GfK and WEB Link for Consumer Trends Insights

In New York, GfK's trend consultancy division GfK Roper Consulting has partnered with futurist firm Weiner, Edrich, Brown (WEB), to deliver consumer trends insights through a number of combined services.

A division of GfK Custom Research North America, GfK Roper Consulting comprises GfK's syndicated consumer trend services - Roper Reports US, Roper Reports Worldwide, Roper Green Gauge, and the Roper Youth Report.

Since 1977, WEB has tracked social, economic, political and technological trends, and helped clients anticipate and respond to changes. It has also worked in the fields of strategic planning, new product development, marketing, advertising, public affairs, investment, finance, communications, human resources and government relations.

The firms plan to combine consumer trends insights from the Roper Reports US and Roper Reports Worldwide with insights from WEB, to offer consumer perspectives linked with social, political and economic trends data.

'This partnership will provide our clients with the tools that they need to understand, manage and profit from change,' states Holly Heline Jarrell, Group MD of GfK Roper Consulting.

WEB President, Edie Weiner, says that the collaboration will provide clients with 'a greater understanding of what is happening in the world today, and what will be happening in the world in the future'.

The firms' first effort, which is planned to launch in mid-November, will focus on the current global economic climate and the opportunities that it presents.

Web sites: www.gfkamerica.com and www.weineredrichbrown.com .