Announcing the 25th Annual Las Vegas Conference

We’re proud to announce the we’re co-hosting along with the Southwest and Northwest chapters our 25th Annual Las Vegas Conference this March.

March 2 – 4th
Paris Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas, NV

Speakers include:

Be sure to register early and  reserve your room at a special $99/night price.

Register for the conference at SWMRA.org.

2011 Vegas

Download the flyer here.

Special thanks to all our SoCal MRA sponsors of the conference:

Act One Research

Apperson Digital Technology Services

Atkins Research Group

Directions In Research

ISA

Marketing Systems Group

Survey Sampling International

Taylor Research Inc.

LA Research

Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Featured Research – 2010 Top Brands

The Leap Index is an annual ranking of brands by NewMediaMetrics based on consumers’ emotional attachment to brands; in other words, what brands consumers love the most. To compile this year’s index, NewMediaMetrics surveyed a representative sample of the U.S. population — 3,500 people ages 13 through 54, with annual income of at least $35,000. The findings interestingly reveal that of the Top 20 most loved brands, fourteen are companies that offer digital and virtual experiences. Four of those are Apple brands. Only one, Disney Parks, offers real world entertainment experiences. And even Disney augments many of their experiences with electronics.  Welcome to the digital consumer world.
The Top 20 Brands:

1. iPod
3. Disney Parks
4. Xbox
7. Sony Playstation
8. Honda
9. iPad
10. Lexus
11. Google search
12. Google
13. Apple
14. Blackberry
16. Microsoft Windows 7
17. Microsoft Windows
18. Always
20. Microsoft
Surprisingly Nokia did not feature in the Top 20 brands list. Is
Nokia loosing its grip on the mobile market? Time will tell.
SOURCE:

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Linda Giniewicz

Linda Giniewicz
Vice President
Qualitative Insights/Field by design

MRA Member since 1996

The SoCal MRA recently sat down with Linda Giniewicz, a market research professional and long time MRA member, to get to know her on a personal level and to recognize her valued support.

How long have you been in the Market Research field?

I started my career in research in 1995 with a company by the name ofField Management Associates. I had just relocated to San Francisco, CA from NY and responded to an advertisement in the newspaper. The ad was for Research Manager, for which I was totally unqualified. The owner, Hal Berke, took a chance on me based on my prior management experience. I landed the job and a lifelong friend.

What do you enjoy most about your current role?

I love the diversity of my current role. I generate business and execute strategic initiatives, but I still get the opportunity to be involved in the data collection process. The team at QI is unique and versatile. Most of our core staff has grown and changed roles within the company. Watching the development of our team has been a great experience for me.

What advice do you have for anyone wishing to enter the MR field?

Market Research is a great industry with ample opportunity. It’s a creative environment that requires a solid problem solving skill set. It is an exciting time in MR as we are implementing advancements in technology to enhance data collection.

How has the SoCal MRA enhanced your professional experience?

SoCal MRA was my first exposure to the marketing research industry as a whole. My first speaking engagement in our industry was for the SoCal MRA in 1996. I continue to depend on the SoCal MRA for networking, education, and resources.

Recap: Annual Holiday Party at the Redbury Hotel

This year’s SoCal MRA annual holiday party was held at the newly-renovated Redbury Hotel, in the heart of bustling Hollywood. The vibe was warm, artsy, and sophisticated, as guests were welcomed by lush red curtains, funky Rock N Roll shabby-chic decor, and, of course, raffle tickets! At the front door, guests were greeted by smiling fresh faced volunteers (thanks, volunteers!), and dropped off generous donations for Children’s Hospital. Tray-passed signature cocktails got the party started off right, as did the yummy hors d’oeuvres, including flatbreads, mini-sliders, and other little nibbles. After everyone got a chance to mingle a bit, check out the space and, of course, the open bar, The Redbury opened the dinner buffet area, filled with delectable middle eastern delicacies of all shapes and sizes, that kept on arriving all night long. Some members clustered near the bar and the food, while others hung out in the heated outdoor patio, and there was plenty of room to co-mingle, meet fellow MRA members, and enjoy a casual chat about business, life, and everything in between. The raffle kicked off later into the evening, with fabulous prizes provided by the evening’s sponsors and our board members, including, among others, techie goods like the new Kindle, and themed gift baskets, including a ‘relax’ package of bubble-bath, bottle of wine, and box-set of DVDs, and a fun stocking of toys and the Toy Story DVDs. The party continued well into the night, as folks made some new contacts, re-connected with old colleagues, and danced like teenagers. As the party wound down, the smart few who got a room at the hotel continued the revelry upstairs, thankful for the Redbury’s big suites with cozy couches, big kitchens, and downtown views!

