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Professional Services Sector Industry Report

Overview

The US professional services industry includes about 770,000 firms with combined annual revenue of more than $1 trillion. Major firms include Booz Allen Hamilton, Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), Gensler, IBM, Jacobs Engineering Group, Omnicom, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. The industry is highly fragmented: the 50 largest firms account for less than 20 percent of revenue.

SIC: 8743, 8999, 0781, 0741, 7335, 4731, 5199, 6541, 7221, 7291, 7311, 7312, 7313, 7319, 7331, 8742, 7336, 7361, 7371, 7373, 7376, 7379, 7389, 7819, 8111, 8711, 8712, 8713, 8721, 8731, 8732, 8734, 8741

NAICS: 541940, 541990, 541110, 541120, 541191, 541199, 541211, 541213, 541214, 541219, 541310, 541430, 541490, 541511, 541512, 541513, 541519, 541611, 541612, 541613, 541614, 541618, 541620, 541690, 541711, 541712, 541720, 541810, 541820, 541830, 541840, 541850, 541860, 541870, 541890, 541910, 541921, 541922, 541930, 541320, 541330, 541340, 541350, 541360, 541370, 541380, 541410, 541420

Sample Questions & Answers

How does the firm adapt to lower demand during economic slowdowns?

Many corporate customers cut outside expenses or delay major projects when profits are low. The revenue of many professional firms dropped during the late 2000s recession; particularly hard-hit were advertising, engineering, and IT services firms.

How does the firm mitigate the risk that customers will sue?

Because of the greater involvement of professional firms in the operations of corporate customers, firms face greater risk of blame or liability if their advice proves faulty. Customers are quicker to blame advisers, and regulators are more likely to...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunies
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rappart with prospects during youir sales calls using done-for-you call prearation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planing.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Professional Services Sector Industry Report

Information Technology Services Industry Report

Overview

The US information technology (IT) services industry includes about 100,000 companies with combined annual revenue of about $290 billion. Major companies include Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), Unisys, and the technology consulting arms of IBM and Hewlett-Packard. The computer facilities management segment of the industry is highly concentrated: the 50 largest companies generate about 80 percent of revenue. The rest of the industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for about 50 percent of revenue.

SIC: 7376, 7373, 7371, 7379

NAICS: 541511, 541512, 541513, 541519

Sample Questions & Answers

How does the company manage shifts in corporate technology spending?

Because spending for IT services comes mainly from corporation upgrades, much of it can be postponed during economic downturns. A large percentage of annual US capital investment is computer-related, exposing IT spending to economic cycles

How vulnerable is the company to nontraditional competition?

As computer and communication hardware and software become commodity-type products with lower margins, their manufacturers are providing more integration and maintenance services, in competition with traditional IT companies. Often manufacturers,...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunies
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rappart with prospects during youir sales calls using done-for-you call prearation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planing.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Information Technology Services Industry Report

Wholesale Sector Industry Report

Overview

The US music production and distribution industry includes about 3,700 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $15 billion. Major companies include Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group. The industry is highly concentrated: the top eight companies account for 80 percent of industry revenue.

SIC: 2731, 7389

NAICS: 512240, 512230, 512220, 512290, 512210

Sample Questions & Answers

How have the studio’s sales been affected by piracy?

Sales of music via legitimate CDs and downloads have been declining for years because of the pervasiveness of illegal copying. In part because the industry was been slow to move into digital music distribution, many consumers found it easier to...

How does the studio get its products in front of the public?

The shift by many consumers from specialty music stores to high-volume discount chains makes gaining shelf space harder for small labels. The demise of music retailers such as Tower Records and Musicland has decreased the number of outlets offering...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunies
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rappart with prospects during youir sales calls using done-for-you call prearation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planing.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Wholesale Sector Industry Report

Home Furnishings Stores Industry Report

Overview

The US home furnishings store industry includes about 20,000 stores with combined annual revenues of about $25 billion. Major companies include Bed Bath & Beyond and Williams-Sonoma. The industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for about 75 percent of industry revenue.

SIC: 5713, 5714

NAICS: 442210, 442299

Sample Questions & Answers

How sensitive are the company’s sales to economic conditions?

Home furnishings are usually discretionary purchases that can be postponed when consumer income declines. For example, sales for home furnishings stores fell 8 percent from 2008 to 2009 and grew by just 3 percent from 2009 to 2010, as consumers...

