Research
June 2011
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A picture tells a thousand words
21-Jun-2011
Tapping into the imagery that we all use to understand the world around us offers researchers a way to get at consumers’ emotional responses, says BDRC Continental’s Richard Smith
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A trader’s life
13-Jun-2011
Bo Mattsson has gone from trading securities with Swedbank to trading survey sample with Cint. Everyone has an opinion – and his company aims to convince them to sell it.
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ACG Research acquires Network Strategy Partners
16-Jun-2011
US— MR and consulting agency ACG Research has acquired Network Strategy Partners, a b2b analyst and management consultancy.
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Ad bodies want 'viewable impressions' from digital media measurement
14-Jun-2011
US— Advertising trade bodies, committed to drawing up standards for a ‘currency’ measurement of digital media, have set out the five principles that will guide their efforts.
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Aegis confirms Synovate sale talks 'exclusive' to Ipsos
29-Jun-2011
UK— Aegis issued a statement this morning to confirm that it is in “exclusive” discussions with Ipsos about a potential sale of Synovate, after press reports of another possible bidder.
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Aegis Media's iProspect buys social media services firm
8-Jun-2011
US— Aegis – while considering a sale of its research arm Synovate – is making acquisitions elsewhere in the group. Its digital performance agency iProspect has bought ICUC, a provider of social media intelligence and moderation services.
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Aegis shares up 7% on talk of Synovate sale
7-Jun-2011
UK — Shares in Aegis shot up 7% yesterday on news that the company is in talks with Ipsos about a possible sale of its research division, Synovate.
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Affinnova hires Jerome Simulin to head European expansion
16-Jun-2011
FRANCE— Research technology firm Affinnova has hired Jerome Simulin to lead its expansion in Europe.
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Angel investors pump $500,000 into SeeVolution
30-Jun-2011
US— Web analytics and heatmapping software firm SeeVolution has been awarded $530,000 in angel financing, taking the amount it has raised through angel investors to $730,000 since it was launched last September.
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Are we losing our minds?
16-Jun-2011
There is growing unease about the effects of modern technology on society and, in particular, on the way our minds work, says Sheila Keegan. Is this fear overblown or could we really be losing our minds?
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Assessing the price of qual-ity
22-Jun-2011
Unilever is rumoured to be rolling out its qualitative accreditation programme across Asia. John Wigglesworth says this has some interesting implications not only for research houses working with the FMCG giant, but also for qualitative researchers themselves.
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Australia's Ruby Cha Cha opens London office
1-Jun-2011
UK— Ruby Cha Cha, the research agency set up in Sydney in 2008 by three former Leading Edge directors, has opened an office in London.
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Barb to introduce PC meter in TV panel homes
30-Jun-2011
UK— The Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board (Barb) has said it it is ready to take a “major step” towards measuring TV viewing on PCs, laptops and tablet devices.
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BDRC Continental awarded Marriott brand-tracking survey
22-Jun-2011
UK— Hotel chain Marriott International has retained BDRC Continental to run its global brand-tracking programme.
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BritainThinks heads for South Downs National Park for community task
30-Jun-2011
UK— The South Downs National Park has appointed consultancy BritainThinks to run a stakeholder engagement programme over the next 15 months.
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Brust takes the helm at Go Research
22-Jun-2011
GERMANY— Frankfurt-based healthcare specialist Go Research has appointed Bettina Brust as managing director, replacing Werner Palancares Hoyer, who is stepping down at the start of July.
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Chinese launch for Experian's Hitwise
3-Jun-2011
CHINA— Experian has launched its Hitwise online audience measurement service in China, where it will report on more than a million sites.
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Choice and openness win web users round to behavioural ads – study
22-Jun-2011
UK— A study by online ad targeting firm Specific Media suggests consumers are willing to accept behavioural advertising as long as they are given proper information and the chance to opt out.
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Cint invites community organisations to build research panels
13-Jun-2011
SWEDEN— Cint, a research software and services supplier, is beta testing a new service that allows schools, sports teams and local organisations like churches to raise money by recruiting their own panels.
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CIO Micali parts ways with Harris Interactive
27-Jun-2011
US— Enzo Micali has left Harris Interactive, where he held the role of global executive vice president of technology, operations and panel and chief information officer.
