Product & Distribution Weblinks

In-depth source of information on barcodes found on packaging and includes a search engine for locating information, products and companies.

Several resources are offered in the education section of this site including answers to basic questions, information on how to register material and a few articles.

This site is for anyone whose online content is being copied and posted to other sites without their permission. Such content stealing is a rampant problem but this site makes it easy to track down some (but certainly not all) of the content-jackers. Simply enter the web location of the original content and Copyscape will list sites that may be posting copyrighted material. The basic service is free but advanced service option require a fee.

Centralized body that handles patent issues for most European countries.

This association site as many resources for learning about trademarks including a listing of names and usage of over 3000 trademarks, terms glossary, information for selecting trademarks, fact sheets and more.

Extensive site with wide range of listings and resources covering all areas of intellectual property. From Franklin Pierce Law Center at the University of New Hampshire.

An often overlooked consideration when developing new products is the need to obtain a uniform product code or, more commonly, a bar code. Bar codes are essential to the packaging and distribution of nearly all products sold in the U.S. and this site offers details on how to obtain them. This industry group site has basic information about bar codes, including a flash presentation, as well as details on the industry group.

This excellent small business site offers many, many articles in all areas of marketing including this section devoted to product development.

Information covers product issues including food testing, cosmetics, over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

Number one source of information on U.S. patents, trademarks, and copyrights, including templates of registration forms, application procedures, laws concerning patents, trademarks, and copyrights, and a good search engine that searches for patents, trademarks, and copyrights.

Anyone involved in product design may find good information here regarding creating products that fit the needs and wants of consumers. This professional association site has good coverage of the usability concept, links to guidelines and methods, and conference information. The information is relevant to tangle product manufacturers as well as online marketers.

Site of international organization, whose agenda includes the promotion of protection of intellectual property throughout the world, offers a lot of features including extensive educational information devoted to understand intellectual property, an international patent search feature and much more.

Offers several articles on the importance of creating a strong brand.

Offers information related to brands and brand management and includes a glossary with good description of branding and marketing terms. Also offer yearly ranking of top global brands.

Among the multimedia presentation found on this TD Bank site is one that focues on product and service branding that contains good information and strategy ideas for building a successful brand (requires Flash Player plugin).

Extensive listing of brand names found in mostly computer and technology industries.

University research site that offers a number of interesting articles related to food marketing including issue related to consumer behavior, packaging and branding.

The real value here is not so much the website but in knowing that such a place exists. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan this is essentially a museum for over 110,000 food, beverage, household and personal care products that have been introduced in the last 50 years. Useful from both an historical perspective and for new product design. However, don't except to be permitted to visit unless you are a potential customer for their consulting services.

Site for consulting company has a number of good articles on branding and brand management, as well as other marketing issues.

Annual listing from Interbrand that includes the monetary value of a brand.

Find materials dealing with product recycling and other special environmental programs.

Find articles, warehouse equipment buyers guide and links to important industry associations.

Provides a number of areas related to international transportation and logistics.

The five year U.S. Economic Census provides assess to the Wholesale Trade Census report which includes detailed statistics on the US wholesale trade and on transportation and warehousing.

Offers searchable directory for locating wholesalers and distributors for many consumer and industrial industries.

Website focus on design issues in the retail industry and includes access to its monthly magazine.

This list, offered by Entrepreneur Magazine, provides details on franchise size, growth history and startup requirements.

Provides news, articles, research reports and other information related to franchise operations.

Site has several strong features including directory of hundreds of franchises, trade show schedules and articles.

Leading industry magazine for franchise industry that contains numerous articles and lists.

A very extensive source of information on franchising including locators, glossary of terms, and helpful sections for franchisors and franchisees. Also contains good international coverage.

SCORE, a non-profit supporter of small businesses, offers a good review of the differences between these two types of business relationships.

The US Federal Trade Commission offers several how-to articles including a Thinking About Buying a Franchise article.

This site offers a great deal of resources for anyone considering starting a franchise business. Includes franchise education, guide to buying a franchise, research reports, directory of franchise options and many other links and listings.

Website of the National Association of Convenience Stores has a number of free resources including a library of articles that contains a section with industry research, directories of companies/people in the industry, meeting schedules and more.

UK resource for retail and supply chain technologies that includes articles, community sections for specific technology interests, and listings of conferences and events.

This is mostly an online discussion forum covering the retail trade.

Yearly retail conference sponsored by the National Retail Federation.

Very useful website with many nice features including Stores Retail Buying Guide which contains links to suppliers of products and services used in retail operations, and listings of top US and Global retailers. Also offers several listings of top retailers including top global, top US and top growth.

Listing from Stores Magazine includes revenue numbers and total number of outlets.

Listing from Internet Retailer magazine though will need to spend to get deeper insight into each retailer.

Facts and figures from U.S. Census Bureau on retail sales including a separate report on e-commerce or online retail sales.

Document (in PDF format) from US Department of Transportation that offers a comprehensive listing of shipping terms.

Straight forward definitions of numerous terms related to purchasing and physical distribution.

Definitions for hundreds of logistics terms from Logistics Institute at Georgia Tech.