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PROBLEM Several of AIM’s research projects within the building construction area indicate that in order to get a product in a newly constructed facility, the product or brand must be listed in the specification. In fact, not only should manufacturers’ brand be listed in the spec; manufacturers must try to be listed as the basis […]
“Finding, developing and completing case histories using research produces positive results.” PROBLEM A national association was interested in developing a series of case studies for their website to showcase the benefits and uses of their materials in various commercial projects. The organization had limited staff and the resources needed to identify potential projects, find key […]
“Using regional focus groups and online surveys helps association gain important feedback on product certification program.” PROBLEM A national manufacturing association wanted to explore design professionals’ awareness of their product certification program. In addition, they also needed to understand how important the product certification was to a designer’s decision to select or recommend a particular […]
“A combination of phone, email and in-person research provides valuable market feedback.” PROBLEM A national company’s new product team was interested in exploring the commercial faucet market to learn more about the market’s preference for styles and types of faucets. The company was developing a new line of faucets and was looking for market feedback […]
“Executive feedback and insight facilitates company revitalization and growth opportunities. “ PROBLEM A large national group of independent distributors wanted to conduct qualitative research with key members of their governing committee to define their mission more clearly and better understand their position and customers’ perception in the market. The organization was interested in getting independent, […]
“Studying association members’ participation, satisfaction and needs increases membership and retention rates.” PROBLEM An international association was looking for membership feedback on their involvement and satisfaction with the association to assist with setting goals and a strategic plan for the next few years. The association wanted to measure members’ participation level in various educational opportunities, […]
“Identifying what Designers and Architects See & Read Produces Positive Results. “ PROBLEM A B2B publisher was looking for a value-added service they could offer their existing advertisers or potential advertisers to enhance the benefits of their advertising program. In today’s crowded marketplace with so many communication channels available, creating and implementing the “right” message […]
“Finding a Path to Customers and Prospects in a Crowded Marketplace can be Complex.” PROBLEM Over the past several years, AIM research has helped clients in the B2B arena study their target audiences and evaluate their position in a market. Conducting customer satisfaction studies, brand awareness research, new product development testing, purchase and buying trend […]
“Virtual focus groups with building owners, designers, architects and engineers delivers results. “ PROBLEM In two-step distribution, it is critical for product manufacturers to keep professionals who influence a product’s purchase (often called influencers) up to date on new products and remind them of the features and benefits their product or service provides. Post COVID […]
“Out-of-the-box thinking can help companies uncover barriers and find solutions to market entry.” PROBLEM An international manufacturer involved in the plumbing industry was planning to introduce a new product to the U.S. market that would use new technology not yet found in the market. While the product was successful in other countries around the world, […]
“Targeted research plan produces current and relevant market insight to drive creative marketing program.” PROBLEM An international association involved with commercial building operations was concerned that mechanical and design engineers were not requiring the use of tested, certified and rated HVAC products in their commercial project specifications. To help address this issue, the association […]
“Using market sales Information to determine market potential and preferences for new products. “ PROBLEM A national company was planning to develop a series of new products for the residential market but needed to gain a better understanding of how large the market was and identify consumers’ preferences for specific styles and types of plumbing […]
“Talking to target audiences can help a product manufacturer identify obstacles AND opportunities.” PROBLEM A product manufacturer wanted to learn more about how data from the operations of commercial buildings was being collected, analyzed and distributed. As more and more functions like heating, lighting and water usage within a building were becoming a part of […]
“Group Discussions with Showroom Consultants Provides Valuable Market Insight. “ PROBLEM An international manufacturer was interested in adding a new product line to their existing product suite. While this company had experience and a leadership position with other products in the category, they were not completely familiar with the market’s preferences within this product segment. […]