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Claritics unveils social gaming analytics suite
16-Jun-2011
US— Social media intelligence firm Claritics has launched a suite of SaaS analytics tools to provide social gaming companies with behavioural and demographic information about users.
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Class ain't what it used to be
28-Jun-2011
A new survey by BritainThinks suggests that researchers need to rethink the definition of working class – and the way they think about class altogether.
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Co-creation agency Face opens New York office
16-Jun-2011
US— Co-creation agency Face has moved research director Philip McNaughton to New York to head up the firm’s new office there.
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Communispace hires managing director for Europe
9-Jun-2011
UK— MROC builder Communispace, headquartered in the US, has appointed Sally O’Rourke as managing director of Europe.
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Compete founder sells new business to HubSpot
17-Jun-2011
US— Performable, a developer of web analytics software founded by former Compete CTO David Cancel, has been sold to inbound marketing software company HubSpot.
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Compete launches in UK, France to follow
30-Jun-2011
UK— It’s been three years in the planning, but US digital intelligence firm Compete has today gone live with its European offer, beginning with the UK and with France to follow in September.
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ComScore launches tool to measure web traffic by device
24-Jun-2011
US— ComScore has launched a tool to measure web traffic according to device – distinguishing between mobiles, tablets, e-readers and gaming devices.
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Counting the beats
June 2011
The understanding of emotions and how they influence behaviour is advancing. Brian Tarran looks at how this is changing research.
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Court to review Maine prescription data law
29-Jun-2011
US— A law in Maine prohibiting the use of physician prescribing information for marketing purposes looks set to be ruled unconstitutional after the Supreme Court this week ordered a reconsideration of an earlier appeals court ruling in favour of the legislation.
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Creston insight revenue drops 7%
21-Jun-2011
UK— Creston’s insight companies saw revenue and headline profit fall in the year ended 31 March 2011, while the group as a whole grew.
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Customer feedback firm Allegiance scores $12m funding
27-Jun-2011
US— Allegiance, a provider of feedback management software, has secured $12m in a second round of funding led by El Dorado Ventures.
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Darrell Wade of TGI Friday's on attitudes to dining in times of austerity
24-Jun-2011
The commercial director of TGI Friday’s discusses how the restaurant chain has sought to understand the post-recession consumer.
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Decision ‘very close’ on Synovate sale
24-Jun-2011
UK/FRANCE— Ipsos and Aegis are “very close to a decision” on a possible sale of Aegis’s research arm Synovate, a source at Ipsos said today.
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Diary: Polls, pulses and portaloos
June 2011
A roundup of things that caught our eye in and around the research industry this month.
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Disney's Cassandra Rowe joins Insight Research Group
22-Jun-2011
US— Former Disney researcher Cassandra Rowe has joined Insight Research Group as senior manager, at the same time as another new arrival and four promotions at the firm.
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Dub to supply online qual tech to Decision Analyst
29-Jun-2011
US— Dub has won a contract to provide online qual technology to Texas-based research and analytical consulting firm Decision Analyst for the coming year.
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Duo promoted to MD roles at GfK Research Dynamics
7-Jun-2011
CANADA— GfK Custom Research North America has promoted Angelo Pierro and Joseph Schiappa to managing directors of GfK Research Dynamics in Canada.
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EasyInsites to build parent panel for Children's Mutual
10-Jun-2011
UK— EasyInsites is working with The Children’s Mutual to build and maintain a research panel of parents recruited from the financial services firm’s customer base.
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Ebiquity buys majority stake in Russian media auditing partner
10-Jun-2011
RUSSIA— Media intelligence firm Ebiquity has bought a majority stake in its Russian media practice partner, The Joined Up Media Company (JUMC), in a deal worth up to £1.2m.
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Editor's note: Email service back to normal
24-Jun-2011
Due to technical problems, some subscribers to our email bulletins may not have received all their emails this week.
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Emailvision buys customer intelligence software firm SmartFocus
14-Jun-2011
UK— Email, mobile and social media marketing software firm Emailvision has acquired SmartFocus Group, a company specialising in customer intelligence and multi-channel marketing software.
