“Big Data” has been quite a buzzword in recent years, but it does have some real world implications for those in the market research industry. As technology evolves, it bleeds into market research and creates both new challenges as well as opportunities. Internet and mobile research have blended with new tools, such as survey applications, and many brands are taking advantage. What does this mean for market research and the professionals that perform it? Will they be pushed to the side, or is there a way for market researchers to adapt and strengthen themselves through these new technologies?

Unity Marketing's look at the most important trends for marketers targeting the U.S. affluent customer

In recent blog posts, we’ve explored the top trends shaping the luxury market in 2015. The overriding trend that will impact all marketers at the high-end is that affluents have settled into a mood of austerity. One way that affluents' austere mood is expressed is in a new style of shopping which trends toward mass rather than 'class,' and preference for premium, rather than heritage luxury brands.

The exact statistics may vary, but most people that have ever worked in or around sales will tell you that it is significantly harder, more time consuming, and more costly to acquire a new client than it is to retain and grow an existing customer. However, those same people will also tell you how important it is to constantly be growing your account base. With that in mind, anything that can help with client acquisition has to be a good thing. There are many best practices in this area, but market research is probably not the first thing you would think to use. Yet, it can be one of the most powerful.

Customer loyalty programs are one of the fastest growing marketing techniques among various different industries. American Airlines was one of the first companies to launch a successful loyalty program in 1981, and since then, loyalty programs have only increased in popularity and diversity. Because such programs are so common, not to mention the number of types of loyalty programs to choose from, it is important that you use market research to help you understand which program works best for your organization.

A Series Identifying Trends, Challenges and Opportunities Banks and Bankers Will Face in 2015

In Part-1 and Part-2 of this three-part series, Banking Reports, Ltd. Research, a leading research firm covering the banking industry, identified six significant trends that are projected to impact the banking sector during 2015. These trends have included: Apple Pay, FED rate-hike, African banking, the Chinese banking system, crypto-currencies and commodity-sensitive economies. In  this final installment, Banking Reports will explore four final trends and how they will impact the industry this year, including: PayPal, FinTech vs. FinServ, Europe's struggles, and the biggest challenges and successes for the upcoming year.

The UK Lighting market was estimated to be worth over £1.7 billion in 2014, with a positive outlook in 2015 for good growth of around 8-9%. Key drivers of this growth include the following:

• Returning confidence in the new housebuilding market
• Growth in consumer confidence for the repair and maintenance sector
• Recovery within the private commercial construction sector
• Growth of the LED lighting sector

Healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information has identified the top five trends in the healthcare field that made an impact in 2014 and will continue to be an influence throughout 2015. Kalorama compiled its list based on news events, growth rates of markets the firm studied in 2014, and information requests the firm receives from industry participants. 

A Series Identifying Trends, Challenges and Opportunities Banks and Bankers Will Face in 2015

In Part-1 of this three-part series, Banking Reports, Ltd. Research, a leading banking industry research firm, identified the first three, out of a total of 10, trends that will impact the banking industry throughout 2015, including: Apple Pay, FED rate-hike and African banking. In this second installment, we will take a look at trends in the Chinese banking system, crypto-currencies and commodity-sensitive economies.

Deciding on a price for a product or service is one of the most important decisions for any organization. Because companies need to cover their costs, it is vital that the price of an item is high enough to cover expenses, but not so high that customers won’t be willing to pay for the product. There are many market research techniques that are important to determine the best price point for any given product.