News notes
The Market Research Society, London, has launched a trust mark to endorse a company’s commitment to the fair use of consumer data. To earn the trust mark, a company must commit to 10 core principles:
- We will ensure that all personal data is collected with customers’ consent.
- We will not use personal data other than the purpose for which consent was given, respecting customers’ wishes about the use of their data.
- We will make sure customers have access to the personal data we hold on them and how we use it.
- We will protect personal data and keep it secure and confidential.
- We will ensure staff understand that personal data is just that – personal – and ensure that it is treated with respect.
- We will ensure that the vulnerable and underage are properly protected by the processes we use for data collection.
- We will manage our data supply chain to the same ethical standards we expect from other suppliers.
- We will ensure that ethical best practice in personal data is integral to our procurement process.
- We will ensure that all staff who have access to personal data are properly trained in its use.
- We will not use personal data if there is uncertainty as to whether the Fair Data Principles have been applied.
The Location Privacy Act of 2011, sponsored by Minnesota Senator Al Franken, has been reported favorably by the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to information from the Electronic Privacy Information Center, Washington, D.C. The bill requires affirmative consent for the collection and disclosure of location information, an important protection for cell phone users and users of location-based services.
Acquisitions/transactions
Princeton, N.J., research company ORC International has acquired Marketing Research Services Inc., Cincinnati.
Vision Critical, Vancouver, B.C., has acquired DiscoverText, a cloud-based text analytics solution, from Amherst, Mass., software company Texifter LLC. Vision Critical will combine DiscoverText with its insight communities.
Westport, Conn., research company reInvention LLC has acquired New York research company Authentic Response. Authentic Response will continue to operate independently with the goal of becoming a unified brand by the end of 2013.
Watertown, Mass., health record management services company athenahealth Inc. has acquired Epocrates Inc., a San Mateo, Calif., research company.
The 451 Group, a New York IT analysis company and owner of 451 Research, has acquired Boston research company Yankee Group from Alta Communications, a Boston private equity firm. Yankee Group will operate as an independent division of The 451 Group.
InMobi, a Singapore mobile technology platform and advertising network, has acquired Bristol, U.K., mobile analytics company Overlay Media. The Overlay Media team will be based out of InMobi’s London headquarters.
YuMe, a Redwood City, Calif., advertising software company, has acquired San Jose, Calif., research company Crowd Science.
New York research company GfK’s animal and crop health division has acquired the Global Seed Market Database and the Global Seed Sector Outlooks for major global field and vegetable crops from Context Network LLC, West Des Moines, Iowa.
Association/organization news
The Qualitative Research Consultants Association, St. Paul, Minn., is accepting presentation proposals for its 2013 annual conference, themed “Mission Exploration” and held on October 16-18 in San Diego. Potential speakers are encouraged to submit topics that explore new and divergent perspectives, transformative thought-leadership and best practices. Deadline for proposals is March 15. For topic guidelines and more information visit www.qrca.org.
The Marketing Research Institute International (MRII), St. Louis, has appointed its 2013 board of directors: Charlotte E. Sibley, president; Michael Halberstam, secretary-treasurer; John Lewington, immediate past-president; and Barry Watson, president-elect. MRII has also elected Lisa Courtade, Roger Green, Ken Roberts and Bart Weiner as board directors.
New accounts/projects
Schlesinger Associates, an Iselin, N.J., research company, has been selected as the recruiting and facility management partner for The Insight Lab, a St. Louis research facility.
New York research company Millward Brown’s Link facial coding technology has been adopted by Unilever, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta.
Columbia, Md., research company Arbitron Inc.’s Portable People Meter radio ratings service has been adopted by Cumulus Media, Atlanta, for all Cumulus stations in the radio markets surveyed by Arbitron.
Opinionmeter International, a San Leandro, Calif., research company, has added Pugsley + Surgenor Advertising Inc., Toronto, to its network for licensees for its mobile survey solution.
The Duke-Ipsos Research Center, New York, has added GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, London, to its advisory board.
AdinTop, a Saudi Arabia digital media network, has adopted Melbourne, Australia, research company Effective Measure’s data insights and consumer and campaign profiling solutions to supplement its own offerings.
Surescripts, an Arlington, Va., e-prescription network, has selected Study Hall Research, Tampa, Fla., to complete a series of in-depth interviews with health care decision makers regarding Surescripts’ offerings.
New companies/new divisions/relocations/expansions
GMO Research, Tokyo, and Horizon E-lab Ltd., a division of Horizon Research Consultancy Group, Beijing, have partnered to establish a joint venture company in Shanghai, China. The company will be named GMO E-Lab Marketing Research.
Barcelona, Spain, research company Netquest has opened an office is Santiago, Chile. Enric Cid will lead the operation, assisted by Jordi Quirós.
The Retail Outsource, a Coral Gables, Fla., sales performance agency, has launched its sister company, The Consumer Insight (TCI). TCI is a research company headquartered in Miami and is online at www.theconsumerinsight.com.
Advanced Focus, a New York research company, has opened The Loft, a research venue located in Manhattan at 15 West 39th Street.
Frank Fantini and Todd Eilers have partnered to found Eilers Research, Anaheim Hills, Calif. The company will focus on the gaming equipment and technology sector within the casino gaming industry. The company is online at http://eilersresearch.com.
Wilmette, Ill., research company Insights in Marketing has launched its I on Women division.
Point Consultancy, a Dubai research agency, has launched Ignite, a division focused on fast-moving consumer goods. Ignite is online at www.pointconsultancy.com/ignite.
Insight Research Group, London, has launched IQ, a quantitative research practice for health care clients. Philip Dunn will lead the operation.
The Research Partnership and The Access Partnership, London, have relocated their U.K. headquarters to Chester House, Fulham Green, 81-83 Fulham High Street. E-mail addresses will remain the same but the main switchboard number and direct telephone numbers have changed.
Paul Nisbet has launched One Research in Rochester, N.Y., specializing in health care and patient outcomes. The company is online at www.oneresearchus.com.
L&E Research, Raleigh, N.C., has partnered with Leibowitz Market Research, Charlotte, N.C., to open a recruiting facility in Charlotte.
Market Strategies International, Livonia, Mich., has opened an office in Singapore. David Ying Hon Ho will lead the office.
Waltham, Mass., research company Affinnova has opened an office in Chicago. The office is located in the Willis Building at 233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 6225.
Research company earnings/financial news
Ace Metrix, Mountain View, Calif., announced 116 percent growth in revenues over 2011. Fourth-quarter 2012 revenues rose 160 percent over fourth-quarter 2011.
The Sound Research, Vancouver, B.C., reported commissions of $7.4 million in 2012, a 25 percent increase over 2011.