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Emotional research is about more than just measurement
June 2011
Measuring emotions is vital, says Nick Coates. But understanding how they combine and evolve to shape our lives requires more creativity.
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EmSense and Fifth Dimension have virtual shopping on the brain
8-Jun-2011
UK/US— Neuromarketing researcher EmSense is partnering with Fifth Dimension to integrate brain scanning technology with virtual shopping research.
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Encuesta founder takes Cheskin Added Value role
20-Jun-2011
US— Insight and brand development agency Cheskin Added Value has appointed Martin Cerda as strategic director within its qualitative and business consulting division.
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Esomar probes members' complaints against online agency
28-Jun-2011
NETHERLANDS— Esomar is investigating complaints of poor-quality work and unreturned deposits made by members who have commissioned online fieldwork from an Ibiza-based agency called The Research Express.
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Essential Research wins Wimbledon 3D research contract
21-Jun-2011
UK— The BBC has commissioned Essential Research to gauge opinion of its 3D coverage of the men’s final at Wimbledon.
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Ex-Futures Company trio become Behavioural Architects
17-Jun-2011
UK— Former Futures Company senior leaders Crawford Hollingworth, Sian Davies and Sarah Davies are launching a new agency called The Behavioural Architects. The business takes its cue from behavioural economics in trying to understand why people do what they do.
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Ex-Wardle McLean researcher Simon Lamey goes freelance
3-Jun-2011
UK— Former Wardle McLean exec Simon Lamey has become a freelance qualitative researcher.
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Ex-Yahoo VP Stephen Taylor named AdInsight chairman
15-Jun-2011
UK— Former Yahoo regional vice president Stephen Taylor has been appointed chairman at call tracking and analytics firm AdInsight.
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Firefish launches kids and families division
1-Jun-2011
UK— Firefish has announced the launch of a standalone business unit specialising in children and families, called The Pineapple Lounge.
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First impressions of a possible Ipsos-Synovate deal
6-Jun-2011
As Ipsos confirms that it is in talks with Aegis about a potential acquisition of its research business Synovate, the industry has begun to consider the possible implications of such a deal.
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Fizziology to track social buzz over DVD releases
14-Jun-2011
US— Fizziology, which has long tracked social media conversations around cinema releases, is to start monitoring the volume and sentiment of online buzz around DVDs and Blu-rays.
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ForeSee heads to court as clients face patent infringement claims
9-Jun-2011
US— ForeSee Results has gone to court in a bid to win protection for itself and its clients who have been accused of infringing patents.
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Former Harris chief in line for $900k payout
21-Jun-2011
US— Harris Interactive is to pay former CEO Kimberly Till $900,000 in connection with the termination of her contract, while former finance chief Pavan Bhalla is in line for a $127,000 payout.
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Free and easy
14-Jun-2011
As Toluna launches its latest self-service survey tool, QuickSurveys, we speak to UK managing director Mark Simon about embracing DIY.
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Fuld & Company acquired by Phinma Group
13-Jun-2011
US— The Phinma Group, a Philippines-based company whose subsidiary firms offer services ranging from business process outsourcing to property, education and energy services, has acquired competitive intelligence agency Fuld & Company.
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German research regulator raps email marketing firm
3-Jun-2011
GERMANY— Germany’s research regulator has issued a statement reprimanding US-based email marketing firm European Online Marketing Agency.
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Germany's 'Market Research Day' hailed as success
1-Jun-2011
GERMANY— A day of events promoting and explaining the research industry to the German public has been hailed as a success by organisers, who plan to repeat it next year.
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GfK completes Thai and Cypriot acquisitions, raises stake in Etilize
29-Jun-2011
GERMANY— GfK has made new acquisitions in Thailand and Cyprus and upped its stake in US-based technology firm Etilize.
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GfK MRI and ComScore fuse print and online audience data
17-Jun-2011
US— Magazine researcher GfK MRI and online audience measurement specialist ComScore are combining data on print readership, online media habits and product usage in a single database.
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GfK realigns sector structure and management for new strategy
30-Jun-2011
GERMANY— GfK is to introduce a new sector structure bringing together most of its retail, media and technology research into one group, with custom and ad hoc work in a second.
