AMD Launches ECHO Chinese Consumer Community

Asia Market Development (AMD) has partnered with online community specialist Passenger to launch a research-based community called ECHO, comprising 4,000 consumers across China.

AMD was set up last year by former Nielsen colleagues Jeff Stewart and Christophe Cazes to provide alternative research approaches to the larger global agencies, which they say offer 'inflexible solutions' not designed for the Asian market. Earlier this year, AMD and Passenger partnered with the promise of 'unique, innovative and game-changing solutions' for research in mainland China and Southeast Asia.

ECHO is a syndicated digital community platform which combines Passenger's technology with AMD's China Pulse national and industry analysis. The firms says it is suitable for quant and qual, consumer tracking and in-depth research, and will allow clients to monitor vertical market sectors such as skincare, automotive, snacks, beverages, nutritional supplements, and digital technology.

Stewart, who is MD of AMD, comments: 'Consumer consumption in China drives its overall growth and now it's more important than ever to monitor consumer confidence closely. ECHO enables us to fulfil all our client's needs in understanding the overall national trends, while also exploring industry and category specific business issues, on demand.'

Web sites: www.amdresearch.com and www.thinkpassenger.com .