Follow DRNO on...
While its globetrotting MDs deliver ESOMAR training in Prague, Dublin and Venice, US agency QualiData Research Inc. has announced the appointment of two new managers to its San Francisco office, as well as two new staff in New York. More
After 18 months of restructuring and talent search in Australia, Millward Brown's Asia Pacific CEO Andreas Sperling has announced the completion of its new line-up, highlighting four recent senior appointments. According to Sperling, the restructure answers clients' requests for a 'mould-breaking' agency. More
US advertising agency Ten United has formed a Behavioral Insights Group and appointed researcher David Grzelak to lead it as Director of Ethnography. More
US technology and financial research specialist Doxus has appointed Erin Leedy and Dan Bruner as Senior Researchers to its Account Services group, and Vinay Dowray and Rich Jones as Researcher/Analysts to the Marketing Sciences group. More
New York-based ad agency R/GA has appointed Judy Oppenheim as Director of Research, and Barbara Canning Brown as Director of Analytics/CRM. Both are newly created positions in the agency's Strategy, Planning & Integration department. More
This morning's main session at ESOMAR Congress gave delegates an update on major companies' attempts to put customers' views and needs at the heart of their business. Some like it hot - watching consumers in their kitchens - while others take a cool look at customer loyalty stats. DRNO News Editor Tessa Russell reports live from Cannes. More
Ipsos Insight in the US has appointed Catherine LoPresti, formerly of Saatchi & Saatchi, as Qualitative Research Consultant at the company's Consumer Products division. She brings more than 20 years' experience of conducting qualitative research for consumer goods companies. More
The company at the heart of the machine is trying harder to get into the heads of its users. In the latest MRWho, MrWeb's Michael Kenyon talked to Ken Anderson, Manager of People and Practice Research at Intel and one of the company's small but growing band of ethnographers. More
Ethnographer and MR columnist Hy Mariampolski and his co-MD Sharon Wolf, of QualiData Research Inc., are featured in a book of 'Unusual Occupations' just published in the US. A taxidermist and an expert in dinosaur dung also feature. More
Last week's BIG Conference on the Welsh border once again provided b2b researchers from the UK and abroad with a memorable couple of days, from papers on the ethnography of financial advisers and business research as quantum physics, to tennis ankle deep in water. More
The UK's eq group plc, parent of MR firms Quaestor and Buckingham Research, has reported on 'a difficult year'. Preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2006 show turnover down 8% to £10.50m and adjusted operating profit down 21% to £1.30m. More
San Francisco-based KDA Research has launched Revelation – an online qual application combining the rich media data collection capabilities of blogs with user-friendly analysis tools. More
European agency SKOPOS Market Insight has seen its turnover increase by 72% in the first half of 2007. The company says an extended high-end analysis offer, including the launch of 'Ultra-Analysis' and a new Kwal(TM) department, has contributed. More
The 60th ESOMAR Congress has kicked off at the Intercontinental Hotel in Berlin, offering an astonishing variety of fare including a children's choir, researchers both navel- and future-gazing, a very tall and celebrated film director, and three Scottish ladies on MR's contribution to the 'joy' of 'doing it with the lights on'. More
Research International has strengthened its US Board of Directors with the appointment of Marla Commons, SVP and Regional North American Qualitative Director. More
In the UK, YouGov has appointed Andy Barker as Head of Qualitative, to work with sector heads to develop an integrated consulting offer for clients. More
Ipsos MORI has appointed Johanna Shapira as Head of Ethnographic Research at its UK-based Qualitative Hothouse. More
US-based industry body the Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA) has formed an Ethnography Special Interest Group (SIG) for its members to share their expertise and ideas. More
Advertising, marketing and comms agency Omnicom has formed a consultancy, led by a dozen female execs, to help clients make connections with women – whether as consumers, customers, employees or other stakeholders. More
GfK has acquired US brand innovation consultancy Arbor Strategy Group (ASG) to complement new product development services for its Custom Research North America subsidiary. More
With political polls currently ubiquitous in the US media, the Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA) has formed a Political Special Interest Group (SIG). More
US custom research firm MRSI (Marketing Research Services Inc) has introduced a suite of shopper insights research services, designed to help consumer product manufacturers and retailers connect with shoppers throughout the purchase process. More
Former Synovate Hungary Researcher Brúnó Bitter has set up a market research and brand consultancy called Next Wave Research, which uses a technique he dubs 'visual ethnography' to view consumers' actual in-store behaviour. More