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Godfrey to retire from BrainJuicer board
27-Jun-2011
UK— Simon Godfrey, non-executive board director at BrainJuicer, is to retire from the board of directors at the end of 2012.
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Google connects with content engagement monitor
8-Jun-2011
US— Google has acquired PostRank, a company that monitors and collects data on how online content is shared and commented on.
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Google's Duggal joins Quantcast as product management VP
30-Jun-2011
US— Former Google executive Jag Duggal is to join Quantcast as vice president of product management.
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Government is warned not to lose research expertise in comms restructure
24-Jun-2011
UK — Agencies are warning the government not to lose research expertise as it prepares to close down the Central Office of Information and reorganise its advertising and communications activities.
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GSK's Jeff Tomlinson takes KJT Group role
15-Jun-2011
US— Research and consulting agency KJT Group has hired former GlaxoSmithKline man Jeff Tomlinson as senior vice president of research.
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Harris loses third CFO in three years
16-Jun-2011
US— Struggling online researcher Harris Interactive’s chief financial officer Pavan Bhalla has left after just eight months.
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Harris uses social media tracking to hone qual research
3-Jun-2011
US— Harris Interactive has launched a service that aims to help clients find the most suitable respondents for qual research by tapping into its LifeStreaming panel, which tracks members’ social media activities.
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How to deal with research on emotional topics
10-Jun-2011
Some research topics can be difficult for both researcher and respondent, and it’s important to handle them right. Joanne Geere and Kate McEnery-Evans of Discovery Research share some advice on dealing with emotional topics.
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Incite turnover hits £8.1m, up 11% year-on-year
10-Jun-2011
UK— Research consultancy Incite saw turnover grow 11% to £8.1m in the 2010/11 financial year, up from £7.4m the previous year.
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In-flight magazine publisher Ink names Miller as insight head
28-Jun-2011
UK— Kevin Miller, former head of research at JCDecaux Airport Advertising UK, is to join travel media company Ink in the newly created position of global head of insight.
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InternetMR launches MRQual tool
3-Jun-2011
UK— Online research agency InternetMR has unveiled a new web-based qualitative service, MRQual.
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Ipsos adds qual leaders in APAC region
20-Jun-2011
CHINA— Ipsos has hired Tony Wai to lead its qualitative research team across the Asia Pacific region.
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Ipsos Health brings in ex-clientside researchers
22-Jun-2011
US— Former clientside researchers David Scowcroft and Susan Baxter have joined Ipsos Health as senior vice president and vice president respectively.
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Ipsos in talks about buying Synovate
6-Jun-2011
UK— French research group Ipsos is in talks with Aegis about a possible buyout of its research division Synovate.
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Ipsos partners with Zokem for app-based mobile measurement
27-Jun-2011
UK— Ipsos MediaCT is launching a new service using Zokem’s mobile measurement app to track smartphone and tablet usage.
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Jobs at risk as government confirms COI closure
23-Jun-2011
UK— The Central Office of Information, the government’s communication and advertising arm, is to close, putting more than 400 jobs at risk.
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Joining Nielsen is like 'having a rocket strapped to our backs'
9-Jun-2011
We speak to A K Pradeep, CEO of NeuroFocus, about what its acquisition by Nielsen means for the future of the business.
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Judge approves Quantcast and Clearspring settlement
20-Jun-2011
US— Quantcast, a web measurement firm, and ad widget company Clearspring are to pay $2.5m to fund research into online privacy issues to settle allegations that they used Flash cookies to track web users against their wishes.
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Kadence to boost London CATI stations
27-Jun-2011
UK— Kadence International is to expand its CATI facilities at its headquarters in London, taking the number of stations from 50 to 75.
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Kantar and GfK's online quality consortium collapses
28-Jun-2011
US— The Promedius Group, an online quality consortium established by Kantar and GfK with the aim of creating “a robust, industry-wide solution” for panel validation, is no more.
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Kantar and TRA at loggerheads over data fusion patent
20-Jun-2011
US— WPP companies Kantar and Cavendish are to do battle in the courts with TRA, the advertising ROI research firm, over claims of patent infringement.
