Ideas in Focus is not your typical market research provider. We love doing research because we love to learn and because we believe informed decisions are better decisions.

We look at every research project from a fresh perspective, not one that’s sitting on a shelf. We start every engagement by asking why our client wants to do the research and what they hope to do with what they learn. We pride ourselves on knowing how to tell the difference between research that’s useful and actionable versus only interesting.

We are a boutique consultancy and we don’t try to impress with a mile long list of services or the latest gee whiz research methodology. We work with clients who value research services that include an insightful and strategic perspective, as well as creative thinking and a willingness to explore fresh approaches.

Research services offered:

• Brand Audits – We provide a thorough analysis of a client’s brand by reviewing it across a variety of marketing and business metrics. We talk to both your current customers and people who you would like to have as customers to understand what they think of you. We can provide detailed insight into where you are today and how to get where you want to be.


• Focus Group Moderating - We add value to the focus group process because we have participated in hundreds of groups from both sides of the glass. From setting up the groups, to providing a trained moderator, to writing the report - we add the insights of an experienced marketer to the entire process.


• In-depth Interviews - Sometimes having an in-depth conversation, whether in-person or on the phone, with a stranger can be difficult. That’s why our interviewers are experts at helping respondents feel comfortable and at getting past superficial responses to reveal the underlying issues and insights.


• Ethnographic Studies – We know how to pay special attention to the space around us and in our environment. Whether we are in a store, in a home, or out in the "real world", we watch and learn how everyday interactions happen. By understanding the audience’s purpose and intent, combined with their values and behaviors, we can derive a unique meaning from what we see and hear.


• Shop-alongs – Whether it’s electronics, food, home improvement goods, or specialty items, we are experienced at "walking and talking." By observing and interacting with consumers’ normal, everyday shopping habits we can uncover hidden traffic flow patterns, uncover unspoken consumer interests, and draw unique conclusions about the hows and whys of shoppers´ behaviors.


• Home Use Tests – Letting customers take new products home to use, test, break, and explore is how to perfect consumer products. Using video or diary journals, we ask our respondents to teach us how they use a product and get feedback on how to improve it, before it hits the market.


• Online Surveys – We are experienced at developing, managing, and facilitating online surveys of all shapes and sizes. We can provide guidance for the best methodology, target audience, incentive, and how to draw conclusions from the results.


• Consumer Panels – By engaging a group of pre-screened respondents on a regular basis, we are able to have an open dialogue with the customer. Panels can be facilitated online or in-person. Whether it’s with 10 people or 100, they allow us to quickly gather rich, useful information about products, services, new concepts, and more.


• Phone Studies – Are useful when you need to survey a large audience to understand public opinions, brand awareness, or interest in an idea. We are experienced at developing, managing, and facilitating phone surveys of all shapes and sizes, for a national or local audience. We can provide guidance for the best methodology, target audience, incentive, and how to draw conclusions from the results.


• Mystery Shopping – This nonintrusive technique is designed to evaluate the inner workings of a business. By acting like shoppers, we use our experience as marketing professionals to examine the various facets of our clients’ businesses. We put our clients’ staff and brand experience to the test to ensure they are delivering the best quality services to all customers.


• Usability Testing – Used in new product development and website planning, this research is geared to break down the wall between designer and the user. It allows us to see how individuals perform real tasks in real time, which ultimately helps us to uncover pitfalls in the current design. The end results is an improved product or website with a better understanding of the users preferences and navigation habits.