Market Research

Successful businesses make a concerted effort to gain extensive knowledge about their customers and competitors. Conducting accurate and effective market research is a key component to developing a top notch marketing plan focused on meeting your customers' needs.

There are many sources of information on market research, and how you should undertake it. The internet serves as a key source of information to meet your needs. The following sites contain information on market research that you may find useful:

The Canada Business Network Sites in each province contain extensive material on market research. The CSBC site contains a useful tool entitled "Guide to Market Research and Analysis" which contains a listing of primary and secondary data sources:
http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/page/2864/

The Business Development Bank of Canada's site has a section on on market research techniques:
http://www.bdc.ca/EN/advice_centre/expand_your_sales/Pages/AskAProfessional.aspx?PATH=/EN/advice_centre/ask_professionnal/Pages/market_research_techniques.aspx
 

Statistics Canada

"Quick Facts About British Columbia" is a downloadable document full of information about BC useful in developing your marketing plan:
www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/bcfacts.htm