THE BUSINESS
RESEARCHER NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
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February 13, 2004 Volume 7, Number 1
CONTENTS
* Introduction - Editor's Comments
* What's New at www.gdsourcing.com
* Statistics Canada releases
* Researching the Renovation Sector
* Resource Lost!
* Small Business Stats Facts
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INTRODUCTION - EDITOR'S COMMENTS
Hello,
Welcome to this issue of the BR newsletter.
A new year, a new prime minister, and a new volume of the BR
Newsletter! This is our 7th year of publishing this resource. As
always at the beginning of each year we plan to publish more
issues than the year before. Hopefully this year we will be
successful although I admit we are off to a late start! All of
Volume 6 is now available on our web site: https://www.gdsourcing.ca/newsletter.htm#index106
I hope you find this issue helpful.
John White
GDSourcing - Research & Retrieval
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WHAT'S NEW AT
www.GDSOURCING.COM
- - SALES PROFESSIONS, SALES PITCH & RINGETTE
CANADIAN PROFESSIONAL SALES ASSOCIATION
Site: http://www.cpsa.com/
Site Summary:
https://www.gdsourcing.ca/works/CPSA.htm
Highlight data of interest to sales professionals (per diem
rates for major Canadian cities, current ranges for sales
compensation based on position title)
RINGETTE CANADA
Site: http://www.ringette.ca/
Site Summary:
https://www.gdsourcing.ca/works/Ringette.htm
Ringette Statistics in Canada. (Number of players, teams,
coaches)
INVEST IN CANADA
Site:
http://investincanada.ic.gc.ca/
Site Summary:
https://www.gdsourcing.ca/works/Invest.htm
Includes a variety of data on national, regional and local
economies. (Economic growth, Cost of Doing Business, Demographic
characteristics, Crime rate etc.)
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STATISTICS CANADA RELEASES
STATISTICS CANADA RELEASES
The following statistics were released by Statistics Canada
over the last month. 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: http://www.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 [email protected]. Put "StatsCan"
in the subject line of your e-mail.
AGRICULTURE
Farm debt outstanding - Agriculture economic statistics
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/21-014-XIE/free.htm
Value of farm capital - Agriculture economic statistics
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/21-013-XIE/free.htm
Farm operating expenses and depreciation charges - Agriculture
economic statistics
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/21-012-XIE/free.htm
Farm cash receipts - Agriculture economic statistics
http://www.statcan.ca/english/IPS/Data/21-011-XIE.htm
Net farm income - Agriculture economics statistics
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/21-010-XIE/free.htm
Canadian Potato Production - 2003 and 2002 (revised)
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040116/d040116a.htm
ARTS & CULTURE
The culture sector labour force, 1991 to 2002
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040113/d040113b.htm
Government expenditures on culture 2001/2002
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/87F0001XIE/free.htm
Film, video and audio-visual production: data tables
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/87-010-XIE/free.htm
BUSINESS SERVICES
Science Statistics: Estimation of Research and Development
Expenditures in the Higher Education Sector, 2001-2002
http://www.statcan.ca/english/IPS/Data/88F0006XIE2004002.htm
Science Statistics: Total Spending on Research and Development
in Canada, 1990 to 2003, and Provinces, 1990 to 2001
http://www.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/downpub/listpub.cgi?catno=88F0006XIE2004003
Research and development in Canada's service sector
http://www.statcan.ca/english/IPS/Data/63F0002XIE2003046.htm
Accounting and bookkeeping services - 2002
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040115/d040115c.htm
Survey of Suppliers of Business Financing, 2002
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/031222/d031222b.htm
DEMOGRAPHICS
Canada's demographic situation: Fertility of immigrant women
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/031222/d031222c.htm
GOVERNMENT
Provincial and territorial government enterprises finance
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040130/d040130f.htm
Federal government enterprises finance
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040130/d040130e.htm
Federal government finance: Assets and liabilities March 31,
2003
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040113/d040113c.htm
HEALTH
Stress, health and the benefit of social support
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040121/d040121b.htm
Induced Abortion Statistics
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/82-223-XIE/index.htm
HOSPITALITY
Annual Survey of Traveller Accommodation - 2002
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/031222/d031222e.htm
Profile of campgrounds and outfitters, 2001
http://www.statcan.ca/english/IPS/Data/63F0002XIE2003047.htm
Domestic travel - Annual
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040116/d040116b.htm
INCOME
Trends in family income 1980 to 2001
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/031222/d031222f.htm
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Starting the new century : technological change in the Canadian
private sector, 2000-2002
http://www.statcan.ca/english/IPS/Data/88F0006XIE2004001.htm
INTERNET
Factors associated with household Internet use
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/21-006-XIE/21-006-XIE2003001.pdf
MANUFACTURING
Industrial concentration in the manufacturing sector 1998 to
2001
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040129/d040129f.htm
MARKET
The time of our lives: juggling work and leisure over the life
cycle
