interest Business, Historic and Economics

Sirs Renaissance ----Specializes in Film, Visual Arts, Architecture, Culture, Video, Religion, Literature, Philosophy-TV and more (* Note Sirs are typically text)

Electronic Library ----Magazines, Newspapers, Maps, Images, Books, Radio-TV transcripts (Graphisc not just text)

Gales ----Hard to find personal data, bios and more….terrific!

GroveArt ---Simply the best for research on Art!

This is just a sampling of what you can find, and don't forget to ask if any of these great resources are available online….often for simply becoming a member of a local and/or a college library ---you will have these and more available online—day or night!!!