The Business Resource and Innovation Center’s (BRIC) free business resources are accessible anywhere! That means you can conduct business research at your leisure from the comfort of your home. So put on some cozy clothes, grab a caffeinated beverage, and settle in. It’s time to get your research on!

If you’ve been following along with the At Home with BRIC blog posts since March, then you’ve explored the elements of a business plan, researched competitors and your target audience, conducted market research, and compiled sales lists. 

Next, we’re taking a deeper dive into one of our favorite databases, Reference Solutions. As a business librarian, I don’t like to play favorites with databases. But, Reference Solutions, formerly Reference USA to all the regulars here, is special. It’s so robust and versatile! Reference Solutions is actually a collection of databases. It is a powerhouse of information on consumer and business data. It makes it very easy to build lists and generate heatmaps and charts.

In this comprehensive session, recorded on November 18, 2020, you will learn how to access Reference Solutions from home through freelibrary.org, how to identify new sales prospects, create customized business and consumer marketing lists, identify key business contacts, locate home-based businesses, find businesses with web addresses, gather competitive business intelligence, and identify major industry groups. The video demonstration is presented by Bill Carlson, Customer Success Manager with Data-Axel Reference Solutions.

So have your library card number and PIN ready, press play, and let’s dive in!

Visit freelibrary.org/business to check out more great resources and virtual events. 

Do you have questions? We have answers! Contact us via email: bric @ freelibrary.org.