“Ongoing Secret Shopping Research Helps Maximize Key Performance Indicators. “ PROBLEM After implementing a full-scale repair and service program, a national company was interested in conducting after-sale service research to evaluate their service performance against key competitors in the market. The client had specific key performance indicators (KPIs) they wanted to measure such as speed […]
Timely Member Feedback Assists Association React, Adapt and Survive! Problem During the first few months of the 2020 COVID pandemic, an international association wanted to learn more about what type of impact the COVID pandemic would have on their association and their membership. In addition, they wanted to identify specific areas where their members may […]
Ongoing Spec Analysis Helps Product Manufacturers Stay Ahead of Competition Problem Monthly specification analysis can be used to monitor a brand’s presence in the commercial market and uncover new opportunities to help companies beat their competition. Knowing where and how a brand is specified within commercial specifications is key to maximizing the chance of getting […]
Listening to Customers on an Ongoing Basis Helps Manufacturer Stay on Top Situation Today the B2B marketplace is changing more rapidly than ever before[1]. To build and maintain a company’s position in the market, it is important to stay “connected” with customers. Therefore, evaluating and monitoring customer satisfaction with a company’s products and services is […]
Consumer Panels Help Deliver Target Research Within a Limited Budget Taking A Sneak Peek at Consumer’s Awareness & Preferences Supports Your Product Development Efforts Consumer Panels Help Deliver Target Research Within a Limited Budget PROBLEM A U.S. product manufacturer was interested in developing a new skin care product line with natural, healthy ingredients that would […]
Benchmark Wage & Labor Research Keeps Companies On Top in Competitive Job Market Problem Due to COVID, supply chain issues and an increase in the number of baby boomers retiring, the labor market is under pressure to provide higher wages and more benefits[1]. Depending on the industry and the job classification, the demand for qualified […]
Brand Awareness & Market Position Study Problem A building product manufacturer came to AIM to help them understand more about their customers and the market in order to strengthen and grow their business. To increase and maintain business, product manufacturers must start with their customer base. They need to know how they use products, why […]
Problem It is not always easy for a manufacturer’s representative to get an appointment or schedule a face-to-face meeting with building owners or the key influencers in the building construction industry—architects, engineers, designers and others. Everyone is busy today and after the COVID pandemic, many are still working outside the traditional office making it even […]
Problem Professional associations often compile or conduct market research to benefit their members or to help promote the association. Many times, these industry reports are conducted annually to provide the association with up-to-date information and also provide a basis of comparison from year to year. While there are many methods and formats for conducting and […]
Problem What happens when you never advertised, a pandemic hits the country, and you’re looking to grow your business? If you are like one of the major OEM suppliers of door components, you consider advertising of course! At the beginning of 2021, the client contacted AIM’s sister company, Interline Creative Group, Inc. with an RFP. […]
Problem Many manufacturers are looking for ways to get their foot in the door with new projects that are in the planning stages and have a potential need for their product. In a two-step distribution sales situation, it is often the responsibility of the manufacturer’s rep to find and connect with the architect, designer, contractor […]
Problem A major U.S. manufacturer had developed a new coatings technology that would provide commercial and residential properties with a unique fabricated metal product that could create exciting design possibilities for both the exterior and interior of a building. This manufacturer wanted to conduct exploratory research with designers and architects to find out if there […]
Problem When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, a major manufacturer of a consumer hygiene product noticed their sales were shifting. With the onset of the pandemic the entire way consumers look for and purchased products was turned upside down. Without the ability to go to shops and see or touch products, consumers were forced to find […]
Problem While a national consumer products company was in the process of “updating” their website, they wanted to find out what customers liked about their website and what they needed to change to make it more user friendly. Since a company’s website is almost always the first place existing customers or potential customers go for […]
Problem With the possibility of a new US federal infrastructure package in 2021, a national building material association wanted to learn more about what type of products and materials were being used in existing infrastructure projects and what materials were preferred. By becoming more familiar with the market’s product use and preference, the association would […]
