Apr
02
Competitor Analysis: A Continuous Process This is the second of a multi-part discussion. This article focuses on Competitor Analysis (a system of continuous feedback) gives businesses the winning edge over competitors - even in challenging economic times. In this segment, we will define the competitive environment and give some examples…
Apr
02
Competitor Research gives businesses the winning edge over competitors and profits - even in hard economic times. Competitor Research is a key element for business success. It provides clarity and guidance in developing sales opportunities, and also warnings to eliminate blind spots and avoid pitfalls. Over several discussions, we will…
Mar
05
Prepping for a B2B Mystery Shop Project (Take Nothing for Granted) The best way to deal with an emergency is to prevent one from taking place by preparing for all possible contingencies. In a B2B mystery shopping project the most vulnerable area is your team of mystery shoppers. Time invested…
Feb
19
B2B Mystery Shopping: What You Don’t See Can Kill You (Using Competitive Intelligence & B2B Mystery Shopping to Avoid Complacency and Uncover Blind Spots) Many companies use quantitative research methodologies to measure customer satisfaction. Others use qualitative research methodologies to develop product ideas. Big data is used to track customer…
Feb
05
For Mystery Shop Success: Don’t Shortcut the Preparation and Planning Stage (Preparing for the Unexpected from a Position of Strength) For all market research assignments, the time spent on project preparation will be the cornerstone that determines whether the project will be a failure or a success. The project description…
Feb
01
In Market Research, The Message is the Method: Present “Bad News” from Market Research & Live to Tell the Tale The objectives of the article are to: 1) Demonstrate the importance of the high-quality research (and its presentation) in persuading skeptical clients to accept research findings, and use them as…
Dec
12
Mystery Shopping: B2B Versus Retail Most research buyers associate mystery shopping with research on retail outlets (bank branches, restaurants, department stores, etc.) What is less commonly known is that mystery shopping can be an effective research tool within the B2B arena, delivering insights that no other research tool (like surveys,…
Nov
19
Competitive Intelligence: Avoiding Emotional Attachments (Just a year-end rant) Whether as a consultant or an employee, it is inevitable that you encounter clients or bosses who do not value your work or have regard for you. Being in their presence saps your energy (physical and psychological) and you are left…
Sep
23
Taken for a Money Ride How hidden costs & charges are used to fleece customers In many business sectors it is common practice to use hidden costs or charges to make customers pay more than what they think they are paying. In this brief article we will look at two…
Sep
04
Respect for Mystery Shoppers Despite being the ground troops in mystery shop projects, the mystery shoppers themselves are sometimes not treated with the respect they deserve. "Respect" in this case means a) ensuring that they are recruited based on ability and knowledge, b) preparing and informing mystery shoppers with regard…
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