Who are your Friends and Foes?'The Market' generally consists of two dimensions - the near or Micro Environment and the far or Macro Environment. Competitors in the near market can quickly become friends when government legislation threatens their market. It can also be difficult to know who are your customers if they are not the 'consumer' of your product or service. In this area we will provide some simple guidence on the market and how research and analysis can underpin your business - ready for growth! The Macro EnvironmentToday’s organisation face challenges outside of their direct control, but that does not mean you should be unaware of them. In many cases, the opportunity to change lies in the support of some strange friends - potentially your competitors! Add to them your customers and the lobby group created can influence political and technological change perceived singularly as ‘outside your control’. The Micro Environment‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer’ is a well known quote from Sun-tzu (400BC). But, as simple as it sounds, this is not a bad starting point when you look around you and consider who has the greatest influence in your organisation success. The detail of the audit is driven by your desire to understand what makes those nearest positive supporters or the biggest competitive threat. Market ResearchKnowing your market gives you a vital commercial edge. It helps you win customers, test potential markets and stay in tune with competitors and customers. But to do all this, research has to be right on the money: well conceived, objective and intelligently and exhaustively executed.
At thefc, we understand the importance of top quality research. We insist on exacting planning, combining it with diligence, zeal and experience to ensure every project delivers balanced, accurate and relevant findings. We believe it’s the only way to obtain the deep insights that will make a positive difference to your marketing and business decisions.
Our commitment to excellence is matched by our versatility. Whatever your project, we undertake a complete range of B2B research exercises, each expertly designed and implemented around your needs. What we offer- Full research capabilities covering all UK
- Research techniques including telephone, post, fax and online interviews and surveys
- Cross-sector expertise with particular knowledge of licence and food retail markets
- Expert, objective consultancy and full reporting & results analysis
- Our survey capabilities and experience include:
- Market reviews to identify segments, trends & opportunities
- Sector exploration & data gathering
- Competitor profiling & monitoring
- Customer satisfaction, perception and behavioural surveys
- Staff morale and attitudinal research
- Campaign & product evaluations
Simple Tool: Sample Size Calculator Determining the sample size of your research project can be difficult. So, to give you an idea of what is required, we have a sample size calculator from Raosoft available on-line. Click here to begin working out how many to survey for reliable results. |
Strategy Basics
Our marketing audit is a valuable tool to assess the capability of your marketing operation to meet and deliver on the organisations objectives. This is not a witch hunt, but a systematic method of identifying what is done well and improving areas identified as under performing. 
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