Medical fieldwork agency Healthcare Landscape has rolled out its patient and caregiver panel to agencies in the US. More
In the US, The Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA) has formed a 'Creativity and Innovation' Special Interest Group (SIG), as a forum for members to exchange information and knowledge on qual practices and techniques. More
Researchers need to develop listening and idea generating skills, according to Procter & Gamble's senior researcher Kim Dedeker, who was speaking at yesterday's Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) workshop 'Transform Your Research By Listening'. More
Market research online community specialists PluggedIN have launched a proprietary platform for use by MR and consulting firms looking to launch private online communities for their clients. More
UK-based agency 2CV, part of Cello Group, has announced the opening of an office in San Francisco. The office is its first in North America and the beginning of an international expansion plan. More
Not everything at 'Research 2009' was planned and finalised before this rather irritating downturn came along, it seems (see the keynote write-up). The Conference dared to utter the other R word this afternoon, with a look at possible winners and losers. More
In the afternoon, Nick Southgate from ad agency Grey London introduced a session on 'Research and Advertising Media in the 21st Century', including papers on the impact of in-game advertising, and a comparison of consumer engagement for ads on sites such as YouTube and those on TV. More
Appropriately, given reports today* that the UK government is to replace P&G as the country's largest advertiser, and their research spend is also up, public sector clients are among the few in evidence at the MRS Conference. Hence a topical session on communicating with - and getting the truth from - the public. More
Research 2009, the MRS' flagship event in London, is billed by its organisers as the 'Glastonbury of the market research world'. But will it live long in the memory or sink deep in the mud? Scientist and presenter Prof Robert Winston set the ball rolling today, watched by DRNO News Editor Mel Crowther. More
The afternoon's online research session explored a number of areas around the theme, generally running over familiar ground. The exception was a paper on the use of ethnography to create connections between emerging trends in both the real and online worlds. More
Given a choice of good venues for their Tuesday evening eating and drinking, delegates could be forgiven for missing the start the next morning (we did). Could the mid-morning panel session on 'Opportunities and Threats' for MR wake them up with its promise of being 'live, revealing and controversial'? More
In Which our special correspondent Phyllis Vangelder reports on a session about the need for researchers to tell stories (but not make them up, of course); an old-fashioned medium makes a timely reappearance and wins a prize; and some general remarks are made on 'Research 2009'. More
'An anthropologist, a zoologist and an economist all went to the UK Research Society's annual conference...' It's not the beginning of a joke, but the basis for a fascinating session on Wednesday watched by MrWeb's special correspondent Phyllis Vangelder. More
Research suppliers may see declines in 2009 revenue as more clients prepare to take a proportion of their online research in-house, predicts an industry survey conducted earlier in the year. More
In the UK, Leeds-based agency Quaestor has launched a toolkit to enable clients to interact more directly with their audiences. More
In Dubai, market research consultant Dipen Mehta has launched Unboxed Consulting, to provide specialised research services for clients in the region. More
FocusVision, which provides online video transmission and analysis for qualitative market research, has launched a service to enable its clients to view respondents live as they participate in ethnography, in-home interviews, and 'shop-along' studies. More
US qual tools provider Revelation has reported a 240% year-on-year growth in sales in 2009. The firm says the increase was driven by demand for both its online qual research platform and online field support services. More
In the second day's fast-paced 'Ideas Rush' session, three agency side researchers and a client gave their personal take on the issues currently facing the MR industry. DRNO's News Editor Mel Crowther watched on. More
In the US, user experience firm AnswerLab has appointed former Nielsen Director Kate Taplin as Director of Research. More
Marcoms giant Ogilvy & Mather China has appointed Dr Michael Griffiths for the newly created role of Director of Ethnography in its consumer insights and trends unit Discovery. More
In India, market research and consumer insight firm Dexterity has launched iPinion; a new app which enables panelists to participate in surveys, in-store and ethnography studies, and mystery shopps from their iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices. More
Online specialist Michalis Michael has opened DigitalMR, an agency focusing on web-based market research, with headquarters in London, UK and Nicosia, Cyprus. More
