Knowledge Center
The Science of Taste Testing: How Brands Use Consumer Feedback to Create Winning Products
December 18, 2025
Taste testing is often seen as a simple exercise where people sample a few products, pick a favorite, and brands record the results. In reality, it is a precise scientific process built on decades of sensory research and consumer psychology. Food and beverage companies use taste testing to translate human perception into measurable data that […]
A Business Owner’s Guide to In-store Intercepts: When & How to Use Them
Digital research has transformed how businesses gather feedback. Online surveys, social media listening, and analytics platforms provide a steady stream of data about customer sentiment and trends. Yet what these tools cannot fully capture is context. They measure reactions after the fact, often long after a shopper has made a decision or formed an impression. […]
Lessons from Failed Product Launches: What Market Research Could Have Prevented
In the history of product innovation, few things are as humbling as a failed launch. Even the world’s most recognized brands have stumbled. New Coke, Google Glass, and Crystal Pepsi all had the funding, talent, and advertising power behind them. Yet each missed one critical factor: a deep understanding of the consumer. These products didn’t […]
Consumer Research Panels: What They Are and Why You Need One
October 21, 2025
In crowded markets, guesswork is expensive. In fact, in 2014, Nielsen found that across Western Europe, 76% of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) launches didn’t even make it a full year on shelf (Nielsen 2014). That failure rate is a sobering stat, sure. But it’s also a reminder that decisions made without structured, ongoing customer input […]
How Market Research is Driving Hurricane Helene Recovery in North Carolina
September 23, 2025
Hurricane Helene reshaped life throughout North Carolina in 2024, leaving behind profound challenges that require precise, ongoing attention. While immediate relief was essential, sustainable rebuilding hinges on targeted interventions—areas where market research delivers critical value. Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 4 hurricane on September 26, 2024, with sustained winds […]
What is Central Location Testing? A Complete Guide for Brands and Researchers
July 29, 2025
Did you know? Research shows that up to 70% of taste perceptions can be influenced by the environment in which a product is sampled, from lighting to social context (Journal of Dairy Science, 2020). For brands refining flavors, packaging, or marketing, where feedback happens can be just as important as what is being tested. While […]
The Science Behind Focus Groups: How They Uncover Consumer Insights
June 12, 2025
In a world where businesses are flooded with data, the challenge isn’t just collecting information, it’s understanding the why behind consumer decisions. While surveys and analytics offer valuable quantitative snapshots, they often miss the nuanced motivations, emotions, and social influences that drive behavior. This is where focus groups become indispensable. As a cornerstone of qualitative […]
Data Analysis Techniques in Market Research
November 8, 2024
For marketing professionals, data analysis is more than a skill; it’s the foundation of effective strategy. Every campaign, product launch, or customer experience decision is enhanced by insights drawn from thorough data analysis. With data analysis techniques, marketers can decode market dynamics, consumer behavior, and competitive shifts. Thoughtfully leveraging these insights transforms raw numbers into […]
Sensory Research: How It Works and Why It Matters
September 23, 2024
Our senses serve as a guiding North Star, steering us through life and shaping our decisions and perspectives daily. We constantly rely on them, and in the realm of consumer research, these senses are crucial. The appearance, texture, and taste of a product can significantly determine its success or failure in the market. Sensory research […]
Market Research with the LGBTQ+ Community
March 27, 2024
The LGBTQ+ community is a growing sub-population within the United States as well as throughout North Carolina. Previous market research has identified individuals within this group have “the most disposable income of any niche market,” affecting marketing and advertising campaigns within areas such as vehicle sales, electronics, healthcare products, and tourism. As the community continues […]