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Kantar companies combine pre-testing and ad-skipping data
24-Jun-2011
UK — Kantar agencies Millward Brown and Kantar Media are seeking to optimise TV ad performance by combining results of ad pre-tests with data on whether viewers changed channels during an ad or skipped it using a DVR.
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Kantar firms fill senior roles
8-Jun-2011
GLOBAL— Kantar Group companies Millward Brown, Kantar Health and TNS have made significant new appointments to senior roles.
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Knowledge Networks hires Moessner to lead public affairs practice
15-Jun-2011
US— Knowledge Networks has hired Chris Moessner to lead a new public affairs practice, based outside Washington DC.
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Lawrence to head analytics at Mindshare NA
16-Jun-2011
US— Richard Lawrence has joined Mindshare North America in the new role of leader of business science and marketing analytics.
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Let's get emotional about ads
June 2011
Orlando Wood says emotions offer a better approach to pre-testing.
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Lightspeed Research unveils custom panel and MROC service
6-Jun-2011
US— Lightspeed Research has launched a custom panel and online community service, offering clients access to bespoke groups of respondents.
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Look into my eyes
June 2011
Eye-tracking and facial coding have made the jump online. Robert Bain looks at the web-based tools that can tap into the emotions our faces reveal.
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Lyris takes majority stake in Australia's Cogent Online
17-Jun-2011
US— California-based analytics and online marketing agency Lyris has acquired a majority stake in Australian MR and marketing services provider Cogent Online.
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Mancx closes second funding round
27-Jun-2011
SWEDEN— Mancx, a Swedish firm that has created a platform for people and companies to trade knowledge, has closed a second round of funding, bringing its total investment to $1.1m.
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MartinJAY Digital acquires assets of Social Blaze analytics agency
29-Jun-2011
US— Digital agency MartinJAY has acquired the intellectual assets, patent rights, source codes and associated domain names of analytics and social media management applications developer Social Blaze.
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Matte Wicklin to lead BrainJuicer in southern US
7-Jun-2011
US— BrainJuicer has appointed Matte Wicklin to oversee the firm’s operations in the south and south-east United States.
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McCann Worldgroup opens marketing sciences practice
21-Jun-2011
US— Marcomms agency McCann Worldgroup has set up a marketing sciences practice, to apply analytics and marketing intelligence to all of its work.
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McCrary quits Cint, McCarron named successor
17-Jun-2011
US— Research technology firm Cint has promoted Terence McCarron, formerly senior vice president of sales, to North American MD, replacing Michael McCrary (pictured).
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MediaBank adds Rentrak data to media planning platform
23-Jun-2011
US— TV audience measurement firm Rentrak has struck a deal with ad technology provider MediaBank that will see its viewing data integrated into MediaBank’s media planning tools.
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MediaBank adds TRA viewing and purchase data to planning platform
7-Jun-2011
US— Media measurement agency TRA has struck a deal with tech provider MediaBank that will see its data on viewing and purchase behaviour integrated into the latter’s media-buying platform.
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MediaCom taps Globalpark as preferred feedback platform
8-Jun-2011
UK— MediaCom has named Globalpark as its preferred feedback management platform, used by the communications agency to create and manage bespoke panels for its advertising clients.
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Merger plans
15-Jun-2011
Understanding customers requires joined-up thinking. Reineke Reitsma presents a blueprint for building the ‘intelligent enterprise’.
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Metrics 'not doing justice to participation-led campaigns'
3-Jun-2011
UK — A lack of appropriate metrics may be letting down marketing campaigns based on consumer participation, according to a report from advertising body IPA.
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Millward Brown completes global brand director team
21-Jun-2011
US— Millward Brown has named Patty Currie as the fifth and final member of its global brand director team, giving her responsibility for tracking.
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Mirametrix unveils S2 eye-tracking tool
2-Jun-2011
CANADA— Mirametrix Research has launched a new eye-tracking tool, the S2.
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Mobile research: return to the wild west?
2-Jun-2011
Mobile research presents a great opportunity to add insight to research, says Thomas Edwards, the boss of Synovate’s new mobile division. But as numerous providers seek to cash in, will it suffer from the same problems that online research did a few years ago?
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Morris and Cawker take over as Spinach MDs
27-Jun-2011
UK— Lucy Morris and Gary Cawker have taken over as joint managing directors of qualitative research agency Spinach, following the retirement of former managing director Tom Conway.