Australian market research consultancy Fiftyfive5 has appointed semiotics specialist Dr Rob Engels as a Qualitative Consultant, to help shape the firm's qual offer using semiotics, cultural trends and ethnography. More
In the UK, Chime company Opinion Leader has hired Dominic Scott-Malden as Research Director, to boost its expertise in advertising research. Catherine Plews also joins the firm as Senior Research Executive. More
Online and mobile qual research software provider Revelation has released the official version of its 'Revelation Mobile' solution, which allows consumers to capture and record their behavior in real-time. More
In Australia, Clarity Strategic Research has appointed qual-quant specialist Sam Blaxland as a Director, focusing on the B2B, telecoms, fmcg, finance and retail sectors. More
In Australia, global brand and communications research agency Hall & Partners | Open Mind has appointed former TNS exec Adrianto Reksodipoetro as Associate Director, focusing on developing the agency's ethnography and online qual research capabilities. More
Canada-based mobile survey software firm Techneos has released a new edition of its SODA (Survey On Demand Application) solution, for iPhone and iPod Touch platforms. More
In the US, Arbitron's former President & CEO Michael Skarzynski has returned to the market research industry as a member of the iPinion Advisory Board of consumer insight firm Dexterity. More
Consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide has appointed nine new recruits for its UK and US operations, since the start of the year. More
MR outsourcing firm Ugam Research Solutions has partnered with mobile survey technology provider Techneos, to deliver access to new audiences and behavioural data through mobile phones. More
iPinion, the smartphone survey solutions provider set up last year by market research firm Dexterity, has released a new platform for Android users. More
San Diego-based data collection, analysis and ethnography firm Luth Research has announced a 50% increase in revenues in 2010 and, in the same period, an additional 47 full time staff. More
In New York, WPP-owned youth marketing agency Geppetto Group has launched G-Nome Research, a full service quant division which the firm claims offers a 'different approach to decoding the consumer opportunity'. More
Another year, another venue for the MRS Conference: this time The Grange St Paul's Hotel, London. Features Editor Teresa Lynch gives you a rapid roundup of everything you need to know (honest) about the first morning of Research 2011. More
US-based full-service marketing consultancy Egg Strategy has introduced a tool offering what it calls 'digital ethnography' - analysing real-time consumer behaviour, emotions and opinion from data gathered from their iPhones and Android devices. More
In the UK, media research agency Other Lines of Enquiry has announced the launch of otherlines.tv, a division dedicated to television research - and appointed sector specialist Penny Browell (nee Rudd) to head it up. More
US-based ethnography specialist Luth Research has partnered with biomedical engineering firm Exmovere, to understand respondents' emotions when they participate in research studies. More
Pursuing her 'passion for innovation research', former TNS Regional Head Lee Ryan has moved from Singapore to join Melbourne-based Raspberry Innovation Research + Strategy. More
US-based ethnography specialist Luth Research has introduced ZQ Digital Tribe - an online tool used to track the 'digital lives' of a panel of 200 individuals over a period of up to three months. More
In the US, six shopper research specialists have formed an alliance to offer marketers an integrated resource for shopper insights. The new organization will be called Mindtap Insight Network. More
Asian agency Majestic MRSS has launched 'Ethnostream' - a tool combining ethnography with video-streaming technology - in India and 13 other countries. More
GfK has announced a global partnership with online and mobile research software provider Revelation, to power and roll out an online qual research solution it calls GfK SocioLog.dx. More
US mobile survey software provider iPinion has launched a passive data collection platform capturing up to twenty-four data types - including web site visits and camera use - from devices. Relevant surveys are then triggered automatically based on the consumer's behavior. More
... and 'the Oompa Loompa of Ethnography'? Features Editor Teresa Lynch on a strange and wonderful Tuesday afternoon at the MRS Conference in London. More
At this year's MRS Conference, a final session and a Keynote speaker left Features Editor Teresa Lynch scratching her head and (therefore?) thinking of L'Oreal. More
US-based user experience firm AnswerLab has opened of an office in New York, from which it will serve clients on the East Coast. More
UK-based market research agency Firefish has reported a 23% increase in turnover to £7.7m for the past 12 months, and has appointed former Hall & Partners exec Majbritt Rijs as Head of Quantitative. More
