Chain Store Guide has launched a new cross-industry database web site that enables uses to access the company's database to create customized databases for their sales leads, targeted campaigns, research and analysis. By logging on to www.csg.DataIntel.com, users can utilize quite a bit of functionality--they can query Chain Store Guide data from the desktop and they can target their research by industry or key personnel. They can also create custom mailing lists and download records into an Excel spreadsheet.

Customers previously were able to only purchase sales leads and mailing lists on an as-needed basis. So the introduction of the CSG Data Intel database, which contains 189,000 personnel names with titles across all retain channels, will enable customers to more easily reap the benefits from the data about restaurants and retailers.

No registration is necessary to begin using the database. Users can sort their information based on a variety of criteria, such as industry, business type, geography, size, product lines and personnel lines. Data is also comprised of headquarters, regional and divisional offices, distribution centers and wholesalers. Pricing works like this: a free online price quote is presented with each query. Users can purchase and export data on a per-record basis, paying only for records that meet their search requirements with a $300 minimum purchase.

If you make your information more usable, people are going to use it. Chain Store Guide responded to feedback from customers who said they wanted easier access to their data and the CSG Data Intel database was born. In today's Internet world, customers want their information whenever and wherever. They feel there should be no boundaries around their information access. And there don't have to be. At first glance, it looks like Chain Store Guide has launched a product that will yield great success in both the short-term as customers try it out, and the long-term, as a easily accessible, reliable information service. This is definitely a smart product launch. Look for Chain Store Guide and other data providers to use this as a model for improving the functionality and usability of other databases.

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