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Motista launches 'customer connection' tool
13-Jun-2011
US— Online research startup Motista has launched a new version of its ‘customer connection’ research product, which is being made generally available for the first time.
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Mu Sigma scoops $25m investment
14-Jun-2011
US— Mu Sigma, a provider of business and marketing analytics services, has secured $25m in Series C funding from private investment house Sequoia Capital.
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Nestlé expands simulated shopping centre
2-Jun-2011
UK— Nestlé has unveiled a £1m extension to its simulated shopping centre in York.
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Ninah Consulting launches in Australia
15-Jun-2011
AUSTRALIA— ZenithOptimedia’s marketing effectiveness consultancy Ninah has hired Synovate’s Bryan Hall to launch its business in Australia.
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Norm launches Swedish parents panel
22-Jun-2011
SWEDEN— Nordic market research agency Norm has launched a new panel of more than 2,000 Swedish parents who have children aged six and under.
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Ofcom invites bids for new research roster
21-Jun-2011
UK— Communications regulator Ofcom is looking to appoint around 45 agencies to a new market research roster which will come into effect next year.
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Omniture revenue up 26% in Q2
24-Jun-2011
US— Adobe-owned web analytics business Omniture has seen its quarterly revenue rise to $115.9m in Q2, an increase of 26% compared to the same period last year.
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Online qual software maker Dub opens US office
2-Jun-2011
US— London-based online qual software and services provider Dub has opened its first US office in Los Angeles.
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ONS should take charge of British Crime Survey, says National Statistician
8-Jun-2011
UK— National Statistician Jil Matheson wants to hand responsibility for the British Crime Survey (BCS) to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), thereby moving it out of the Home Office’s control, as part of an effort to build trust in crime statistics.
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Paradigm Sample unveils iPhone app
7-Jun-2011
US— Panel firm Paradigm Sample has launched an iPhone app that allows users to conduct surveys with consumers aged 18-34.
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People on the move
23-Jun-2011
The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research industry, including the latest news from The NPD Group, CoreBrand, Vision Critical, Quadrangle, Indiefield and more.
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People on the move
14-Jun-2011
The latest promotions and appointments in the market research and consumer insight industry. This week: ICM Direct, Kadence International, Firefish, NRS, Conquest, WorldOne, Adept, Research Now and more.
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PFA Research launches Society Cornwall community
27-Jun-2011
UK— PFA Research has launched an online community for residents of Cornwall to share their thoughts on issues affecting the county.
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PHD tests out Neuro-Evaluation on McCain family campaign
15-Jun-2011
UK— Media agency PHD has long applied brain science to communications planning, but it recently piloted a new approach to evaluation that uses implicit response testing (IRT) to understand the emotional impact of campaigns.
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Professor accuses New Zealand Post of breaching MR codes
21-Jun-2011
NEW ZEALAND— A university professor has accused the New Zealand postal service of breaching the country’s market research code of practice by renting out the names and addresses of people who have taken part in its lifestyle survey.
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Promising new position for FreshMinds' Burgess
15-Jun-2011
UK— Phil Burgess has been appointed consultancy director for communities at co-creation firm Promise Communities.
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Public sector research: 'If you can't demonstrate the value, don't do it'
6-Jun-2011
Neil Wholey, chair of public sector research think tank LGinsight, on convincing communications teams of the value of insight.
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Putting a number on nature
7-Jun-2011
As a new government report tries to put a financial value on the UK’s ecosystem, Simon Lamey argues that by reducing nature to a number, we might be doing it a favour.
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Rajar taking radio measurement online
6-Jun-2011
UK— Radio ratings body Rajar is introducing online audience measurement tools, and plans to conduct 50% of its data collection online.
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RB picks SymphonyIRI for US retail data
14-Jun-2011
US— Reckitt Benckiser has handed SymphonyIRI a four-year contract to supply it with retail audit and panel data in the US market, replacing Nielsen.
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Reflections from the front line of market research
30-Jun-2011
Chloe Shuff is a journalism graduate who, while studying, worked as a market research telephone interviewer. She fought her fair share of battles with reluctant respondents, she says, but those who did say ‘yes’ surprised her with how much they were willing to share.