GfK has acquired usability testing specialist User Centric Inc, to enable it to offer a global user experience (UX) service with more than 150 consultants worldwide. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Maktoob Research founder Tamara Deprez has left her most recent role at Saliance Research after just nine months, to join Dubai-based agency POINT Consulting as Managing Partner. The firm has also hired Henry Beales as Business Solutions Consultant. More
US-based Gongos Research is making two of its proprietary research platforms, iCommunities and ConsumerView Online Qualitative, available for licensed use by other research firms. More
Nielsen-funded independent think tank the Council for Research Excellence (CRE) has initiated a study to determine how social media impacts television viewing. More
Online insight community specialist Tuned In has moved into larger office space at its premises in Camden Town, London, to house a number of new staff including former FreshMinds director Richie Jones and Circus strategist Natasha Wallace. More
UK agency Ci Research has been renamed Mustard Research as part of an overhaul of its brand identity. More
Online insight community specialist Tuned In has appointed Hall & Partners founder Mike Hall as a non-executive member of its Board. More
Marcoms network Publicis Groupe has acquired Mumbai-based business and marketing consulting firm MarketGate, which offers market research services through its MarketGate Dimensions subsidiary. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Toronto, Canada-based marketing research firm Fresh Squeezed Ideas has appointed former Cint Director Lindsay Veling as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. More
UK-based Engage Research has launched an omnibus-style ethnographic study called 'ethnobus', drawing on a range of sources from blogs to cupboard audits. More
Is it possible to talk about the mass of new skills and techniques bombarding the profession without feeling depressed about the traditional skills of the market researcher? Most definitely, says MrWeb co-founder Nick Thomas, continuing our celebration of 100,000 MR job ads. More
Turkish online research and data collection specialist HoraCore has signed a deal to offer DigitalMR's eCommunities platform and social media research services to clients across its home country. More
GfK has rolled out its Market Opportunity and Innovation (MOI) service in the UK, with a team led by the firm's former Director of Insight Richard Matthews. More
Ipsos Healthcare has given Jackie Ilacqua the additional role of Global Head of Syndicated Services, alongside her existing position as President of Global Oncology. More
Online insight community specialist Tuned In has opened an office in New York City, where it has relocated AD Matthew Ayers and Research Manager Katie O'Driscoll. More
Ipsos Healthcare has announced the launch of SEES, a range of disease-specific syndicated ethnographic studies, examining patients' experience and views. Initially available in the UK, France, Italy, Spain and the USA, the firm says the studies will 'bring to life the day-to-day challenges of living with a chronic disease'. More
Lakewood, CO-based qualitative and sensory testing specialist Ingather Research has opened new facilities in downtown Denver. More
Research outsourcing and panels company Pulse Group has inked a deal with Chicago-based 'Over the Shoulder', to bring the latter's smartphone-based consumer insight tool to the Asia Pacific region. More
London-based online research specialist DigitalMR is making its eCommunity private online communities platform available to marketing and market research agencies in selected countries. More
Vipul Chokshi, a former director of rdsi-owned Field Initiatives (FI), has left the company after thirteen years, to set up his own qualitative and quantitative agency called Ardent Fieldwork. More
In Shanghai, TNS has appointed former Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) exec Dr Michael Griffiths as Qualitative Research Director and Global Expert in Ethnography and Culture. More
Strategic qual consultancy The Sound Research has appointed Kelli Johnson, formerly VP, Strategy Director at Leo Burnett, as Vice President and Head of its Chicago Operations. More
Anna Noonan, formerly Qualitative Field Manager at ICM Direct, has launched her own face-to-face field agency called Strawberry Field, named after the London suburb where she lives. More
Australian firm QSR International has combined its flagship qual research software NVivo with SurveyMonkey's DIY research tool, which it says will make it easier for individuals to collect, organize, understand and report on open-ended survey responses. More
In the UK, Mathew Francis has returned to health and wellness market researcher Zaicom Research Plus (ZRP) as Research Director, while David Williams has joined as Business Development Director of parent company Zaicom International. More
The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) has published its Annual League Table ranking the 81 provider companies with the largest UK turnover. Like-for-like growth of 0.12% is seen as a sign of general recovery - but which firm grew 63% and which shrank by a third? More
Online community and survey technology provider Toluna has added geo-fencing capabilities to its TolunaMobile Diary app, enabling users to target respondents based on their location. More