http://www.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/downpub/listpub.cgi?catno=89-584-MIE2003004
The labour market in 2003
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040123/d040123a.htm
PRIMARY
Diamonds: Adding lustre to the Canadian economy
http://www.statcan.ca/english/research/11-621-MIE/11-621-MIE2004008.htm
SOCIAL STATISTICS /POVERTY
How long do people live in low-income neighbourhoods? Evidence
for Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver
http://www.statcan.ca/english/IPS/Data/11F0019MIE2004216.htm
TRADE
Wholesale trade, commodity survey
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040121/d040121f.htm
TRANSPORTATION
Annual Survey of Water Carriers - 2001
For-hire water carriers - revenues, expenses, employment
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040204/d040204f.htm
Domestic and international marine transport 2002
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040115/d040115d.htm
For-hire motor carriers of freight, annual supplement -
Financial statistics
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040108/d040108b.htm
Dangerous Goods Accident Information System
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040107/b040107a.htm
WORKPLACE
Workers' knowledge of retirement plans - 2001
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040123/d040123b.htm
Employment Insurance coverage - 2002
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040114/d040114b.htm
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RESEARCHING THE RENOVATION SECTOR
Not so
long ago the renovation market was only a small portion of the
home construction industry. Today renovation has become an
industry in and of itself. It now involves not only general
contractors but also building supply retailers, interior designers
and even television personalities. It is now as much an
entertainment and hobby commodity as it is a construction trade.
With interest in this sector coming from many different areas
the demand for data and research has increased. Happily for new
entrepreneurs and small business many of these figures can be
access at low cost or no cost.
As always start your research with Statistics Canada. Their
latest data release related to this market is "Home repairs and
renovations 2002". It provides a perspective on overall trends as
well as insights into the true nature of the renovation market. It
includes total homeowner spending on repairs and renovations in
Canada (1993-2002), average homeowner expenditure on repairing or
renovating, % work contracted out, and most common type of repair
or renovation work undertaken.
Details by various household characteristics such as household
income, household type, dwelling type, province, period of
construction of house, age of reference person, year reference
person moved into the house, all help you to define your best
target market and locate it.
For highlights from this report see:
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/031118/d031118b.htm. The
full electronic publication costs $25.00. To place an order
contact us at
[email protected]
In conjunction with the above data, you can use the 2001 Census
to help determine the size of your local target market. The same
household characteristics are covered by both sources. If you have
a budget you can purchase 2001 Census data at a local neighborhood
level. (Prices start at $60. Contact us for more information
[email protected])
Data by metropolitan area is available online free of charge.
To access this free data go the 2001 Census web site (http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/Products/Standard/themes/Index.cfm)
then enter the appropriate catalogue number below into the "Search
by catalogue number" search engine.
Household Income Groups, Household Type: 97F0020XCB01005
Household Living Arrangements, Age Groups and Sex: 95F0315XCB01004
Mobility Status 5 Years Ago, Age Groups and Sex: 97F0008XCB01001
Mobility Status 1 Years Ago, Age Groups and Sex: 97F0008XCB01003
Period of Construction, Condition of Dwelling and Tenure:
97F0006XCB01008
While Statistics Canada is clearly active in collecting data
for this market, CMHC is by far the government department most
interested in the renovation sector. They even forecast market
growth and trends. For their latest forecast see: Home Starts
Expected to be Second Strongest in 14 Years, Renovation Spending
to Hit New Records:
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/News/nere/2003/2003-08-13-1000.cfm
This report is updated on an annual basis.
CMHC also released the following report in 2003: "Consumer
Intentions to Buy or Renovate a Home." It examines homeowner
intentions to renovate, planned renovation expenditures, whether
work will be done by a contractor or by the homeowner, the amount
expected to borrow, information sources for home renovation
projects (books, television shows, Internet) and most popular
renovation projects.
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/homadoin/maintrst/foan/foan_004.cfm
Also see news release
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/News/nere/2003/2003-01-08-1100.cfm
Many companies in the private sector are also active in
researching the renovation market. You can locate most of these
reports by conducting a periodical search using databases
available through most library system web sites. (To find your
local library's web site see:
http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/canlib/eindex.htm)
Some recent studies include RBC Financial's Tenth Annual
Housing Study - Renovation Intentions. Released in March 2003 it
includes % planning to renovate over the next 12 months, main
focus of renovation (upgrade or make changes to existing space,
increase living space with addition or by converting existing
unfinished space), main reason for renovating, and expected
expenditure. See:
http://www.ipsos-reid.com/media/dsp_displaypr_cdn.cfm?id_to_view=1740
It is possible this data may be updated in March of 2004.