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Rentrak sees strong AMI performance in fourth quarter
10-Jun-2011
US— Rentrak’s media information business grew 30% in the three months ended 31 March, but consolidated revenues were dragged down by a 14% decline in its home entertainment services division.
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Rentrak upgrades OnDemand Essentials tool
14-Jun-2011
US— TV audience measurement firm Rentrak has launched a new version of its OnDemand Essentials service, which is used to track viewing figures for video-on-demand content.
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Research 2000 pays thousands to settle Daily Kos case
2-Jun-2011
US— Pollster Research 2000 has agreed to pay thousands of dollars to settle a lawsuit from political blog Daily Kos, but risks defaulting unless it makes a ‘substantial’ payment in the next month.
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Research Now to donate $100,000-worth of omnibus services this year
24-Jun-2011
US— Research Now is making up to $100,000-worth of data collection services and sample available for charitable work over the next year, as part of a new initiative.
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Resilience in tough times 'proves value of research and marketing' says WPP
3-Jun-2011
UK— WPP says its resilience in tough economic times has been “a powerful vindication” of the value of research and marketing services.
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Sample suppliers SSI and Opinionology to merge
2-Jun-2011
US— Sampling and data collection providers Survey Sampling International (SSI) and Opinionology have announced plans to merge.
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ScentAnalysis launches quantitative fragrance test
9-Jun-2011
GERMANY— Fragrance researcher ScentAnalysis has launched a new quantitative scent research tool, the Scent Choice Test.
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Shaun Woodward MP on rebuilding damaged brands
9-Jun-2011
From the Brand Research conference, Shaun Woodward MP discusses the challenge of renewing the Labour brand following electoral defeat.
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Social media tracker Viralheat secures $4.25m funding
28-Jun-2011
US— Social media monitoring company Viralheat has secured $4.25m in funding from venture capital firm Mayfield Fund.
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Soine to lead Toluna in Germany
20-Jun-2011
GERMANY— Panel provider Toluna has appointed Stephan Soine as country manager for Germany.
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Sorrell confirms WPP not interested in Synovate bid
23-Jun-2011
UK/FRANCE— WPP chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell has confirmed that his company is not interested in making a bid for Synovate – whose parent company Aegis has been in talks with Ipsos about a possible sale.
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SPA Future Thinking launches Comms Suite
15-Jun-2011
UK— SPA Future Thinking has launched a suite of three tools that have been designed to help brands and broadcasters analyse and measure the impact of sponsorship, product placement and multimedia campaigns.
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Spring Creek names O'Reilly to social marketing analytics role
30-Jun-2011
US— Kevin O’Reilly has joined social marketing agency Spring Creek Group, as director of social marketing analytics and research.
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Stein + Rogan's MR agency joins Brand Activation Network
6-Jun-2011
US— Creative agency Stein + Rogan Partners has signed partnerships with several companies to form the Brand Activation Network, which includes its own market research agency, Pivot.
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Supreme Court strikes down Vermont prescription data law
24-Jun-2011
US — The Supreme Court has struck down a Vermont law that banned the use of data on individual doctors’ prescribing habits for marketing purposes.
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Swiss startup rolls out facial expression decoder
10-Jun-2011
SWITZERLAND— A Swiss startup has developed technology that boasts the ability to accurately detect and decode facial micro-expressions and eye movements to aid understanding of human emotional response.
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Switched on
June 2011
Robin Shuker, managing director of ChatCloud, on how online research helped Comet redesign its website in the face of stiff competition.
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SymphonyIRI bags majority investment from New Mountain
9-Jun-2011
US— SymphonyIRI has a new owner. The sales data and analytics firm, which works in the consumer goods, retail and healthcare sectors, has received a majority investment from private equity firm New Mountain Capital.
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SymphonyIRI's Brown takes up Knowledge Networks role
17-Jun-2011
US— Knowledge Networks has appointed David Brown as vice president within its consumer packaged goods and retail team.
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Synovate names Martin as Australia MD
9-Jun-2011
AUSTRALIA— Synovate has hired Gary Martin as managing director for Australia, based in Sydney.