Ben Werzinger, the co-founder of online research community specialist PluggedIN, has launched a new full-service research firm called MoveMR, which will specialize in mobile qualitative approaches including digital focus groups, mobile interviews and mobile ethnography. More
'Socially intelligent' researcher Face, part of the Cello Group, has recruited two senior execs from M&C Saatchi brand agency Clear: James Hirst, as London-based Global Business Development Director, and Sofia Mavros, based in Hong Kong in the role of Research Director of the Asia team. More
Latin American fieldwork specialist Brasil Global Research has rebranded as Kampo Brasil Research. More
In Sydney, Australia, ethnography and qual specialist Charlie Cochrane has set up a new research consultancy called Jump the Fence, which he says will 'challenge the notion' that consumer psychology determines brand and buying motivation. More
Brighton, UK-based global insight consultancy Space Doctors has appointed former Added Value semiotics specialist Cato Hunt to lead its London office. The firm has also announced plans to establish teams in Asia Pacific and the Americas. More
Manchester, UK-based Mustard Research has promoted Gareth Hodgson to the position of Director, with responsibility for its 'people and personal development' strategy. The firm has also hired Laura Holloway as Senior Research Executive, and Amy Harrod as Research Executive. More
Texas-based ad agency Sanders\Wingo has launched 'The Knowledge Group', a new division combining strategic planning with media and insights. With 23 staff in four US cities, the unit will be led by SVP Dee Anne Heath. More
Research technology and services group FocusVision has acquired Melbourne, Australia-based Insight Marketing Systems, creator of the Research Reporter SaaS platform. The buy is FocusVision's third in the last 12 months, as it seeks to round out its family of research offerings. More
In the US, research and technology provider FocusVision has rolled out a new Discussion Engine for its Revelation qualitative mobile and web platform, which the firm says brings consumer experiences to life using the engagement of a social media app. More
In the UK, full service agency Mustard has made four new appointments, and promoted Bethan Turner to Research Manager and Elizabeth Brierley to Senior Research Executive. More
Ipsos Healthcare has teamed up with HoneyB Health, a company spun out of Arizona State University (ASU), to develop new insights across the connected health device market. More
In the US, consumer technology-driven market research firm Touchstone Research has launched a new division called Touchstone VR, to provide MR services to the virtual reality and augmented reality (VR/AR) industries. More
US-based research technology and services group FocusVision has appointed Decipher US co-founder Jamin Brazil as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Eric Grosgogeat who has stepped down to 'pursue other opportunities' after eight years in the role. More
Manchester, UK-based full service agency Mustard has appointed Laura Lyon from BBC Worldwide, Irina Dimitriade from DJS Research, and Hannah Barnsley from NHS England, while promoting Anthony Shephard to Associate Director, and Jack Melton Bradley to Research Manager. More
Online qual software and services provider Dub has appointed Simona Kats as Senior Research Consultant in the US, and Gareth Mellor as Marketing Manager in the UK. More
In the UK, Mustard Research has launched the 'Popcorn Innovation Process', a 3-stage approach to new product development work in consumer and B2B markets. More
Research technology and services group FocusVision has appointed Zlatko Vucetic as Chief Commercial Officer of the EMEA and APAC regions; while promoting Oliver Brown to the role of Director of Client Services, EMEA. More
In the UK, digital marcoms group Next Fifteen Communications has acquired an 85% stake in London-based brand and communication specialist HPI Research through its data and insights subsidiary Morar. The deal will be met with an initial consideration of just under £1.3m. More
Research technology and services group FocusVision has launched a focus group video system called FV360 Live, which uses 360 degree cameras to place observers in the middle of the conversation. More
In the US, qualitative researcher Frank Hines has launched a new company called RealLife Research, which will offer services built around video-centric mobile ethnography methods. More
M&C Saatchi's qual/quant research agency The Source has opened a first Australian office, in Melbourne, to be led by former London MD Matt Swinson. More
Nashville, Tennessee-based MR technology and services firm 20|20 Research has launched a digital ethnography tool called Ethno360, promising researchers a full picture of consumers and their actions. More
UK-based, full-service agency Mustard has launched a Smartphone app called Pickles, to provide instant consumer feedback for ad and campaign feedback, understanding consumer behaviour, product and creative testing, CX and brand research, and mystery shopping studies. More
