SHARCC Buys Touchstone Partners and Shoppercentric

In the UK, newly-formed agency grouping SHARCC has acquired a majority stake in sister retail insight companies Touchstone Partners and Shoppercentric.

SHARCC is a holding company formed at the beginning of June, and already with majority stakes in seven UK agencies: Potentia Insight, its subsidiaries DataTree and SigDiff and its Sports division; along with independent agencies Pegasus Insight, data collection firm InsightX Research Solutions and mystery shopping / guest specialist Silent Customer. Each individual agency retains its full operational independence within the group.

Research agency Touchstone Partners was founded in 2002 by Jon Darby (pictured below) and Tim Baker, and acquired shopper insight consultancy Shoppercentric. In 2018. The firms provide bespoke research and insight to help major brands and retailers understand customers, identify growth opportunities and make better commercial decisions.

Like SHARCC's other agencies, the new arrivals will continue to operate independently after the buy, with all employees remaining with the business and Darby and Jamie Rayner (pictured above) keeping their MD roles.

'Jon and Jamie have built an outstanding business with an excellent reputation,' says SHARCC Director Ant Randle, 'and they're a great fit for the Group. Their expertise complements our existing businesses perfectly and broadens what we can offer clients, while allowing Touchstone & Shoppercentric to continue operating with the independence and entrepreneurial spirit that has made it so successful.'

Darby says the sale brings 'an exciting new chapter for both Touchstone and Shoppercentric', allowing it to accelerate the development of its products and services, access 'a wider network of knowledge, capabilities and expertise,' and offer more opportunities to staff.' Rayner adds: 'We didn't want to lose what makes Touchstone and Shoppercentric work: our closeness with clients, our ability to adapt and to be entrepreneurial. SHARCC understands that which is why this felt very right.'

Web sites: www.sharcc.co.uk and www.touchstonepartners.co.uk and www.shoppercentric.com .