2009 Market Research Supplier Report Card and Mid-Year Industry Update

Continuing our ongoing effort to help our clients understand the rapidly changing marketplace, we have recently completed a comprehensive customer satisfaction study of nearly 100 market research suppliers across four market research segments including: Full Service, Syndicated, Online Sample, and Online Survey Software.

Of these, more than 60 suppliers received a sufficient number of evaluations for their inclusion within the 2009 Supplier Report Card. And even more suppliers are represented in our exclusive "Supplier Usage/Share Report."

The just-completed report contains detailed satisfaction scores at the market segment and individual company level. And given the unprecedented business climate, the report also provides up-to-date information regarding:

• Changes in Market Research Budgets for the second half of 2009
• Staffing Changes -- layoffs, consolidations, and hiring during the first half of 2009
• Current Employee Job Satisfaction Levels
• Business Outlook for the second half of 2009

Conducted between July 7 and July 24, 2009, 801 Market Research Professionals completed an online survey -- producing a completion rate of 82.6% and a data tolerance of +/- 3.5%.

No other report has such current information necessary to successfully navigate the remainder of 2009.

Market Research Supplier Report Cards

For each supplier, the mean satisfaction score for each of the five measured dimensions (plus a stated overall satisfaction score) is presented. This information -- an invaluable Report Card -- enables suppliers to understand their customers' satisfaction along a multitude of dimensions. The Supplier Report Card provides invaluable benchmarking and competitive information.

Click here to see a list of suppliers, by segment, that were included in the survey and if they received sufficient feedback to include their customer satisfaction scores in the 2009 Market Research Supplier Report Card.

Note: Four Supplier Report Cards are provided; one for Online Sample Providers, Full Service Providers, Syndicated Research Suppliers, and Online Survey Software Providers.

Derived from the actual customer satisfaction scores in the Supplier Report Cards, below are the top three firms based upon each of the measured satisfaction dimensions.

Segment Reporting and Mapping

Quantifying challenges and opportunities, aggregate Importance and Satisfaction metrics are provided for each of the four MR segments.

To help visualize and prioritize enhancement opportunities, an "Opportunity Map" for each of the segments (Online Sample, Full Service, Syndicated, and Online Survey Software) is provided.

Supplier Usage Rankings

Complementing the competitive information of the Supplier Report Card, the report also reveals the number of respondents who are using each company's service. This data is particularly insightful when combined with satisfaction scores given firms with modest customer satisfaction scores may have an exceptionally high level of usage among market research professionals.

Note: Four Supplier Usage Rankings are provided; one for Online Sample Providers, Full Service Providers, Syndicated Research Suppliers, and Online Survey Software Providers.

2009 Market Research Budgets

In February of this year, the 2009 Annual Survey of Market Research Professionals revealed market research professionals expected to reduce their budgets by 9.5% relative to 2008. And true to their opinions, they have done so.

This July report reveals that 60% of market research professionals further reduced their market research budgets during the first half of 2009.

For detailed information regarding the magnitude of the reduction, the methods by which companies managed their budget during the first half of 2009, and the characteristics of the companies taking action, please refer to the detailed report.

Employee Job Satisfaction Level

In this economic environment, only two-thirds of market research professionals are satisfied with their jobs.

To understand the current key influencers of job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction, please refer to the detailed report.

Job Concern

Currently 40% of all market research professionals are worried about losing their job.

To understand who is most concerned and to view verbatim comments from those who are and are not concerned about their job, please refer to the detailed report.

Business Outlook for the Remainder of 2009

With optimism, nearly half of all market research professionals believe the remainder of 2009 will improve compared to the first six months of the year.

To understand the basis for this outlook and to view verbatim comments from those who have a positive or negative outlook, please refer to the detailed report.

About MarketResearchCareers

MarketResearchCareers is the career website with the most comprehensive database of resumes and jobs focusing exclusively on the Market Research industry

Visited monthly by nearly half of all market research professionals in the United States and possessing the resumes of nearly 20,000 market researchers, MarketResearchCareers is your market research staffing headquarters. See why so many corporate hiring managers, human resource professionals, market research suppliers, and thousands of skilled researchers turn to MarketResearchCareers to fill their market research jobs.

Please contact Mike Carroll at 1-800-872-5401 or mcarroll@marketresearchcareers.com for permission to use these results.