Mintel reports - any way of accessing without paying full fee?

[oxonstartup]

I am researching a start-up company and working my way through my business plan at the moment. My proposed business is within the ice-cream, sorbet and frozen yoghurt market and I know from extracts that this year's Mintel report contains some useful insight into trends and markets for the product I have in mind. The report I'm after is Mintel UK Ice Cream - June 2013 although even access to last year's report would be better than nothing.

Obviously, as a start up, I cannot justify spending £1750 on a report when the business plan I am working on should, after further research, not take wings. I have been told by my local library that access to Mintel reports is no longer available via public libraries due to the cost, not even London Business library and I am now wondering how on earth anyone in my position ever gets access to the kind of detailed information available in such a report . Do they just make the figures up and cling on to hope as so often seen from those leaving empty handed from the likes of Dragons' Den?! I'm finding it really hard to find good stats on this market elsewhere.

Does anyone know of anywhere I can access this report without paying the full fee?

Seems a shame that this info is realistically only available to those big hitters who are already fully established in their chosen market. Any suggestions welcome!

 

[sjb84]

PM me for more information on this subject

 

[Psl]

I am researching a start-up company and working my way through my business plan at the moment. My proposed business is within the ice-cream, sorbet and frozen yoghurt market and I know from extracts that this year's Mintel report contains some useful insight into trends and markets for the product I have in mind. The report I'm after is Mintel UK Ice Cream - June 2013 although even access to last year's report would be better than nothing.

Obviously, as a start up, I cannot justify spending £1750 on a report when the business plan I am working on should, after further research, not take wings. I have been told by my local library that access to Mintel reports is no longer available via public libraries due to the cost, not even London Business library and I am now wondering how on earth anyone in my position ever gets access to the kind of detailed information available in such a report . Do they just make the figures up and cling on to hope as so often seen from those leaving empty handed from the likes of Dragons' Den?! I'm finding it really hard to find good stats on this market elsewhere.

Does anyone know of anywhere I can access this report without paying the full fee?

Seems a shame that this info is realistically only available to those big hitters who are already fully established in their chosen market. Any suggestions welcome!

Any start up has costs that need to be covered, even if the business never launches. If you don't believe in your business enough to buy the report then how can you justify the money needed to get business launched?

Don't just make up figures as it will come back to bite you on the ass and you will be just lying to yourself and any potential investor, if you are looking for one that is.

 

[ethical PR]

Have you tried the business centre at The British Library not sure if they have free access to Mintel but may have other research that would help.

 

[oxonstartup]

Many thanks for your responses. I am currently checking out public access to university libraries although no joy yet.

Ethical PR - thanks - I'll double check British Library, I know they have some great resources there.

Psl - appreciate the frank advice. I would not consider making up stats - I do not want to base my business plan on optimism and fiction - just frustrated at lack of publicly available info available for this particular market and also it does not make good business sense to either myself or potential investors to pay for information which possibly might be accessible legitimately through public means. As a researcher in a previous life I realise quality reports cost time and money to produce but it seems a shame that there is not a more general version of the report available at a reduced price for industry 'outsiders' like me.

 

[neoseal]

You may have infographic access if you just register without paying.

 

[The Pines]

Befriend a University student!

Keynote and Mintel were all free at my Uni, also at my wife's, and now that she is doing post grad stuff, it's free at her new Uni.

On the PDF versions there were occasional limits on the amount of pages you could download, but on the printed version you could photocopy as many pages as you liked, subject to (a) the copy cannot leave the library, and (b) you have to pay the library photocopy charges.

I've never met anyone who paid full price for Mintel or Keynote!

 

[sjb84]

The above is true, but don't they say you cannot reproduce any of the info?? Realistically how do they check?

 

[The Pines]

The above is true, but don't they say you cannot reproduce any of the info?? Realistically how do they check?

Haven't got a Scooby!

They never nobbled me when I was making use of multiple reports, and quite frankly the library staff didn't seem to care - they were far more worried with people trying to steal books than trying to impose a photocopy limit. Obviously when charging 5p per photocopied page it makes more economic sense to allow as many people as possible to make copies, to recoup their costs? (Although I am aware that libraries pay significantly less that the full charge for Mintel / Keynote)

 

[Concept Vehicle Leasing]

I know Students get free access if you know one or have one working for you/ work experience. Not sure of the legalities though.

 

[oxonstartup]

Thanks everyone.

Aside from befriending university students it seems it would be better value to enrol on some kind of part time relevant course than pay the full fee for the report - at least you get added value then! The search continues...

 

[neoseal]

Are you going into ice cream manufacturing business? The market is struggling at the moment and big brands hold majority share. Turnover will have its seasonal effects and need time to be an established brand, however if you have niche local market you may do well seasonally.