MarketTools and Top Box Associates Join Forces to Offer New Product Forecasting Solution
SAN FRANCISCO and WILTON, Conn., March 13, 2012 / PR Newswire
MarketTools, Inc., the leading provider of software and services for market research and enterprise feedback management (EFM), and Top Box Associates LLC, a global consulting firm specializing in new product forecasting, today announced that they are joining forces to offer a streamlined, end-to-end product forecasting solution. The offering combines MarketTools' expertise in concept testing and shopper research with Top Box Associates' powerful volume forecast modeling capabilities in a "one-stop shop" approach – to quickly, accurately, and cost-effectively forecast performance for new product launches, line extensions, and relaunched products. This joint solution provides a new level of transparency into the product forecasting process, integrating product concept screening in a competitive context, shopper testing in a virtual store environment, launch plan analysis, and an accurate forecast of consumer sales volumes. Clients in the technology, financial services, consumer goods and services, restaurant, and healthcare industries benefit from this integrated solution to drive market-leading product plans for national and global brands.
"By combining primary research and forecasting analysis, our clients get the best of both worlds," said Scott Arnold, President and CEO of MarketTools. "Together, MarketTools and Top Box Associates deliver rapid and accurate testing to help brands gain a thorough understanding of consumer preferences so they can develop winning products that maximize profitability."
"Clients taking advantage of the combined forecasting solution from Top Box Associates and MarketTools will receive more accurate forecasts, in a shorter timeframe and for a better value, compared with the typical approach to scoring and measuring a new product's potential," said George Ciardi, Founding Partner of Top Box Associates. "In addition to the efficiencies that will save both time and money, our clients will benefit from access to deeper insights into the factors that will help them succeed in a competitive marketplace."
MarketTools, Inc., the leading provider of software and services for market research and enterprise feedback management (EFM), and Top Box Associates LLC, a global consulting firm specializing in new product forecasting, today announced that they are joining forces to offer a streamlined, end-to-end product forecasting solution. The offering combines MarketTools' expertise in concept testing and shopper research with Top Box Associates' powerful volume forecast modeling capabilities in a "one-stop shop" approach – to quickly, accurately, and cost-effectively forecast performance for new product launches, line extensions, and relaunched products. This joint solution provides a new level of transparency into the product forecasting process, integrating product concept screening in a competitive context, shopper testing in a virtual store environment, launch plan analysis, and an accurate forecast of consumer sales volumes. Clients in the technology, financial services, consumer goods and services, restaurant, and healthcare industries benefit from this integrated solution to drive market-leading product plans for national and global brands.
"By combining primary research and forecasting analysis, our clients get the best of both worlds," said Scott Arnold, President and CEO of MarketTools. "Together, MarketTools and Top Box Associates deliver rapid and accurate testing to help brands gain a thorough understanding of consumer preferences so they can develop winning products that maximize profitability."
"Clients taking advantage of the combined forecasting solution from Top Box Associates and MarketTools will receive more accurate forecasts, in a shorter timeframe and for a better value, compared with the typical approach to scoring and measuring a new product's potential," said George Ciardi, Founding Partner of Top Box Associates. "In addition to the efficiencies that will save both time and money, our clients will benefit from access to deeper insights into the factors that will help them succeed in a competitive marketplace."
Top Box Associates new product forecasting breakthrough – the ROI of social media/word-of-mouth
WILTON, CONNECTICUT – November 28, 2011
Everyone is focused on tracking buzz or even measuring the effect social media “had” on a product’s sales. While this may be interesting, it is a “rearview” perspective. Top Box Associates has developed and released a prospective forecasting tool that takes a very different approach to social activities and their influence on new product sales. This tool adds foresight into the equation by quantifying the degree to which social activities influence a prospective new product’s sales before the product even launches. This new tool was developed and validated to specifically understand the various facets of social media or person-to-person word-of-mouth messages and their ability to move brand sales. This prospective forecasting tool has been validated in various consumer driven industries, including healthcare/pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, technology, financial services, and durables.
“By combining analytics with primary research, deeper insights can be had that will lead to smarter decisions about which new products to launch and which are more likely to be influenced by social activities/WOM," says George Ciardi, a partner at Top Box Associates. He went on to say, "What if you could identify which new product ideas were more likely to generate buzz or which attributes were more appealing to those individuals who are more socially active? Being able to answer questions such as these has enabled manufactures to make smarter decisions that are based on the way consumers and brands interact in today’s world. In turn, this has led to more informed marketing decisions and stronger new
product launches.”
