Demographics....Real of Ficticious? - tanTALK

harleychic · 02-09-2005, 07:18 PM

I recently called my local chamber of commerce to find out what the demographics of my area are. The lady very innocently asked me if that was the name of a business...With responses like that where are you supposed to get accurate information? Do people just make up statistics for their business plans or what?

tanMBA · 02-09-2005, 08:12 PM

You definitely don't want to make it up. Is so, what is the point of doing the plan? You can get them from many different places (local colleges, SBDC, etc). There are also many sources online. If you don't mind dated information it can be found for free online. One example:

http://www.freedemographics.com/

gripmarketing · 02-10-2005, 12:40 PM

Your local chamber wants to "slice" the info to make each and every business look like a viable opportunity in their area having the effect making the stats lie. The old saying: Statistics can lie and liars can use statistics.

freedemographics.com is the same info you can get free from the US Census Bureau at http://www.census.gov, but this won't give you what you're looking for. You need a site selection demo pulled and the only way to get it is from a list compiler who specializes in it.

Steve Underhill · 02-17-2005, 11:50 AM

Please email me and I will give you your demographics.

gripmarketing · 02-17-2005, 04:41 PM

There ya go, a free offer!

ZABAZU · 02-17-2005, 05:25 PM

MMMM, Maybe you should have done the same?

harleychic · 02-17-2005, 07:55 PM

I got my demographics from the U.S. Census website...they are 5 years old! After conferring with DWhite, she let me know that my area is not big enough to support a tanning salon if I plan on making any money... She suggested that you have a population of 40,000 to have a great business! I don't have near that so now I am left with a new decision....forget it, or look for a new area!

Dennis · 02-18-2005, 08:27 AM

ZABAZU
SHAME ON YOU
DENNIS

wildchilde · 02-18-2005, 09:08 AM

I'm just curious as to just how small your 5 mile area is?

harleychic · 02-18-2005, 11:56 AM

My 5 mile is about 12,000. I have started going to the only other place to tan in my town and it SUCKS! Is it impossible to have a successful business in this small of an area? We are a growing community with many lakes (so there are seasonal residents).

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02-09-2005, 07:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
harleychic Join Date: Feb 6 2005 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	I recently called my local chamber of commerce to find out what the demographics of my area are. The lady very innocently asked me if that was the name of a business...With responses like that where are you supposed to get accurate information? Do people just make up statistics for their business plans or what?

02-09-2005, 08:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
tanMBA Join Date: Jun 22 2004 Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	You definitely don't want to make it up. Is so, what is the point of doing the plan? You can get them from many different places (local colleges, SBDC, etc). There are also many sources online. If you don't mind dated information it can be found for free online. One example: http://www.freedemographics.com/

02-10-2005, 12:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
gripmarketing Join Date: May 25 2002 Posts: 970 Rep Power: 22	Your local chamber wants to "slice" the info to make each and every business look like a viable opportunity in their area having the effect making the stats lie. The old saying: Statistics can lie and liars can use statistics. freedemographics.com is the same info you can get free from the US Census Bureau at http://www.census.gov, but this won't give you what you're looking for. You need a site selection demo pulled and the only way to get it is from a list compiler who specializes in it.

02-17-2005, 11:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
Steve Underhill Join Date: Apr 21 2004 Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 1,502 Rep Power: 21	Please email me and I will give you your demographics.

02-17-2005, 04:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
gripmarketing Join Date: May 25 2002 Posts: 970 Rep Power: 22	There ya go, a free offer!

02-17-2005, 05:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
ZABAZU Join Date: Apr 14 2003 Posts: 438 Rep Power: 22	MMMM, Maybe you should have done the same?

02-17-2005, 07:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
harleychic Join Date: Feb 6 2005 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	I got my demographics from the U.S. Census website...they are 5 years old! After conferring with DWhite, she let me know that my area is not big enough to support a tanning salon if I plan on making any money... She suggested that you have a population of 40,000 to have a great business! I don't have near that so now I am left with a new decision....forget it, or look for a new area!

02-18-2005, 08:27 AM	#8 (permalink)
Dennis Join Date: Nov 8 2004 Age: 72 Posts: 185 Rep Power: 0	ZABAZU SHAME ON YOU DENNIS

02-18-2005, 09:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
wildchilde Join Date: Jan 15 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 108 Rep Power: 20	I'm just curious as to just how small your 5 mile area is?

02-18-2005, 11:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
harleychic Join Date: Feb 6 2005 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	My 5 mile is about 12,000. I have started going to the only other place to tan in my town and it SUCKS! Is it impossible to have a successful business in this small of an area? We are a growing community with many lakes (so there are seasonal residents).

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