SoCal MRA teamed up with Digital LA to bring a specialized panel entitled “TV Goes Social.”

This event was part of Social Media Week and was a must-attend event for any professional interested in the latest social media strategies that companies have been using on a variety of platforms. The event was on Sept. 21st at the Viceroy in Santa Monica and sold out in two days.

Panelists included:

  • Dana Robinson, NBC Universal, Director of Social Media
  • Melva Benoit, Fox Broadcasting Company, SVP Consumer Insight and Audience Research
  • Emily Gates, Passenger, VP Client Services (ABC Studios, FOX, VH1, Fuse)
  • Jordan Glazier, Eventful, created social media campaigns for NBC (The Event), ABC (Happy Town), COX (If You Really Knew Me), MTV (Savage County), E! (Kourtney and Khloe take Miami), Paranormal Activity
  • Somrat Niyogi, CEO of Miso, a “Foursquare for TV” app rewarding users with badges when they check-­‐in to TV shows on TNT, WE tv, etc.

Related articles

Research Industry Index Reaches Highest Score Ever

Glastonbury, CT, January 14, 2011 – The Research Industry Index (RII) – the Marketing Research Association’s survey-driven composite index of business activity in the U.S. marketing research industry – continues to build on the improvement seen in the first half of 2010, with a third quarter score of 101.

This is the first time the index has passed 100 since the baseline survey was conducted in the fourth quarter of 2007. This also is the highest the index has scored since the start of the recession, indicating that the U.S. marketing research industry is moving into recovery. In contrast, the index hit an all time low of 84 during the first quarter of 2009.

“This good news is fueled by the performance of medium to large size firms. Many small firms are still experiencing decreased or flat business, reduced staffing and suppressed margins,” according to Ken Roberts, president elect of MRA and co-author of the RII report.

“Another contributing factor to the improvement is greater reliance by corporate researchers on their research suppliers,” Roberts said. “Almost one-half of corporate researchers are outsourcing more work to vendors, including tasks that typically have been considered internal responsibilities,” he added.

RII is a composite based on reported changes in key business metrics (RFPs, projects and staffing levels), as well as changes in business owners’ perceptions of the health of their business. The base period (Index = 100) is the fourth quarter of 2007. In the most recent wave of the survey, online interviews were conducted among 229 senior executives from both corporate researchers and marketing research firms via a survey hosted by Authentic Response. Reporting was completed by Cooper Roberts.

SoCal MRA Newsletter – January Edition

Hello SoCal MRA Members,

I’m very happy to announce some great events coming up this year that will have highly engaging content, and of course, be very entertaining as well. First up is the 25th Annual Las Vegas Conference, that members of the SoCal, Southwest and Northwest chapters have been working very hard on to put together a top-notch event. The speaker line-up for the conference is most impressive, and promises to be enriching and educational. Join us in Vegas on March 2-4, 2011 at the Paris Hotel.

I’m also really excited for our upcoming SoCal MRA education day that we are holding for the first time ever on Catalina Island. A central destination for Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, Catalina offers a beautiful, unique setting that will make a prime line-up of speakers and social hour even better. The event is scheduled for Friday, April 1, 2011, so those who wish to stay the night can enjoy the many offerings Catalina has on Saturday as well.

As is tradition, there will also be a sprinkling of mixers throughout the year. First up is a gathering on February 2nd from 6-9P at Magnolia Hollywood, sponsored by Research Now and the SoCal MRA.

I’ve had a great time meeting many new people this past year, and want to thank all of those who helped put together our first three events this season: TV Goes Social panel, the San Diego mixer, and our fabulous holiday party, where we also gave back by collecting toys for The Children’s Hospital.

I hope everyone has a healthy and happy 2011, and I look forward to seeing even more of our membership getting involved in our upcoming events.

With Warm Regards,

Karen Manne

2010-2011 SoCal MRA Chapter President

To read the rest of the Newsletter, download it here.

First Event of 2011 – February Mixer at Magnolia Hollywood

Join us for our first chapter event of 2011

SoCal MRA February Mixer

Sponsored by: Research Now

Magnolia Hollywood

February 2, 2011

6pm til 9pm

6266 1/2 Sunset Blvd

Hollywood, CA 90028

(323) 467.0660

Back patio

This event is free and as always, non-members are welcome. Appetizers will be provided.

Looking forward to seeing you all there !

Don’t forget about our upcoming Joint Chapter Conference, Las Vegas –March 2-4, 2011.