Library Guides: ENT 480: Creating a World-Class Venture: Competitors

Tips on Gathering a List of Competitors

Clark Library has several databases that can give you lists of competitors around the world, in the United States, or on a particular street.
Use one of these strategies to search effectively:

Name a competitor
- Think of a business already in the same industry, and search for it
Know your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS, rhymes with "snakes") code(s)
- These codes, 2-6 digits long, are a uniform way to find information on an industry and its companies
- Locate a NAICS code by looking up a competitor in these resources:
  - In-depth Hoover's Company Profiles in Nexis Uni have a NAICS codes section
  - Mergent Online (Single code in top banner; additional codes in "Business" sub-tab under "Company Details" tab)
- Search NAICS system directly if you have a good sense of vocabulary; also use this search to see industry segments.

Different databases allow different strategies; see below for further guidance.

Nexis Uni Company Dossier

Geography: International to Street Address

Tips:

Know your NAICS code
Select Create a Company List from menu bar at top
Enter your NAICS code in the first section
In the Geographic Information section, enter the geographic level that interests you:
- Country/Region -- Select United States to activate States list
- State -- possible to select more than one
- County
- City
- Postal / ZIP Code
- Street Address -- include direction, e.g., NE Fremont

Hoover's Company Profiles in Nexis Uni

Geography: United States
Each report will have a "Competitors" section leading you to similar profiles.

Tips:

Name a publicly traded competitor
Type [AND [the competitor]] into the database search box
In your search results, look for In-depth Record
The In-depth Record will contain a list of competitors, linked to similar profiles

Mergent Online

Geography: International to ZIP Code
Default search is for Public companies, but Private companies are also available.

Two searches possible:

1a. Name a publicly traded competitor
1b. Look for your company in Company Search box on main screen.
1c. Select Competitors tab and view three lists of competitors (first 25 by revenues or sales):

Public USA
Public Global
Private

Public lists will show some company financials; private lists will show sales and number of employees.

2a. Know your NAICS code
2b. Choose Advanced Search option at top of main screen
2c. Select Industry Codes search and enter your NAICS code. Select submit button to view results.
2d. Go to Corporate Information search for Country (of incorporation or operations), State (of incorporation or operations), City, or Zip Code. Search for one country, state, city, or zip code at a time.