Record Growth for B2B International

UK-based specialist business-to-business market research agency B2B International has recorded its twelfth consecutive year of growth, reporting a 37.5% increase in annual turnover to £3.3m ($4.7m) in 2008, which it attributes to its expansion in the US and Chinese markets.

During the year, B2B conducted online surveys across Europe, North America, and 12 Asian countries. In addition, it added Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and Italian to its suite of online focus group languages; and online recruitment and in-depth interviewing was introduced in China.

Renewable energy and environmental research now make up around 20% of revenue, and the firm expects growth in this area to continue.

Last May, the firm opened an office in New York. In January, it announced it had taken on additional floorspace for its Manchester Head Office, and said it will be moving its China office to larger premises in the spring.

Managing Director Nick Hague remains cautiously optimistic about growth for 2009: 'It would be unrealistic to think that we would remain completely unaffected by this economic downturn. However, by continuing to listen to the needs of our clients and respondents alike, we are extremely optimistic we will come through the recession and be well placed for impressive growth in the future.'

On a separate note, the firm has been chosen to take part in a new TV series called Business Excellence, which will launch at the end of the month. Hague and Director Carol-Ann Morgan will appear in the first programme called 'Modern Day Marketing', which will look at how important marketing and market research are in the current business climate. The programme can be viewed on the Information TV channel Sky 166 and BBC/ITV FreeSat Channel 406 next Monday 23 March at 9pm.

Web site: www.b2binternational.com .