New Research Firm to Focus on... New Businesses

In the UK, market research industry veteran Chris Brookes has set up a new consultancy, specialising in conducting research for start-up businesses.

During her twenty-year research career, Brookes has worked both agency side at Millward Brown, ORC International and Ipsos-MORI; and clientside at Which?, Parcelforce and Royal Mail.

Her new agency, Start-up Research, offers a full range of services to new organisations including product or service feasibility and demand analysis; idea refinement; and pricing research. The company also conducts competitor analysis and provides retail location selection advice.

In addition, the agency will support growth at any stage of an organisational life cycle, including assisting in the development of customer satisfaction, loyalty and new products.

'The rate of business start-ups usually drops when there's a recession, but there's increasing evidence that the same thing isn't happening this time round,' Brookes explains. 'What's more, although it's regarded as 'best practice' for entrepreneurs to carry out market research as part of a business plan, there's no-one actually specialising in tailored, well-priced research for start-ups. That's where Start-up Research comes in.'

Web site: www.start-up-research.co.uk .