Mystery Shopping Training Firm Opens

In the UK, MSETS (mystery shopping executive training services) has opened for business, to help agencies and clients gain better value from their mystery shopping programmes.

The firm provides two one-day courses, which are held in a central London location:

• 'Mystery Shopping - Getting the Basics Right' for those who are new to the process
• 'Adding Value to Your Mystery Shopping' to benefit those with more experience who need to get more from their systems.

The firm also offers in-house courses tailored to the needs of a specific client or agency.

MSETS has been set-up by Harvey Gilbert and Helen Turner, who first met in 1997 when they were members of the MRS subcommittee that produced guidelines for the UK mystery shopping industry.

Gilbert has a background spanning more than 30 years in the market research industry. He previously built and sold two mystery shopping companies and has worked with numerous clients on their own mystery shopping programmes. He is a founder member and Board Director of MSPA Europe (mystery shopping providers association), and also helped found the International Mystery Shopping Alliance ( www.mrweb.com/drno2k/news2610.htm ).

Turner also has more than 30 years' research experience, having worked both clientside for Gillette, Spillers, Van den Berghs, and Kimberly Clark; and for agencies Synovate and Sample Surveys where she developed the firm's mystery shopping division. She recently wrote a chapter on Mystery Shopping for the ESOMAR Handbook.

Forthcoming courses will be held in February, April, June, September, and November 2008. Homepage is www.mysteryshoppingtraining.com.