One can assume more is better when new to focus group-style research. As business people, we love the certainty survey research brings, and think more is better. For focus groups, it is not, which can surprise one. Focus groups are…
On our way into 2022, I can reflect on 2021 with the safety of time since the turn of the year. While 2021 was not my favorite year, it was better than 2020 by miles. Here are the highlights of…
Building homes and designing communities make for interesting challenges. While other consumer products may have an emotional component, no other consumer product possesses the complexity and emotion packed into the very idea of “home”. Homes and communities hit or miss,…
Homebuilding is an ever changing, highly competitive and risk-driven undertaking. Not only do you compete with other builders in your region, you also compete with the resale market. Adapting research to your marketing strategies and tactics as part of your…
Many small- to mid-sized companies overlook the value of conducting market research when planning their marketing strategies, leaving significant risk in the design of the marketing plan. Consumer research is all about asking customers, or the right prospective customers, what…
Most for-profit companies go into business believing they will be successful. Companies are launched with the belief their product or service is in demand; that they will grow and be profitable. Some succeed, others fail. Adding market research as the…
Marketing strategy’s secret weapon is not all that secret. When you need customers, the feeling that it’s better to be “doing” and figure out what works as you go along can seems right. The siren song of “we’ll just put it…
How to stand out in the marketplace, the art of the differentiation strategy and being different from others in a meaningful way, has been this month’s topic among clients and friends. Many of our clients are in building, construction or…
There is an interesting balance between an entrepreneurial vision and the value of listening to customer feedback, feedback that happens early in an idea. The kind of feedback that falls into the unsexy* category: research. Many of our clients work…