Monthly Archives: March 2008

Consumer confidence in March is a case of ‘no news is good news’. The indicator has remained broadly unchanged since the start of the year – gloomy but not depressed. Most of the gloom relates to the wider economy rather … Continue reading →

That’s the key advice to marketers in this brilliant presentation by Paul Isakson: | View | Upload your own And fortunately he sees market research (version 2.0) as the key to finding out what will make a difference (phew!)

One possible solution to the Health Service Executive’s problems: let the patients decide. We’re not sure if it is Web 1.0 or Web 2.0, but ratemyhospital.ie certainly seems to capture the zeitgeist in terms of consumer feedback. Over 11,000 surveys … Continue reading →

Not one but two sets of economic forecasts this past week: with two quite different takes on the outlook for consumer spending. The first is from Davy Stockbrokers: they’re forecasting real consumer spending growth of 2.5% this year, with inflation … Continue reading →

Just over one in ten adults (12%) plays golf, according to a recent ESRI paper. But news from the United States suggests that golf may have reached its nineteenth hole with participation starting to decline for social and economic reasons. … Continue reading →

Our latest research report for the National Consumer Agency points to a growing culture of complaint in Irish society. And not before time some of you might think. Clothing and footwear retailers get the most complaints (20% of all shoppers … Continue reading →

Amidst the ‘doom and gloom’ of the recent ESRI Quarterly Economic Review, there is a small ray of economic consolation for Ireland’s hard pressed marketers. Namely this: consumer spending will grow in 2008 – not contract, stagnate, or take any … Continue reading →

The next time you apply to your bank for a loan you might want to visit the beauty salon beforehand. New research shows that beautiful applicants are 1.41% more likely to get loans – and to add insult to injury … Continue reading →

Market research isn’t nearly as exciting as scientific research: we don’t get to electrocute people in focus groups for example … Here is an interesting study testing the impact of prices on people’s pain thresholds. All done under carefully controlled … Continue reading →

Eurostat have just published a handy ‘statistical portrait’ of The life of women and men in Europe to coincide with International Women’s Day (which is tomorrow, in case you were wondering). It contains some fascinating information across a range of … Continue reading →