Re/Max also conducted a survey of renovation consumers: Smart
Renovator - Research Survey of Canadian Consumers. It covers
trends in renovation across Canada, planned renovation spending
for selected cities in Canada, and return on investment by type of
renovation project. See:
http://www.remax-oa.com/MarketReports_PDF/REMAX_Reno-MR.pdf
Building Associations actively research this market as well.
For example the Pulse Survey by the Canadian Home Builders
Association includes updated data on renovation activity. See:
http://www.chba.ca/news/news.html Scroll down the page
to find the latest and archived issues of the Pulse Survey. Look
at a number of issues because different information is recorded in
each.
The Greater Toronto Home Builders' Association released
information on the renovation market just prior to a home show in
2002: "Renovations Remain a Priority for Many Homeowners". It
covers the dollar value homeowners expect to spend on renovations,
type of major renovation, type of minor renovation, whether the
homeowner plans to do it themselves or hire a contractor, how they
will find a contractor and if they will pay cash?
http://www.dmgworldmedia.com/Fall_2002/Toronto_Fall_2002/Press/RenovationsMediaRelations.pdf
The popularity of home renovations also prompts newspaper and
magazine reporters to combine data from a number of sources in
their articles. While newspaper articles can be informative,
sometimes they do not provide enough detail for your research
purposes. In this case follow up directly with any sources cited.
If sources are not cited (tsk tsk), contact the reporter directly
to find out where you can follow-up for more information.
Some examples of newspaper articles include:
We'll Call You
Financial Post, November 8, 2003 IN1, IN2
Covers: % increase in wages for trades (plumbers, electricians,
drywallers, carpenters) in last 5 years, average hourly rate for
plumbers, electricians and carpenters, average price of a new
kitchen vs bathroom, $ amount increase per square foot for
renovations current vs 6 months ago, % increase in attendance at
the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association annual home and
design show.
Home Improvement Sales Build
The Globe and Mail, September 3, 2003 B5
Covers: % increase in home improvement sales in 2002 and
projected increase for 2003, % market share of the Canadian retail
sector held by home improvement market and % increase over past
decade and $ amount of total Canadian retail sector, projected $
amount of home improvement sales this year vs 2002 and 1999,
amount of the industry held by big-box category and $ amount and
breakdown of # of big box stores of Home Depot, Rona, and
Reno-Depot.
Also related to home renovations is interior design. While this
particular sub-sector is not well tracked there are a number of
resources that can be of some assistance.
Start your research by looking at the occupation itself.
General information on the occupation of Interior Designer is
available at the Job Futures web site:
http://www.jobfutures.ca/noc/5242.shtml. Data includes typical
salary range, employment outlook, and % self-employed. Provincial
and sub-provincial profiles can be found at the various provincial
Job Future web sites. Links to these sites are available on our
web site:
https://www.gdsourcing.ca/works/HRDC.htm
For more industry based information see:
An Inside Job
Report on Business Nov 2001, p132
A page of facts on the interior design sector in Canada.
Includes: average earnings, costs, number of interior design firms
in Canada, % of firms that specialize in corporate work, workload
Design Industry - Industry Profile
HRDC
Covers Architectural Design, Industrial Design, Communications
Design, Interior Design
http://www24.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/def/profind/index.asp?VarParam=46&Param_Lang=0&Switch=index.asp
An overview of the specialized design services industry
Statistics Canada
This article provides a 1998 snapshot of the design industry's
five sub-industries: landscape architecture, interior design,
industrial design, graphic design and "other" design services. Old
but detailed!
http://www.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/downpub/listpub.cgi?catno=63F0002XIB2001037
Canadian Industry Profile - Interior Design Services
GDSourcing
Provides financial ratios, typical balance sheet and business
counts for small businesses in the Interior Design Services
industry. Data covers latest three years available.
https://www.gdsourcing.ca/SBDC.htm#CIP (Look under 541 -
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services)
Also contact the Interior Designers of Canada association:
http://www.interiordesigncanada.org/ See if they can offer any
advice or information. One brochure on their site of some interest
is: "our guide to selecting and hiring an interior designer" It
will help you make sure your business meets Association
guidelines. You should also contact your provincial interior
designer association. They will advise you on licensing or
accreditation requirements to legally call yourself an "Interior
Designer".
