Market Research
The starting point for many of our projects is to review market data to understand the market drivers and existing and/or prospective customer attitudes relating to the market, the product or services offered and competitor offerings. We see research as being the DNA of robust marketing. Without good research you cannot understand markets and needs, identify and calculate risk, or market opportunities. So good research enables us to form a view as to what is going on in your market place and how these circumstances may be impacting current and future market opportunities. From this basis we can then make practical recommendations in relation to resolving issues and/or capitalising on those opportunities.
We are more than happy to work with existing data where clients have already collected such information, but on many occasions we find that useful, up-to-date and relevant data does not yet exist.
Under these circumstances, because the research is not an end in itself, but simply a tool we need to do the work required, we provide the option of high quality research at highly competitive prices all produced in house. We can provide:
To find out more about what we can offer in relation to these main options or find out which is a priority for you select the appropriate topic heading above.
To discuss your general research needs with us click here.
Quantitative Research
We began providing clients with quantitative research back in 1990 when we found that third party research specialists did a valuable job, but tended to focus only on reporting the data and providing superficial analysis and few further recommendations for action.
We often felt this lack of thorough analysis more keenly than our clients as it would be us that would need to use the findings to solve the marketing problems or capitalise on the market opportunities. We would then need to go back to the raw data to re-examine the results and find the insights that our clients would be anticipating.
It was then that one of our clients suggested that we organise the fieldwork and do the analysis ourselves.
Since this time we have provided clients with quantitative research, usually as a part of a larger project, though in some cases as an end in itself.
Whatever the nature of the requirement, we always ensure that our research projects go beyond simply reporting the findings, to also provide in-depth analysis and clearly thought out and rationalised recommendations for further action.
We can provide these results from:
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Self completion questionnaires (on or offline)
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Phone surveys
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Street surveys
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Hall tests
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Panel work for tracking purposes
Our approach is straight-forward and based on expertise in questionnaire design, fieldwork, data entry and table production, and, of course, detailed results analysis.
If you would like to find out about how we can provide you with quantitative research that delivers implementable, practical marketing and business development recommendations click here.
Qualitative Research
Qualitative research can be provided in conjunction with a quantitative project or on its own depending on your requirements.
The purpose of the qualitative research process is to answer the soft, open ended questions that are so difficult to get meaningful answers to using a quantitative methodology.
We have experience of recruiting and moderating consumer focus groups in formal research viewing facilities, or in less structured venues, and conducting in-depth interviews on a one-to-one basis at respondent’s offices, or over the phone, the latter approach being well suited to business to business research projects.
We provide detailed debrief workshops to clients using illustrative verbatim and, normally, provide full transcripts of the interviews and group discussions for further analysis and future referral. But critically our workshops are about actioning the research project you have invested in.
Because of our marketing background, we are committed to helping you apply your research findings to aid marketing and business development. We never see research as an abstruse academic study, but a platform and catalyst for further action. As with our quantitative research service, we work to produce not merely reports, but an in-depth review of the feedback, with recommendations and practical, actionable outcomes derived from our interpretation of the evidence.
We provide qualitative studies for:
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Investor relations projects
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Brand development
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New product development and re-development options
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Product/service management
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Customer satisfaction surveys
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Client/customer relationship management
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Marketing planning and strategy purposes
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Marketing communications planning
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Product positioning
If you would like to find out more about our qualitative research options and how we could work with you, click here.
Market Audit Data
Understanding the market might require the commissioning of specific research, but it’s also possible that a better understanding of the situations and issues that an organisation is facing can be effectively achieved by conducting a study of desk data.
A good marketing audit might focus on one or more of the following;
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Reviewing competitive data
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Looking at market segment development
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Searching and evaluating existing desk data on markets, segments or products
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Examining market drivers
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Conducting a PESTEL (political, economical, sociological, technological, environmental and legal) review in relation to the products/services, marketing issues or opportunities
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Reviewing the internal issues and data such as product sales figures over time, customer satisfaction survey data, sales data, and marketing capability reviews
The skill here is knowing where to look and understanding what information is pertinent and what can be ignored. Without understanding these key issues, undertaking an audit can be expensive, time consuming and ineffective.
We would be happy to discuss the suitability of a marketing audit project with you and scope out your specific needs. Find out more by clicking here.