Everyone is focused on tracking buzz or even measuring the effect social media “had” on a product’s sales. While this may be interesting, it is a “rearview” perspective. Top Box Associates has developed and released a prospective forecasting tool that takes a very different approach to social activities and their influence on new product sales. This tool adds foresight into the equation by quantifying the degree to which social activities influence a prospective new product’s sales before the product even launches. This new tool was developed and validated to specifically understand the various facets of social media or person-to-person word-of-mouth messages and their ability to move brand sales. This prospective forecasting tool has been validated in various consumer driven industries, including healthcare/pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, technology, financial services, and durables.
“By combining analytics with primary research, deeper insights can be had that will lead to smarter decisions about which new products to launch and which are more likely to be influenced by social activities/WOM," says George Ciardi, a partner at Top Box Associates. He went on to say, "What if you could identify which new product ideas were more likely to generate buzz or which attributes were more appealing to those individuals who are more socially active? Being able to answer questions such as these has enabled manufactures to make smarter decisions that are based on the way consumers and brands interact in today’s world. In turn, this has led to more informed marketing decisions and stronger new
product launches.”
Harris Interactive and Top Box Associates Announce Strategic Alliance
NEW YORK and WILTON, Conn., Feb. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/
Creating a high-quality, economical new product forecasting solution, Harris Interactive (Nasdaq: HPOL), one of the world's leading custom market research firms, and Top Box Associates, a global consulting firm specializing in new product forecasting and analytics, today announced a strategic alliance that offers clients a flexible and cost-effective new product forecasting solution. The new offering combines Harris Interactive's global reach and understanding of consumer and brand behavior and Top Box Associates' expertise in forecasting new products, line extensions and relaunched products.
This new alliance will provide users of new product forecasting services the support they need as they seek to launch successful products in today's risky business environment: accurate sales forecasts, quick turnaround, flawless execution, good value, and fact-based guidance.
"This partnership directly addresses an industry need for more insight and improved customization with overall cost efficiency," says Jonathan Siegel, Senior Vice President of Market Strategy and Product & Service Innovation at Harris Interactive. "This partnership delivers the service and customization of a boutique store with the varied selection and price of a big box retailer. This alliance means our clients – starting today – can turn to Harris Interactive for all of their new product and innovation needs, from ideation to launch management, in all the major and emerging markets around the globe."
"We believe our clients will see immediate and important benefits from this alliance," says Top Box Associates' founder and President, Ken Sobel. "Not only will they be able to take advantage of the team's clear strengths in research execution and sophisticated forecasting, but we intend to focus on better launch planning. This alliance allows our clients to leverage the expertise of specialists who have participated in thousands of new product launches across many geographies and business sectors. That expertise means we work with our clients to help assure that the magnitude of the efforts they make in support of their new products will be in balance with the size of the new business opportunities they face. This is a key success factor for new product launches – and one that is too often overlooked."
Creating a high-quality, economical new product forecasting solution, Harris Interactive (Nasdaq: HPOL), one of the world's leading custom market research firms, and Top Box Associates, a global consulting firm specializing in new product forecasting and analytics, today announced a strategic alliance that offers clients a flexible and cost-effective new product forecasting solution. The new offering combines Harris Interactive's global reach and understanding of consumer and brand behavior and Top Box Associates' expertise in forecasting new products, line extensions and relaunched products.
This new alliance will provide users of new product forecasting services the support they need as they seek to launch successful products in today's risky business environment: accurate sales forecasts, quick turnaround, flawless execution, good value, and fact-based guidance.
"This partnership directly addresses an industry need for more insight and improved customization with overall cost efficiency," says Jonathan Siegel, Senior Vice President of Market Strategy and Product & Service Innovation at Harris Interactive. "This partnership delivers the service and customization of a boutique store with the varied selection and price of a big box retailer. This alliance means our clients – starting today – can turn to Harris Interactive for all of their new product and innovation needs, from ideation to launch management, in all the major and emerging markets around the globe."
"We believe our clients will see immediate and important benefits from this alliance," says Top Box Associates' founder and President, Ken Sobel. "Not only will they be able to take advantage of the team's clear strengths in research execution and sophisticated forecasting, but we intend to focus on better launch planning. This alliance allows our clients to leverage the expertise of specialists who have participated in thousands of new product launches across many geographies and business sectors. That expertise means we work with our clients to help assure that the magnitude of the efforts they make in support of their new products will be in balance with the size of the new business opportunities they face. This is a key success factor for new product launches – and one that is too often overlooked."