Finally take a look at the following publication from the
American Society of Interior Designers: Strategic Mapping
Research: Phase IV
Marketing Factors and Consulting Principles
http://www.asid.org/about_asid/products_services/pubs/strategic_mapping_4.pdf
It examines what specific types of clients want from Interior
Designers. (Covers: Residential Client, Office Client, Retail
Client, Hospitality Client, Health-Care Client, Government and
Institutional Client, Facility Manager, Industry Representative)
Trends and forecasts for your market are important for any
business in this sector. Credibility however is the factor that
will determine whether your business will succeed or fail.
Homeowners must trust your design advice or your construction
skill. Make sure you understand what your customers are looking
for and seek referrals wherever you can get them. One homeowner's
recommendation is worth far more than any form of advertising.
The opposite is also true. Homeowners unhappy with your work
can damage your credibility beyond repair. Home Renovators and
General Contractors consistently appear among the top ten sectors
for complaints heard by the Better Business Bureau (http://www.canadiancouncilbbb.ca/topten.html).
You must understand your market and how it determines credibility
and value.
The best way to find this type of information is to talk to
people. Talk to people in your market, to suppliers and related
trades. Develop a network of local contacts you can draw on for
both market information and business referrals. It is the most
important asset your business can have.
Sit down and put together a list of everyone you already know
and a list of people and businesses you want to get know.
Contractors and Interior Designers can actually help each other by
trading information and contacts. Suppliers are also usually eager
to be helpful because if your business succeeds they will make
more sales. Build a rapport and learn from their experience of
already being active in your local marketplace.
There is no shortage of opportunities in the $33.4 billion
Canadian renovation sector. This however does not mean that every
business will succeed. The fact that the market is forecasted to
growth faster than the Canadian economy means nothing.
Understanding why the market is growing and how you can best
participate in it is what counts!
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RESOURCE LOST!
A couple of issues ago I
talked about using data from the American government (https://www.gdsourcing.ca/newsletter/newsletter6-8.htm#Gov).
This was a great resource but unfortunately it is now restricted
to U.S. based companies only.
The Internet is like a library built on quicksand: every once
and while a whole bank of shelves disappears! I actually
discovered the disappearance of this resource in the middle of a
seminar I was leading. (Very embarrassing!) Unfortunately this is
the nature of the Internet and there is very little you or I can
do about it. The only option is to save copies of data the first
time you come across them because they may not be there when you
return.
For PDF files the easiest way to save a file is to click on the
save icon in the top left corner of an Adobe Acrobat page. (It
looks like an old A drive diskette). The other option is at the
source web site right click on the Internet link that directs you
to the pdf file and select "Save target As..." Make sure you
record where you are saving the file. In the future simply open
your Adobe Acrobat reader and select the file from your hard
drive.
For web pages, click on "File" at the top of your web browser
and select "Save As.." then choose "Web Page, complete". This will
download the web page (a file ending in .htm) and all supporting
graphics. The graphics will be downloaded into a separate folder
with the same name as the web page. It is advisable that you write
down the name of the file and where you are saving the file and
folder so you can find it in the future.
To open the file, open your web browser, select "File" then
"Open...". Now click on "Browse" and find the location of your
file. Open the .htm document not the folder. The web page should
open just as it appears on the web site.
The Internet is not a permanent record. Never assume a resource
will always be there. The U.S. government resource had been
accessible since 1997. And then in the blink of an eye... gone! If
you find a wonderful resource you need to save it for future
reference. If you don't you may regret it when you need the
information again.
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SMALL BUSINESS STATS FACTS
Each Business Researcher Newsletter ends with a collection of five
statistics related to Canadian small businesses.
1. What % of firms with 1- 99 employees adopted new
technologies between 2000 & 2002? What % firms with 100 - 499 and
500+?
1-99 employees: 44.7%
100-499 employees: 75.5%
500 + employees: 89.2%
Source: Statistics Canada (2004)
2. What % of firms with 1-99 employees supported technological
change between 2000 & 2002 with employee training? What % of firms
with 100 - 499 and 500+?
1-99 employees: 56.1%
100-499 employees: 83.0%
500 + employees: 87.9%
Source: Statistics Canada (2004)
3. Are self-employed entrepreneurs living outside the top 15
Census Metropolitan Areas more likely or less likely to use the
Internet, compared to self-employed entrepreneurs living in the
top 15 CMAs?
Less likely
Source: Statistics Canada (2004)
4. What % of businesses plan to increase their full-time
employment during the next year?
31%
Source: CFIB (Dec 17, 2003)
5. What % of small business owners say their firms are doing
better than 12 months ago?
39%
Source: CFIB (Dec 17, 2003)
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G D S O U R C I N G - R E S E A R C H & R E T R I E V A L
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