Archive for January, 2002

Featured Website: Hoovers.com

Wednesday, January 30th, 2002

By Jeff Vedders

In a hurry?  Are you looking for a place to find detailed company information on the web quickly and easily without paying a lot?  Check out Hoover’s www.hoovers.com.

Hoover’s is a free and fee-based online site that contains information on over 50,000 public and private companies in the U.S. and around the world.

Hoover’s Company Capsules are free and they contain a wealth of information on companies including company addresses, phone and fax numbers, web sites, key contacts, brief descriptions, basic financial information as well as links to news articles and press releases.

Looking for more information?  Consider a subscription.  As a Hoover’s subscriber, you gain access to detailed corporate histories, extensive historical financials, product lists, a larger list of executives, and major competitors.  More importantly, you will be able to compile your own list of companies by selecting key criteria such as product type and employment and sales size. 

Go to Hoover’s today and after researching that hot high-tech manufacturing prospect you’re after, you can also find information on all of its competitors.

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Trends

Wednesday, January 30th, 2002
Bioinformatics Bioinfowhat? Bioinformatics is the application of computer technology to the management of biological information. And it has been a hot topic of late. Though biotech has been on the radar for year, recently we’ve heard the term bioinformatics from our clients several times.

The greatest achievement of bioinformatics methods is the Human Genome Project. So much raw data is being generated by the Human Genome Project and other initiatives in biology, computers are presently essential for many biologists just to manage their day-to-day results.

Look for many start-up companies in the bioinformatics segment in the near future as scientists and programmers team up to bring meaning to the wealth of data that has been generated through the Human Genome Project and other initiatives. Bioinformatics and genomics are two sectors that will continue to draw venture capital in 2002. These start-ups need a skilled workforce, access to research universities or institutes, and possibly alliances with more established companies to help them through development stages.

Take a look at www.bioplanet.com or www.bioinformatics.org if you would like to read more about bioinformatics.

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What in the world is going on?

Wednesday, January 30th, 2002

By Pete Julius

The stock market may have rebounded to pre-September 11 levels, but the economical and psychological effects remain uncertain.

As the economy continues to struggle, predicting corporate behavior becomes more difficult. Merger and acquisition activity is beginning to regain momentum, IPO’s are still stagnant and financial institutions are sitting on their hands. Companies are adjusting forecasted figures, putting plans on hold, restructuring and in extreme cases filing for bankruptcy.  So, what does this tell us?

Looking at the core of these companies and linking them to recent events does reveal some interesting conclusions. For instance, as people are still reluctant to fly there is an increasing demand to conduct teleconferences. JDS Uniphase, Tellabs and other companies in the fiber optic industries stand a strong chance to rebound. Cepheid, which makes devices that detect biological agents, and other related companies are in good position to achieve great gains. These are examples of companies that can provide comfort and security. 

Any organization that can assist the nation to move forward, stimulate the economy or reduce fear of more possible threats will receive the most gain, at least in the short-run.  However, any additional, monumental terrorist attacks could pose a serious threat, which could explain why financial institutions are sitting on their hands.

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Tips & Tricks

Wednesday, January 30th, 2002
By Jeff Vedders
 
Many of us are faced with the challenge of managing our multiple communication channels, especially email. Here are some tips we’ve learned about using email that may be helpful to you.
 
1. Use the built in rules within software such as Outlook to set up filters to sort your mail into folder by sender, topic and source. Set up folders for each of your key projects can help you prioritize your time.
2. Limit the length of your email and communicate the key points within the first three sentences. Longer message perhaps should be done as a phone call or in person.
3. Consider using wireless technology such as the Blackberry to allow you to whittle down you inbox while traveling.

4. Use a service that allows for the use of Web Mail so that you can access your mail from any Internet browser.

5. Flag important message for future review using the flag feature within your email software.

Another issue many economic development practitioners are faced with is how to continue producing results with diminishing resources. Database marketing, the use of targeted list of companies, has become one of the most efficient and effective methods of generating prospects according to a recent study. By focusing resources on those firms with a need to relocate or expand their operations, economic development practitioners have been able to maximize the use of their limited resources. Our website, www.whittakerassociates.com, contains several case studies of how this methodology has been used.

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