Biopharmaceutical product strategy consultancy Prescient Healthcare Group has appointed Carolyn Dodd, Pip Keys and Jim Goldenberg to lead its Stakeholder Insights business. More
UK-based consumer insight agency Join the Dots has launched a dedicated qualitative research unit under the new brand name of Spirit. More
US-based 20|20 Research has announced an upgrade to the QualBoard digital data collection platform, one of its flagship solutions. More
In London, Network Research has hired Jane Buswell for the newly created role of Head of Qualitative. More
In the UK, video data mining specialist LivingLens has launched a solution called CaptureMe, which offers a mobile app to capture video and images from individuals taking part in MR projects, combined with a cloud-based app to manage tasks and participants. More
Cello-owned strategic brand consultancy The Value Engineers is relocating its Beaconsfield, UK office to central London, while its New York office is moving to Times Square, joining sister firms in the Cello group's US hub office. Four appointments have also been announced. More
Online MR and technology company Dub has changed its name to Further, and rebranded its community platform IdeaStream as Together. The firm says this reflects changing market conditions and changing demands from its client base. More
Online community specialist C Space has promoted Kathryn Blanshard to Managing Director UK, starting on 1st April. The position was formerly held jointly by Phil Burgess and Felix Koch, who have both moved into global leadership roles. More
Manchester, UK-based full service agency Mustard has launched a data science business called Honeycomb, led by Head of Data Insights Bethan Turner, with support from former ICM Unlimited MD Andrew Wiseman and previous Mustard colleague Bronagh Lavery. More
Research and strategic marketing firm Leger has sold its Toronto, Canada-based qual provider Consumer Vision to medical and consumer specialist CRC Research, as part of its 'digital shift' strategy. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Stephen Cribbett, the founder of online qual and community insights firm Further, and diversity research expert Marie-Claude Gervais have launched a business called Versiti, to help companies, charities and organisations be more inclusive in the way they serve diverse groups in society. More
US consultancy Finch Brands has hired former C Space exec Tim DeGennaro for the newly created role of Associate Vice President, Insights Communities and Research Excellence, in charge of its FinchSight Research Community. More
Paris-based research and consultancy company BVA Group has strengthened its customer experience offer with the acquisition of Lyon-based Côté Clients; and has invested further in in-store data collection software company IVS. More
London-based consumer insight firm BDRC has been acquired by French research and consultancy company BVA Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
New York-based SIS International Research has launched new services including video ethnography interviews and online research communities, and opened a Digital Transformation Unit which will focus on creating innovative new offers. More
New York-based SIS International Research has opened a 'Beauty Innovation Consulting' division, offering a range of idea generation, product testing, go-to-market strategy and consulting services to beauty, health and wellness sector clients. More
MARU Group's tech and communities business Maru/Matchbox has hired former Morpace Lead Anthropologist Erica Ruyle as VP of Qualitative in its Consumer Insights division. More
Boulder, CO-based consultancy Egg Strategy Inc. has added three senior leaders in its New York City office, including new MD Jennifer Sagawa; with two further appointments in the Boulder and Chicago offices. More
Consumer and location insights software company Georama is rebranding as QualSights, reflecting its changing focus, and has announced a major product release. More
In the first of two close-ups from the British Research Barometer, we strip away the hype and look at the actual growth of new techniques and technologies. Our evidence points firmly to online communities as the one to watch, with mobile, social media, neuroscience and big data chasing. More
In the US, consumer tech-driven insights firm Touchstone Research has promoted Samantha Sproul to oversee its Online & Mobile Qual division, and Kyle Morrison to oversee Quantitative. More
Change management advisor PA Consulting has acquired Boston-based innovation research, strategy and product design business Essential Design. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In London, a team of execs including Truth Consulting founder Andy Dexter has launched Signoi, a platform which promises to decode unstructured data and derive both its implicit and explicit meaning. Additionally, the firm is about to open its first funding round. More
UK-based consumer insight agency Join the Dots has launched the 'Insight Ecosystem', designed as a more flexible and future-proof online community, incorporating sophisticated question tools, social intelligence capabilities and powerful ethnography apps. More
US-based data collection provider Schlesinger Group has partnered with Civicom Marketing Research Services to enhance their web-enabled qual services for the MR community. More
