Local chambers of commerce, banks, utility companies, and other organizations can provide useful data. Business magazines and newspapers also contain useful marketing information if read carefully. Participating in trade shows, exhibits, and conferences allows you to meet business people like yourself and to observe new developments in your field. You will find a listing of organizations for the betterment of small businesses in the index of this text. If information is not already available, business people may need to conduct their own research.
Many entrepreneurs feel they are unable to conduct sophisticated market research studies.
For a new business, two important methods used in collecting data are interviewing and observing. The interview method is one of the most widely used methods for collecting information. Several distinct types of interviews can be used. The first type is the personal interview. Telephone interviews can be a simple, inexpensive method of collecting information.