The Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at the University of North Carolina supports entrepreneurial development and job creation in regions across the state. Through a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the Kenan Institute recently launched Technology Commercialization Carolina, a new initiative that promotes tech-based start-ups.

To drive business innovation and promote economic growth, the Kenan Institute provides research services to UNC faculty and a diverse client base across a wide array of industries. The Kenan Institute creates custom analytical reports for entrepreneurs who need current market data to develop business plans and secure funding. Although the Kenan Institute has access to a robust university library system, its staff needed a wider breadth of market research.

In a world where knowledge is power, what you don't know can hurt you. The good news: It's not so hard to find out what your rivals are up to. Competitive intelligence can drive your strategy, calm your fears about the future, and give your company a competitive edge. Competitive intelligence uses many of the same techniques as market research but deploys them to answer highly targeted and specific questions, rather than to gain insight into broad market trends.

Christmas day in my family is still extremely fun because we have a number of children that are still young enough that their faith in Santa Claus hasn’t faltered. They write long wish lists to Santa, and they wake up early on Christmas morning hoping they have received all the toys they want most.

For parents all across the U.S., finding the top gifts with the best deals is crucial for keeping Christmas spending within their budgets. In 2014, 42 percent of shoppers planned on buying toys as gifts. In this blog, we will cover three major presents for children during the holiday season, including toys, electronics, and gift cards.

In our publisher spotlight series, we are taking a closer look at specific publishers on Profound and MarketResearch.com. Through Q&A discussions, we highlight each publisher's unique expertise and how they help businesses achieve growth and overcome challenges. Today, we’re interviewing GlobalData, a top research firm that provides actionable insights into the energy and healthcare markets. Learn more about them in the post below.

Managing business risks is a key priority for many companies large and small — especially during tumultuous economic times. One way to protect your business is to conduct ongoing market research. By using expert industry analysis, you can avoid costly mistakes, forecast potential market fluctuations, and create an environment for success.

Market research is also critical during “make or break” moments, such as a new product launch. With the right data on hand, you will be better equipped to evaluate risks and rewards and make decisions that will pay off over the long term.

The Holy Grail of customer experience is one that has been purposefully built by a company and creates energized advocates. Customer experience leaders consider what the customer experience should be, and then consciously create a complete experience to fulfill that expectation.

The travel industry is undergoing tremendous change. Social media is opening up new creative ways for travel companies to market to consumers and broaden their reach. At the same time, mobile shopping is skyrocketing, forcing industry players to adapt quickly in order to capture the sales of on-the-go shoppers.

Perhaps most importantly, the sharing economy is now a multibillion dollar market and one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry. Some analysts speculate that disruption is the “new normal” in the travel industry. To learn more about these shifts, read the blog post below.

There is a big migration underway from traditional voice to data. This is not to mean that voice goes away in favor of only non-voice services. What this really means is that traditional circuit-switched (bearer) is going away and thus traditional voice calling plans. One of the key technologies that will help drive this migration is WebRTC.

Competitive intelligence sounds like a useful concept in theory, but should it be considered an ongoing business priority? We asked a variety of executives, entrepreneurs, and consultants to weigh in on this question. Here, we’ve gathered their insights in a series of quotes to highlight a range of unique perspectives. Read on to learn more about the value of tracking your competitors and keeping a close watch on emerging market trends.

The market for pet products and services is expected to rebound in 2015 compared to last year and experience higher sales in different market segments. By 2019, the industry is expected to hit $91.72 billion in sales. To maximize potential opportunities, companies in the pet industry need to understand the current trends that have affected the market as well as the emerging trends that are expected to drive the market in the coming year. In this post, we'll share findings from the comprehensive report U.S. Pet Market Outlook, 2015-2016 by Packaged Facts and explain the major trends that will affect pet product sales throughout 2016.