Alliance to Send Disabled Mystery Shoppers

GfK Mystery Shopping and disability consulting firm Butler New Media this week announced a joint venture giving GfK clients access to Butler's ABILITY Mystery Shopping Panel. The result is claimed to be 'America's first national panel for individuals with disabilities'.

GfK will send a variety of disabled 'undercover shoppers', recruited using Butler's panel, into stores across the US to assess customer service and sales personnel performance.

Don Simons, MD of GfK Mystery Shopping, says the combination of the unique ABILITY panel and GfK's mystery shopping and retail expertise will give vlients 'an inside look at the specific needs of Americans with disabilities. With an estimated $220 billion in collective spending power, this community represents a critical segment for corporate America.'

Cornelius Butler, co-founder of Butler New Media LLC, comments: 'Although most businesses try to treat individuals with disabilities with respect and dignity, many, unfortunately, get it wrong... Addressing the needs of individuals with disabilities should no longer be viewed as an obligation but a smart business decision as this group represents more than 50 million Americans. This collaboration also creates opportunities for individuals with disabilities nationwide to be part of the movement to improve customer service overall.'

Butler New Media has offices in both Conyers and Bainbridge, Georgia USA, and is online at www.abilitypanel.com . GfK Mystery Shopping is a division of GfK Custom Research, North America, headquartered in New York and on the web at www.gfkamerica.com/mysteryshopping .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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