Nature & structure of market research industry (MR, unit 4)

Internal departments: generally only in large companies, others have liaison person

Specialist agencies: may specialise in particular markets, market sectors, particular research services (e.g. 'field agencies' specialise in conducting tel. interviews/e-mail surveys), independent consultants can do a variety of tasks on a smaller scale

Full service agencies: offer everything e.g. BMRB, Ipsos

Syndicated research agencies: research conducted into areas the agency know people are interested in, then sells. Not conducted for any specific client. Examples: Mintel, trendwatching

List brokers: create or acquire lists of potential customers to sell on. The "do you mind being contacted by a third party" guys. Presented in easily compatible formats and checked for accuracy.

Profilers: superimpose profiling information on the basis of postcodes allowing for segmentation of databases. Best known in UK is CACI who produce ACORN

Professional bodies: Marketing Research Society, ESOMAR (World Assoc. of Opinion & Marketing Research Professionals)