Our company is looking for a supplier of VERY HIGH QUALITY marketing
lists. Specifically, we are looking for a detailed list of companies
within the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex with between 20 and 100 actual
employees. The lists will need mailing information, primary contact
or owner information, and telephone numbers at a minimum (email
addresses, websites and so on would be great).
Previously we purchased lists directly from D&B and InfoUSA and
determined that the employee counts were not accurate. Evidently the
employee count information gathered by these two companies is provided
by the employer and often this self reporting is inaccurate (some over
report, while others under report). We found several other companies
on Google and Yahoo that sold marketing lists; however, most (if not
all) of these vendors simply repackaged lists they purchased from D&B
or InfoUSA. The vendor we are looking for needs to use other means to
collect actual employee counts. For example, a good vendor for our
needs would likely get their employee count data from the Texas
Workforce Commission - if an employer is paying for unemployment
insurance for an employee it is likely they are really an employee.
We are looking for a niche vendor that can put together a rock solid,
very accurate list.
So just to be clear, we are looking for a niche vendor of VERY HIGH
QUALITY marketing lists. Please do not refer a reseller of D&B or
InfoUSA. We are willing to pay TOP dollar for the right list from the
right vendor. Additionally, we are looking for a long term
relationship with this vendor. |
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
10 Nov 2004 11:52 PST
alexmuse-ga,
Tough situation you've got here!
According to the State of Texas, there are 9,835 employers in the
Dallas Local Workforce Development Area (LWDA) who have from 20-99
employees.
It is possible to pull up the name/address/contact information for
each employer on a Texas government website. The records appear 300
at a time, and look like this:
=====
1 DOLLAR WORLD
3725 S CARRIER PKWY
GRAND PRAIRIE, TX 75052-6600
Dallas County
PHONE: (972)263-8555
DESCRIPTION: Retail Shops NAICS: 4521
SALES: $5 Million - $10 Million
# OF EMPLOYEES: 20 - 49
=====
HOWEVER....there's a catch!
The state of Texas is not allowed to make public any information
collected through its tax system, and this includes information on
employee size collected via unemployment insurance submissions and the
like.
So...the information from the above lists -- even though officially
provided by the state -- actually come from the same commercial
sources that you've already investigated, and have found wanting.
Given that the above information may be the best that's available, I
wanted to make you aware of it. But if you've already made use of the
major commercial sources, it doesn't look to me like there's anything
likely to improve on them, since the state-held data is kept
confidential.
Let me know your thoughts about this, and whether you see a way to
move forward at this point.
Thanks.
pafalafa-ga
|
Clarification of Question by
alexmuse-ga
on
10 Nov 2004 14:29 PST
Thank you for your comment regarding the State of Texas website. You
clearly articulated the problem and difficulty associated with our
request. The data you found on the State's website is from the D&B
list and is sorted by reported employee size range - D&B can provide
an "actual" employee count - but alas, it to is wanting in accuracy.
Your indication that is against State law for the State to sell
taxpayer data is interesting. Since the TWC is not levying a tax, but
collecting premiums for the unemployment insurance program I would
think they could sell that data. It is not tax related; however, it
is compulsory. I wonder what the statute actually says. Any ideas?
|
Clarification of Question by
alexmuse-ga
on
10 Nov 2004 14:31 PST
I have attempted to contact the TWC with regard to purchasing this
sort of data; however, I have not been able to get anyone to call me
back. Perhaps one of you Google Answers folks could bang on the State
of Texas to find the appropriate contact to purchase actual employee
data for companies here in the Metroplex. Just a thought.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
10 Nov 2004 15:44 PST
alexmuse-ga,
I've already been in touch with TWC regarding your question, and
here's the information they provided, along with contact info in case
you wish to follow-up with them:
=====
From: "Griffis, Clayton" <Clayton.Griffis@twc.state.tx.us>
Subject: RE: Company lists?
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2004 08:52:20 -0600
TWC cannot provide specific employer data from its tax files. Because of
this restriction our websites, including TRACER, use an employer database
produced by a company called InfoUSA, a private vendor. Unfortunately, our
agreement with InfoUSA does not include the download option that you desire.
In addition to TRACER, we include an InfoUSA-driven employer search database
as part of our SOCRATES website. Using this site, you can select by WDA
area and employer size category. The site will display your search results
in groups of 50, 100, 200, or 300. Though you can print these reports,
there is no file download option.
Link to SOCRATES: http://socrates.cdr.state.tx.us/
I do know that many public library's subscribe to various reference
databases, including one called ReferenceUSA. You may want to go to your
local library's website to see if they subscribe. If so, ReferenceUSA does
provide a download option for its employer database. However, often there
are restrictions on the maximum number downloaded at one time.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Sincerely,
Clayton Griffis
****************************
Clayton Griffis
Dissemination Unit Manager
Labor Market & Career Information Dept.
Texas Workforce Commission
Ph. (512) 491-4810
Fax (512) 491-4904
===============================
Good luck with this one...it's a sticky wicket.
One thought...TWC might be able to crank out a list of companies and
contact information that is based TWC-records of employee size (not
InfoUSA records), but that puts the size in ranges (e.g. 10-25
employees) rather than gives you a specific number.
That way, you get your list, and they protect the confidential
information in their files.
Like I said....Good Luck!
pafalafa-ga
|
Clarification of Question by
alexmuse-ga
on
11 Nov 2004 08:42 PST
I received a call from the TWC, Mark Hodges, and he indicated there
are several options in his voice mail - I suspect he will give me the
same information you provided. I am still looking for a private
company who can somehow get actual employee size...
|