Problem A national plumbing manufacturer was looking for a third-party research company to assist them with getting feedback from the market on various products designs that would not only meet the market’s needs, but would provide the company with the most business opportunity. The client requested the research include a balance of response from architects, […]
Problem A major association conducted interviews with 35 of their members. Afterward, they asked: Were they too close to the situation to render objective conclusions? Did their involvement with members shape their conclusions? The association decided they wanted a third-party, trusted advisor’s opinion, and turned to Accountability Information Management, Inc. (AIM). The association provided AIM […]
Problem Often times, company executives are told by their sales team the reason they do not get business or a particular job is because the product or brand was not in the specs. Most construction industry professionals believe that the more often a company is listed in the spec, the better position that product or […]
Our sister company, Interline Creative Group, Inc., worked on a new type of program that got great coverage last week as a case history on their website. Even before the recession reduced the number of new project bids at the client, executives at the worldwide fire protection and security consulting firm client wondered how to […]
Problem The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) is a non-profit organization that represent companies who manufacture kitchen, bath, or other residential cabinets, establishes and promotes standards for the kitchen cabinet industry; defends and advocates in support of the industry; and arms members with valuable tools necessary to promote and grow their businesses. As part of […]
Breaking into a new market with different rules and competitors can be extremely profitable, or a complete disaster, if the company entering the market is not informed and prepared. Chris Myers of Forbes sums it up well: “When teams try to apply their existing model to a new market, more often than not it ends […]
“How can a business survive if it doesn’t fully understand its customers and their preferences?” The answer is that a business can survive without a thorough understanding of what its customers want – but usually not for very long, and not without missing valuable opportunities. One of AIM’s previous clients, a commercial catalog distribution company, […]
Price often has a significant impact on the decision to purchase a product, but it is not the only factor that is important. Complex products and markets require a thorough analysis of available data before making snap decisions to raise or lower prices. One of AIM’s clients wanted to discover the price sensitivity of one […]
There are many things that can go wrong for a business when marketing and selling its products, and negative publicity is near the top of the list. Criticism tends to be more memorable than praise. When factoring in the ability to receive nearly unlimited information from the internet and improved capability to share information through […]
One of AIM’s clients was interested in new product ideas to help protect commercial hospitality property owners and operators from the problems of food-borne illnesses. AIM was asked to explore the various product and service options that might limit the liability and operations issues associated with food contamination. AIM’s client wanted to better understand the […]
Many organizations publish press releases to announce noteworthy events surrounding the company, its events, and its products. When information from a press release is featured in a print or online article, the company knows that its communications have reached someone, and that its public relations strategy is on the right track. However, depending on the […]
It’s hard to argue that employee satisfaction is the cornerstone of any successful business. No business wants its employees to become disengaged. Businesses should take steps to ensure that they are providing employees with the opportunities they need to reach their goals and contribute their best work. However, measuring employee satisfaction accurately is often easier […]
Direct mail is the soul of AIM. We subscribe to the Bob Stone principle of Response, “People won’t switch brands, try a new product or service, unless they have a reason. And there are only two reasons why people buy anything: to gain something, or protect what they already have. Keep that in mind, and […]
A product or company message is leveraged through media outlets, which have a vested interest in publicizing newsworthy items to the trade. AIM practices a public relations technique called “marketing public relations.” Unlike traditional PR, marketing PR has only one goal: response. One of our clients had a recall to a series of products. AIM […]
Quite simply, nothing should be done without an Internet component. The Internet, like the invention of the printing press, is revolutionizing our information sharing behaviors. Regardless of the tactic, a company should always figure an Internet component to supplement the marketing tactic. For example, a loyalty program run by AIM involved 2,000 distributors. In addition […]
