Are you kidding me:
Your turn:
I look forward to hearing from you.
Recently I received an email (thanks T.A.) that contained an article from 24/7 Wall St. predicting the top 10 brands that will go away in 2011. To qualify, they expect the brand to be gone by the end of 2011, or for its parent to be sold or go into Chapter 11.
Since most of us are researchers and certainly all of us have an opinion I thought it would be fun to see what you think.
So today I will be showing you a brand with a short description from the article and you get to say if the brand will be going away by the end of 2011. There will be a prize $200 American express gift certificate to the person who has the highest score. This contest will be open for 30 days and we will post the winner on 12/31/2011.
Good luck!
I remember when I first started in the research industry I would sit in the back room of focus groups and manually move the video camera. It may sound boring to most of the readers but to me I enjoyed every second of it because it gave me an opportunity to see some great moderators. Even though I never went to RIVA or the Burke Institute for training I feel I received some amazing first hand training from doing that. I also really enjoyed the interaction of the clients in the back room. Most groups would have chatty clients and once in awhile would be evaluating the moderator and allowed me the opportunity to hear what was important to them. I also believe this training has enhanced my presentation skill set and also how to manage a meeting.
I have been around some terrific moderators in my day. That list includes (in alphabetical order):
Here are my questions:
Here’s something that I think would be a good resource to help people, a book by Robert J. Morais called Refocusing Focus Groups.
Here are links to it on Amazon.com and Paramount Books (the publisher).
I am really excited about hearing from moderators and their experiences and yes feel free to post a little information about yourself and if you are available for subcontracting.
It seems that almost every movie I go to over the past few years involves some type of animals. It got me to thinking about what are some of my favorite animal movies. So here is a list that I put together:
And I think my favorite of all time animal movie is
K-9 – with Jerry Lee (German shepherd) and Jim Belushi. I thought this movie was very funny, It had a pretty good story line and kept my interest.
Ok your turn:
I look forward to reading your comments.
I have been in the research industry for almost 30 years. During that time I have had the pleasure to work and associate with so many talented people. The funny thing is many of them are related! Not to me but to each other!
When I think about research families – I quickly come up with:
(Two quick things not to insult ANYONE I put the list in alphabetical order and APOLOGIZE to EVERYONE I left off the list)
My kids are too young to know what they want to do but who knows maybe they will follow in my footsteps and end up in this great industry.
I really need your help on this and really look forward to compiling a complete list. So THANK YOU in advance for your assistance.
I guess the days of checking into a hotel, leaving the next morning for appointments and coming back to a clean room might be over? Or at least customers will have another option. Lots of hotels are trying to save money, energy and resources and looking at cutting housekeeping services as an option. Here is what a few hotels are doing:
Best Western asks guests to specify their choice of housekeeping: no service, replace towels/empty trash/quick vacuum, or full clean. Guests can check their choice and specify the cleaning hour on a card hung on the door knob. Since the program began late last year, about 40% of guests chose no or limited cleaning, says Ron Pohl of Best Western.
Some chains operated by Wyndham — Super 8, Howard Johnson, Travelodge, Days Inn and Ramada — are adopting Wyndham Hotels’ practice of leaving linens unchanged whenever possible. Starting next year, all Days Inn hotels will reduce bed linen and towel changes from daily to every third day in occupied rooms.
Omni Hotels began asking customers last year if they want limited housekeeping, in which bed and bath linens are changed on request or on the third day.
Some hotels are giving financial incentives for less cleaning.
Where is this all heading?
I realize hotel occupancy rates are lower than normal and they are fighting to be profitable but perhaps they need to look at ways to be greater customer service oriented which in turn will create brand loyal customers.
To me this just doesn’t feel right. What do you think?
I just got off the phone with a client and went to the web and one of the lead stories on my home page was:
Jennifer Capriati Recovering From Drug Overdose
A spokeswoman for Jennifer Capriati says the former top-ranked tennis player is recovering from an “accidental overdose” of prescribed medication. Lacey Wickline told The Associated Press on Monday that the 34-year-old Capriati is stable and a full recovery is expected. She declined to identify the medication.
The spokeswoman says Capriati was rushed to a South Florida hospital early Sunday morning. Wickline would not say how Capriati was found or who called emergency services. Capriati won three majors in a career that was sidetracked by personal troubles.
Yes this story is about Jennifer Capriati but we just as easy could take her name out and insert thousands of other athletes’ names.
So I ask you:
I truly look forward to hearing from you.
Since I graduated college I have always been in the market research industry. During the last 25+years I have been using market research abbreviations that seem to be second hand. I thought it would be kind of cool and fun to have a short quiz on research acronyms.
The quiz will involve 20 common acronyms that you have heard over and over again.
Do you know what they stand for?
You will be on the honor system and all you need to do is say yes or no that you know what it is.
What I am asking is look at the acronym and take 5 or so seconds to say yes or no I know what it stands for.
I promise this will be fun and you will learn something for sure!
Good luck and who knows we may even give out a prize and yes the quiz will be timed so please don’t use Google to help.
Thanks for playing we will post the correct answers on Friday August 6.
Time is FLYING by! I can’t believe that the first six months are in the record book and the year is half over. Most if not all of my industry contacts are happy with their results year to date and are way up over 2009. The question is what happens moving forward?
The real question is which side of the fence are you on?
Or
I really look forward to you sharing your thoughts.
Today is just like most Sundays. I get up early, play with the kids and then go to the store to get the Sunday newspaper and a few healthy items (for those who know me well know that was a joke – I rarely eat healthy) at the grocery story.
As I was talking on my cell phone to my buddy GS, I walked into Tom Thumb and had a few quick items to buy. Normally I don’t like to chat on my cell phone in a store but since I hadn’t spoken to him in a few weeks I continued our discussion. I was still on the phone and of course in the express checkout line since I had maybe 7 items. The cashier’s name was Tony who was very nice and outgoing. I gave him my rewards card and he said to me “do you need any ice today?” I paused for a minute and asked GS if I could call him back. I then looked at Tony and said “I am just curious. I know Tom Thumb does a lot of training did they tell you to say that?” He paused and wasn’t sure if he might be in trouble and answered “no not at all. I assume since you have cases of water, soda and other drinks that is warm I thought you might be having a party or something and need some ice”.
I looked at Tony and said “I wish everyone on our team and every company was like you”. Thanks and have a great day!
I was very impressed for a number of reasons:
What do you think of Tony?
I look forward to reading your comments.
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