US-based qual services and technology firm 20|20 Research had upgraded its flagship QualBoard solution with enhanced capabilities in areas including group discussions and long-term communities. More
In the US, fieldwork and research services business Schlesinger Group, has acquired data collection firm Baltimore Research. More
In London, PR group Newgate Communications has set up a Market and Social Research practice, led by Kantar's former Head of Qual, Dan Clay. More
In the UK, qual and quant fieldwork services agency Ardent Fieldwork has expanded its senior team with the appointment of former Field Initiatives Directors Karen Beardon and Viki Hallahan. More
British-based consumer insight agency Join the Dots has expanded its US team with the appointment of Natasha Trever as Research Manager, while Emma Kirk is relocating from the UK to take up the newly created position of Associate Director. The firm has also hired two new staff in the UK. More
Global consumer agency InSites Consulting has acquired UK-based insight community specialist Join the Dots, for an undisclosed sum. More
Online qual research specialist Aha! has integrated Zoom video conference call technology into its MR solution, enabling users to conduct live webcam conversations with consumers and gain insight into the behavior that drives buying decisions and product usage. More
Cultural insights and strategy consultancy Crowd DNA has recruited RDSi director David Power to manage its quant and analytics offer, which is being rebranded as 'Crowd Numbers'. Power will join the firm in November. More
In the UK, Matt Kirby, co-founder of creative insight agency bob's your uncle, has joined the Insight Leaders research collective. More
In the US, qual MR and technology specialist 20|20 Research is to acquire Chicago-based mobile qual provider Over the Shoulder, for an undisclosed sum. More
One-year-old immersive research firm Further&Further has added a fourth office in Chicago, to existing locations in Montreal, New York and London. Eve Ejsmont and Brian Flannery join the new office as Directors while Matthew Pemberton joins the Montreal office as a Film Director. More
Lab-based research specialist MediaScience, which uses traditional, biometric and neuroscience tools to study conscious and emotional reactions to media and ads, has opened a tech-focused qual division, HARK Connect. Former Ipsos exec Elissa Moses will lead the new team as Managing Partner. More
Leeds, UK-based full service agency Boxclever has added five new team members: Laura Byrne and Steven Marsh as Research Directors; Charlotte Hodgson as an Insight Manager and Karla Rendle as Qualitative Insight Manager; and Tilly Lewis as Marketing Manager. More
In the UK, full-service agency BMG Research has appointed long-time Opinion Leader exec Neil Samson as Qualitative Research Director. More
Resuming our series of articles on Insights in the Mobile Age, Ross McLean, Vice President, Mobile Qualitative at 20|20 Research details his four crucial tips for great mobile qual. More
In the US, international data collection business Schlesinger Group has acquired qualitative technology-led research services provider 20|20 Research for an undisclosed sum. Jim Bryson, founder and former Chair at 20|20, is retiring from the business. More
Qual-led insight and strategy specialist BritainThinks has promoted one-time interns Raphael Malek and Lucy Morrell to the role of Research Director; while Teresa Kuhn and Phoebe Ward - who joined the company as interns last year - have been promoted to SRE. More
First-party data and insights platform Dynata has acquired UK-based digital ethnography solution CrowdLab, which captures in-the-moment consumer opinions, attitudes and trends. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the UK, online community specialist Join the Dots has taken the name of its parent InSites Consulting, which acquired it in July 2019. More
In Australia, cultural insights and strategy consultancy Crowd DNA has appointed former Vice Media APAC Head of Insight Stephanie Winkler, as a Director. More
Today we kick off our video podcast series with a closer look at how luxury markets are faring in time of Covid, and the challenges of researching this sector. MrWeb's Nick Thomas talks to Lars Long, Chief Executive of Altiant. More
The second of our new video podcasts is with Eugene Murphy of indeemo and includes discussion of mobile ethnography, the future of shopping, the impact of the pandemic on research methods and budgets, and the potential for qualitative in the post-Covid world. More
In the US Kevin Kruper and Rocky Prozeller, former directors of British-based MR firm Incite, have launched a boutique insights consultancy called Old Salt. More
Brand researcher and consultancy Hall & Partners has launched A(i)LIVE, which incorporates behavioural and survey data from Dynata and technology from consumer intelligence tool Powr of You in what it calls 'the world's first 'living' market segmentation tool'. More
Britain's MRS has awarded the Gold Medal, its most prestigious honour, to former NOP MD Phyllis Macfarlane; and announced new fellows including research tech writer Tim Macer and two inspirational former Chairs of B2B research group BIG, Claire Labrum and Trevor Wilkinson. More