He who has a thing to sell and goes and whispers in a well is not so apt to get the dollars as he who climbs a tree and hollers. Sage advice, found on a sugar packet! Advertising is the “big gun” in the marketing arsenal. Even in this age of ignoring advertising, what is […]
As the Internet becomes the preferred venue for many marketers, a dilemma arises: Do you push your message to customers and businesses using traditional tactics like advertising and direct mail, or do you follow the “new” mantra – create inbound marketing strategies and methods that will pull in customers searching for what they want? Customers […]
Many agencies that do media planning utilize complex equations using costs per inquiry, costs per exposure, and so on to develop projections. For example, most agencies deal strictly with the “price” of the media, which is the last factor that AIM considers. In fact, price is the least important factor in the equation. In one […]
AIM’s objectivity is a huge advantage when it comes to evaluating and recommending proper tactics. A company marketing a flexible piping system in fire protection called us in for consultation. His competitor was running full-page ads in major trade publications. After product evaluation and competitive study, AIM recommended direct mail. Initially skeptical, we assured the […]
One of our clients turns over their file for a customer mailing that they pull from their million-dollar Enterprise system. After each mailing we sent all undeliverable returns to the client, pleading with them to delete them from these records. But, their Enterprise system couldn’t delete the records! Eventually, AIM’s maintenance of the database became […]
In 1990, AIM published its evolutionary “Behind the Numbers” in Market Research Magazine. The article recognized the relationship between seers and readers of advertising as determined from the raw research studies available and included the “AIM Ratio.” While a simple ratio, the AIM Ratio revealed the relationship of readers to inquiries. That is, unlike seeing […]
Profiling is gathering characteristics and then using those characteristics to find others of the same ilk, whether people or products. A profile of the perfect customer leads to the perfect offer. While running a loyalty program, AIM was able to track purchases of a specific product for a client. The profile that emerged was that […]
Tracking has implications throughout the marketing process, from monitoring movement of customers to the dissemination of literature. One client called on AIM to evaluate their fulfillment system. The client had everything in place: collecting leads, sending out the literature, sending the leads to the rep sales force. Only one thing was missing: collecting them in […]
As your current markets experience the economy’s effects, your competitors are looking for fresh hunting grounds. Holding onto customers has never been tougher or more critical to success. The problem of retention, however, begins with understanding your own customer base. Recency, Frequency and Monetary (RFM) analysis can give you important insights into what keeps your […]
One client asked us to hone their message to a target audience of engineers; specifically, how manufacturers relate to engineers. AIM market research produced four concepts that their targets were interested in: A company that will be there for them for the long term, a company that would be responsive to problems when they arose, […]
Response contains another principle often overlooked in the marketing mix: conversion to response. In many cases, marketers drive for response and neglect the conversion-to-response ratios. One client wanted to create a package for recruiting students to its technology school. It had a control package that while it did well, needed refreshing. AIM studied the problem […]
AIM conducted one study on a client’s distributor customer base. Knowing this client, we also surveyed the distributor’s customers, the contractors. We painted a more accurate picture of the true size of the market. We presented privately to the National Sales Manager. “Where did you get these numbers?” he asked. “From your customers,” we told […]
Whether you are talking about readership of advertisements, response to direct mail, or response to a promotional program, to measure your ROI you will need to control WHAT you do, and HOW you do it. For example, we once placed 26 different 800- phone numbers (pre-Internet days) to measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign […]
Frequency is the preferred strategy, but sometimes, you can use frequency AND size in innovative ways. For example, one client had a very small budget compared to two major competitors who were running spreads in every issue of the two major architectural publications. The innovative AIM media strategy was to select just one of the […]
Reach can be defined in many ways. One of those ways is making sure you cover the “entire” marketplace. In examining one of our client’s customer files – a major distributor of products in one state – we asked ourselves: how is the coverage by magazines in that state compared to this customer’s file? We […]
Identifying the target is often the most important part of the marketing process. Many times, a company overlooks obvious information within their own database. For example, a software client marketing software to architects hired AIM to purchase media. In reviewing his records (by size of company in terms of employees and annual sales), we were […]