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Question #70878 (2010-03-09) 

  Hi there. I am trying to calculate a target market
calculation for a business called Pitch Outdoor Advertising
Inc. and I need a few numbers. Below I had to put that I was
in the Office Technology program, however I am actually in
the Business Administration program. How many businesses are
there in Medicine Hat and Redcliff? How many businesses are
there in Medicine Hat and Redcliff that make revenues of
less than $200 000 a year? What are the populations of
Medicine Hat and Redcliff? Thank you! [name deleted]

Answer(s):

Hello and thank you for using the "Ask A Question" service.

You are asking the following questions: - How many businesses are there in each of those two municipalities? - How many of those businesses have revenue of less than $200,000? - What are the populations of Medicine Hat and Redcliff, Alberta, Canada?

MEDICINE HAT

1. According to the City of Medicine Hat's Business Licensing department, "no person may carry out a business within the city limits of Medicine Hat without a valid business license" and that the license must be "renewed each year" ( http://www.city.medicine-hat.ab.ca/City%20Government/Departments/Planning,%20Building%20and%20Development/Business%20Licensing.asp). According to statistical data, which is provided online by the city, there were 528 licenses issued in 2009 (p. 6; http://www.city.medicine-hat.ab.ca/City%20Government/Departments/Business%20Support%20Office/Statistical%20Information%20Package.pdf). For more information on business licensing and contact information for that city department, please go to: http://www.city.medicine-hat.ab.ca/City%20Government/Departments/Planning,%20Building%20and%20Development/Business%20Licensing.asp.

2. We were unable to find any one single source that could inform us about how many of those businesses earned less than $200,000. We can suggest that you review pages 459-469 in the "Alberta Business-to-Business Sales and marketing Directory, 2009-2010 Edition" located in the Vera Bracken Library (Reference Collection; Call #: HF 5072 A4 A63 2009/10). This directory will provide estimates sales/output of Medicine Hat businesses, however, the lowest estimated value is "$500,000 or less", not $200,000. It should also be noted that private businesses are not obligated to report any financial data to the general public.

3. You can locate the most recent population of Medicine Hat at the city's Web site( http://www.medicinehat.ca/Visitors/About%20Medicine%20Hat/Population.asp).

REDCLIFF

1. There does not appear to be any information related to the number of business licenses issued by that municipality on their Web site. We suggest that you contact the municipality; their contact information can be found at: http://town.redcliff.ab.ca/page2main-contacts.htm

2. We were unable to find any one single source that could inform us about how many of those businesses earned less than $200,000. We can suggest that you review pages 514-515 in the aforementioned "Alberta Business-to-Business Sales and marketing Directory, 2009-2010 Edition."

3. You can find the most recent statistical population of Redcliff on the town's Web site at: http://town.redcliff.ab.ca/page2main-about.htm

You could contact the Medicine Hat and District Chamber of Commerce ( http://www.medicinehatchamber.com/contact.htm) to see if they have any potential insights into the number of businesses that have revenue of less than $200,000. You can look up community profiles for Medicine Hat and Redcliff at either: Statistics Canada ( http://www.statcan.gc.ca) or AlbertaFirst.com ( http://www.albertafirst.com) if you do not use their respective municipal Web sites.

For more information on gathering statistical data, please download our "Collecting Statistical Data" hot-to guide at: http://www.mhc.ab.ca/library/howtoguides/collecting_statistical_data_08.pdf

Thank you again for using the "Ask A Question" service. If you need more help, please use the service again or see the Information Desk in the Medicine Hat College Library. Alternately you can contact us by: - Phone: (403) 529-3867; Toll Free: 1 (866) 282-8394 (Ext. 3867) - Instant Messenger: http://www.mhc.ab.ca/library/im/ - Text Message (403-866-5872)