As the insight world emerges from the shadow of Covid, 'only around 50% of formerly face to face activity will revert to type', says Verve's Andy Dexter, introducing a month of features focused on Online Communities, for our forthcoming special issue. More
Ipsos MORI has announced the launch of a Qualitative Research and Engagement Centre, bringing together its qual methods team, dialogue and engagement specialists and led by Director Michelle Mackie. The Centre will aim to 'bring the public voice into policy making'. More
In the US, Faulkner Strategic Consulting has been renamed Faulkner Insights, to better reflect its core offer - providing 'consumer and market insights that drive innovation to grow brands'. More
Customer service improvement company Dive has acquired Finland-based mystery shopping and customer experience firm Palvelu Plus. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, video feedback platform Discuss has added a solution called Self Captures to its platform, to enable companies to gather in-depth, short form experiences from target audiences, whenever convenient for them to take a video or photo related to a task or video survey. More
Andy Cumming, co-founder of Curiosity Research and European MD at InSites Consulting, died of sudden heart failure at his home on 12th January. More
In the US, custom MR firm AMC Global has added five new members to its Research and Project Management teams. More
Forsta, the company formed last year through the merger of research software firms Confirmit and FocusVision, has launched Digital Diaries, a mobile ethnography app designed to obtain qualitative insights at scale. More
German research firms Exevia GmbH and Psyma Health & CARE have announced a merger, and with immediate effect will operate within the larger Psyma Group AG as Psyma+Exevia Health GmbH. More
Research and customer / employee experience technology provider Forsta has announced upgrades to its online focus group solution InterVu, integrating high quality video and audio for virtual experiences, enhancing sharing features, and adding quick polls and other features. More
Consumer insights provider Toluna has acquired the qualitative research technology platform developed by online MR specialist Further, for an undisclosed sum. This technology will be integrated into the end-to-end solution Toluna Start, to launch a new service called 'Toluna Start Qual'. More
Beginning a month-long focus on data visualization, the Forsta CEO talks to MrWeb's Nick Thomas about empathy, athletes, M&A, investing in tech, and 'seeing the future through mountains of data'. Available to read or watch. More
Toronto, Canada-based custom MR provider Research Strategy Group (RSG) has appointed former MRS and AURA Chairman and veteran client-side researcher Danny Russell as its first Non-Executive Director, helping MDs Anne Coulter and Jim Peterson grow the business. More
Market and customer research company Vision One has launched an Advanced Research Unit (ARU), staffed by neuromarketing and insight specialists. The new team will focus on understanding the conscious and unconscious decisions and motivations driving consumer purchasing behaviour. More
In the US, Ipsos has partnered with video feedback platform Discuss to enhance its offering in live virtual feedback and fast online qual, among other areas. More
Healthcare fieldwork specialist M3 Global Research has acquired Med Planet, which provides qual MR services to the healthcare industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, boutique insights consultancy Old Salt has appointed long-time industry exec Matt Knoeck as Principal, to further support its operating structure and senior staffing model. The firm has also hired Davis Taske as an Analyst. More
In Birmingham, UK, M.E.L Research has appointed former ONS exec Ben Thatcher as Qualitative Research Director and former DJS researcher Gayle Higginson as Research Manager. More
In the US, former TNS and Lynx Research Consulting exec Chris Hauck has launched a new agency, SCORE Metrics, which aims to improve on traditional NPS methods by setting responses in a competitive context. More
In the UK, social and MR agency Blue Marble has promoted Sonali Patel to Research Director and hired Daniel Brownie as a Research Manager, following a 'brilliant' year in 2023. More
New York-based consumer insights firm Buzzback has launched a new qualitative research platform called Studio, aiming to make custom qual a 'dynamic, agile and easy experience' without sacrificing quality. More
Southeast Asia-based qual and quant marketing intelligence and panels provider Divergent Insights has appointed Swagata Moitra Ghosh to its Leadership Team as VP Global Research and Insights. More
UK-based consumer and B2B researcher 2CV has announced eleven promotions, including Chris Oatey and Jon Smetherham to Regional Directors, responsible for leading the Asia team based in Singapore; and in the UK Kar Hoo Lee to Associate Director of Data Services and Abigail Plank to Associate Director. More
Register (free) for Daily Research News
REGISTER FOR NEWS EMAILS
To receive (free) news headlines by email, please register online