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Synovate opens Vietnamese office, hires country MD
15-Jun-2011
VIETNAM— Synovate has opened an office in Ho Chi Minh City, with Rodolphe Jounot appointed managing director of Vietnamese operations.
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Target looks to MDC for marketing, research support in Canada
28-Jun-2011
CANADA— US discount retailer Target Corp has hired marketing services group MDC Partners to lead development of its marketing efforts, including market research, to support its expansion into Canada.
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The lost art of taking your time
1-Jun-2011
In an age where clients expect faster results, Gillian Newbold, director of Healthcare Research Worldwide, speaks out in praise of longitudinal research.
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The Marketing Research Association goes to Washington
13-Jun-2011
US— The Marketing Research Association is relocating from Connecticut to Washington DC as it looks to expand its legislative and regulatory advocacy work.
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Till out, Angrisani in as Harris Interactive CEO
9-Jun-2011
US— Kimberly Till is out as Harris Interactive CEO – replaced by Al Angrisani, the company’s former president who had earlier been drafted in to advise on a turnaround plan for the firm.
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Toluna upgrades DIY survey tool with free option
2-Jun-2011
UK— Toluna has launched a new version of its DIY tool QuickSurveys, allowing users to create surveys for free and distribute them via email or social networks.
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Tracking the trackers
29-Jun-2011
Two former Nielsen executives have set up a company to help clients implement pay-for-performance arrangements with their continuous research suppliers. We look at what the partners have in store.
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Turnaround time again
20-Jun-2011
Al Angrisani made his name steering successful turnarounds of Total Research in the 1990s and Greenfield Online in the late-2000s. Now the board and shareholders of Harris Interactive are betting he can do the same for them. But four CEOs in six years suggests it’s not going to be easy.
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UK research revenues flat, while US sees growth
16-Jun-2011
UK/US— The decline in revenue in the UK’s research industry flattened out in 2010, while the US returned to growth, the latest figurest show.
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UKOM to issue tender for audience measurement contract
28-Jun-2011
UK— The UK Online Measurement Company (UKOM) will soon invite research companies to tender for its online audience measurement contract, which runs for three years from 1 January 2013.
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Ups and downs – Jon Priest
June 2011
We speak to research industry figures about their career highs and lows. This month, SPA Future Thinking’s CEO Jon Priest tells us why it’s never a good idea to prank a nervy food industry client.
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USamp makes Euro push with Normand as MD
29-Jun-2011
UK— USamp, a US-based online panel and sampling technology company, is moving into Europe with former Ciao and Survey Sampling International director Gaelle Normand at the helm.
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Virgin Atlantic to poll passengers on aviation tax
1-Jun-2011
UK— Virgin Atlantic is to survey passengers as part of its response to government proposals on changing rates of aviation tax – which it vigorously opposes.
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Virgin Media hires Payne as strategic insight chief
20-Jun-2011
UK— Virgin Media has appointed Michael Payne as director of strategic customer insights and one-to-one marketing.
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Virtual Surveys rebrands as Join the Dots
9-Jun-2011
UK— Virtual Surveys, a specialist online research agency founded in 1998 by Pete Comley, has rebranded as Join the Dots.
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Voxco launches social media analysis software
2-Jun-2011
CANADA— Survey software firm Voxco has launched a new social media monitoring and analysis platform, Acuity4 Social.
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What's next now the baton's passed?
27-Jun-2011
ICM chairman Justin Sampson is confident about the future of the business at the end of his first year in charge. With a management restructure now complete, he’s looking at new opportunities in healthcare research and international expansion.
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WPP earmarks £200m for acquisitions, says Sorrell
13-Jun-2011
INDONESIA— WPP has set aside £200m to spend on acquisitions this year, chief executive Martin Sorrell said today in an interview with Bloomberg.
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WPP launches Xaxis audience targeting business
28-Jun-2011
US— WPP has launched an ad-targeting unit backed up by audience data from across its companies to help clients reach specific audiences more effectively through on- and offline media.
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YouGov buys out Carole Stone from joint venture
9-Jun-2011
UK— YouGov is to buy out London ‘networking queen’ Carole Stone from YouGovStone, the four-year-old joint venture company they set up to carry out research and organise events for opinion leaders.