How has the company responded to declining prices?

Consumer prices for home furnishing products have been steadily falling for nearly a decade, driven by low-cost imports and competition from national chains and mass merchandisers. Prices for window coverings fell 20 percent from 2001 to 2010; for...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunies
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rappart with prospects during youir sales calls using done-for-you call prearation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planing.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Home Furnishings Stores Industry Report

Retail Sector Industry Report

Overview

The US breakfast cereal manufacturing industry includes about 30 companies with combined annual revenue of about $11 billion. Major companies include Kellogg, General Mills, Post Foods, and Quaker (owned by PepsiCo). The industry is highly concentrated: the top four companies account for 80 percent of revenue.

SIC: 2043

NAICS: 311230

Sample Questions & Answers

How dependent is the company on the success of ready-to-eat cereal?

Cereal manufacturers depend highly on a single type of product (cold, ready-to-eat cereal) that's overwhelmingly consumed at a single time of day. Because cereal with milk can't be easily consumed on-the-go, busy families and professionals may be...

How does the company manage commodity price swings?

The price and availability of cereal grains can fluctuate sharply due to farm yield, weather patterns, and government farm subsidies. Wheat, corn, and oat prices routinely swing 10 percent or more from year-to-year. Price and supply instability isn't...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunies
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rappart with prospects during youir sales calls using done-for-you call prearation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planing.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Retail Sector Industry Report

Consumer Electronics & Appliances Stores Industry Report

Overview

The US consumer electronics store industry includes about 27,000 stores with combined annual revenue of about $60 billion. Major companies include Best Buy, RadioShack, and the retail operations of Apple. The industry is highly concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for 80 percent of sales.

SIC: 5722, 5946, 5734, 5731

NAICS: 443112, 443111, 443130, 443120

Sample Questions & Answers

How have declining retail prices affected the company?

Retail prices for many major segments of consumer electronics products have been declining. Between 2008 and 2009, retail prices declined about 24 percent for TVs and about 13 percent for computers and peripherals. While electronics retailers have...

How does the company deal with increasing competition from alternative channels?

Consumer electronics stores face heavy competition from numerous other channels, including warehouse clubs, mass merchandisers, department stores, and Internet and mail order retailers. Internet and mail order retailers sell over $30 billion in...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunies
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rappart with prospects during youir sales calls using done-for-you call prearation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planing.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Consumer Electronics & Appliances Stores Industry Report

Warehousing & Storage Industry Report

Overview

The US warehousing and storage industry includes about 7,000 companies with combined annual revenue of about $24 billion. Major companies include the US operations of CEVA Logistics, DHL's US logistics business, and GENCO. The industry is fragmented: the 50 largest companies generate about 40 percent of revenue.

SIC: 4226, 4225, 4222, 4221

NAICS: 493120, 493190, 493130, 493110

Sample Questions & Answers

How does the company manage slowdowns in warehousing demand due to the economy?

Economic slowdowns greatly impact the industry, as many business customers use public and contract warehousing mainly to handle peak demand. Industrial production, import volume, and office vacancy rates are indicators of demand for warehousing.

What strategies does the facility use to control fuel costs, especially if climate-controlled?

Cold storage and temperature-controlled facilities have high energy requirements, contributing significantly to operating costs. In times of rising costs, facility managers investigate new, more affordable technologies to reduce consumption.

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunies
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rappart with prospects during youir sales calls using done-for-you call prearation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planing.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Warehousing & Storage Industry Report

Household Appliance Stores Industry Report

Overview

The US household appliance store industry includes about 9,000 stores with combined annual revenue of about $16 billion. Major companies include ABC Appliance, Conn's, hhgregg, and PC Richard & Son. The industry is fragmented: the 50 largest companies account for about 35 percent of industry sales.

SIC: 5722

NAICS: 443111

Sample Questions & Answers

How are the company's sales affected by changes in home sales?

Sales of new and existing homes help drive growth for appliance retailers, as consumers are highly likely to buy new appliances when buying a home. A soft housing market can significantly depress appliance sales. US new home sales fell by more than...

How does the company compensate for declining retail prices?

Retail prices for major appliances have been driven down by imports of low-priced products, mainly from China and Mexico. Increasing import volume and strong demand for low-end products contribute to flat and decreasing prices across most major...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunies
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rappart with prospects during youir sales calls using done-for-you call prearation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planing.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Household Appliance Stores Industry Report