Retail Research: Do It Right from the Start
Today’s retail environment is more competitive and dynamic than ever: Consumers have countless choices—whether shopping in stores, online, or through hybrid experiences—and their expectations continue to evolve.
Fortunately, retailers, developers, property owners, and other participants in this sector have a proven ally to help understand changing buying habits, market conditions, customer preferences, and competitive pressures before making decisions that impact profitability and long-term growth.
That partner is RMS. And we’re ready, willing, and able to develop and execute research initiatives to help reduce uncertainty, identify opportunities, and make investments with confidence.
Who We Work With
We Understand the Retail Ecosystem
From mall intercepts to online brand perception studies, from the real-world insights gleaned from a Mystery Shopper initiative to 100,000 feet market and competitive studies, RMS has formidable experience in meeting the research needs of organizations throughout the retail ecosystem, including:
- National and regional retail chains, both online and brick-and-mortar
- Commercial real estate developers, property management, leasing firms
- E-commerce and omnichannel retailers, including experience studies related to online storefronts and apps
- Economic development organizations, municipalities, and downtown development agencies
- Independent retailers and specialty stores
- Shopping malls and retail center owners
- Retail brokers and site selection consultants
- Restaurants and hospitality brands
- Franchise organizations and franchisors
RMS Specialties
Research That Supports Better Retail Decisions
Understanding Your Shoppers
Whether the goals is refining merchandising strategies, optimizing marketing, boosting sales revenue, or creating a more compelling shopping experiences–successful retailers understand the people they serve. Better yet, they continually refresh and affirm that understanding in light of today’s fast-changing and hyper-dynamic marketplace. To help achieve this comprehension, RMS offers:
- Customer satisfaction surveys
- Shopper intercept interviews
- Consumer behavior studies
- Awareness and usage research
- Focus groups
- Online surveys
- Among many others
Make Smarter Real Estate Decisions
Location remains one of the most important decisions in retail. In support of this discioline, RMS can provide:
- Market analyses, trade area studies, other kinds of site selection research (e.g. underserved or oversaturated markets)
- Competitive analyses
- Feasibility studies to inform expansions, franchising, leasing decisions
Evaluate the Customer Experience
Products alone rarely determine success—the customer experience does. RMS helps organizations with:
- Brand perception, customer satisfaction, service quality, employee performance, and overall shopping experiences
- Mystery Shopping programs to provide real-world that help identify service gaps, verify compliance with operational standards, and more
- Pre-testing of new products, services, and marketing concepts before major roll-outs, reducing risk and improving likelihood of market acceptance
- Demographic and psychographic profiling
Retail Research That Delivers Results
Retail success depends on understanding customers, markets, locations, and emerging trends before important decisions are made.
With decades of experience conducting research for retailers, developers, property owners, consumer brands, and public-sector organizations, RMS has proven experience delivering objective insights that organizations need to reduce risk, improve performance, and capitalize on new opportunities.
Do It Right. Start with research from RMS!
Do it right!
Simply put, the best retail organizations don’t rely on assumptions.
They rely on evidence.