NEWS

Consumers on the move ... who is the New Consumer?

Sustainability triggers a drastic shift in consumer behavior. Companies realize that it is a necessity for brand affinity.
But what is the concrete interpretation of this sustainability concept in different markets and how can companies reach this New Consumer?

This is what GfK Significant reveals in the third New Consumer study that was conducted in close cooperation with Futureproofed and Burat.

Read more about it >>here<< 

Download the New Consumer Press Release

Belgians and oat, a perfect combination?

Oat consumption in Belgium has increased with more than 13% in 2011. To find out more about this trend, Quaker conducted a research together with GfK. The results indicate that almost 70% consumes oat during breakfast, most of the time in combination with hot milk. But also other ingredients are added like fruit, sugar, raisins, etc… Want to know what the drivers are for eating oat?
>> Find out more here <<

Switching bank account in EU27 remains difficult

GfK EU3C, the European Custom Research and Coordination Centre of the GfK global research agency, performed a study across all 27 EU countries on behalf of DG SANCO (Health & Consumers), using mystery shopping to monitor the effectiveness of the EBIC initiative. More than 900 enquiries were made, using different communication channels (branch visit, on line, telephone) as well as 400 effective attempts at switching bank account.

Only 1 in 5 of the participants in a recent trial was successful in opening a bank account with a new bank and switching a standing order, based on the process outlined in the Common Principles on Bank Account Switching, a self-regulatory initiative from the European Banking Industry Committee (EBIC).

View the report with the results published on the EC website  >> here.

You can download the Press Release and the report with the results below:

Download GfK EU3C Bank Switching Press Release

Geberit - a taboo breaking research

The European market leader in sanitation technology Geberit introduces Aquaclean - its brand new product - in this Batibouw time of year. Prior to this product launch, an explorative research was conducted. Geberit asked GfK to interview a 1000 Belgians between 35 and 55 to be open about their hygienic behavior. More specifically, we asked them about their toilet visits.

Are you curious to read about the remarkable results and the mysterious product?

You can find the press release below:

Geberit Press Release

Do you also rate your GP (doctor) at 8,5/10 ?

Half of the people in Flanders would rather not have an Islamic GP (doctor) and almost 4 out of 10 prefers having a Caucasian GP. These facts are the result of a research conducted by GfK Significant for Vitaya magazine. All the results will appear in the magazine on Wednesday but you can already read about it in an article on Knack.be.

 

A happy Newyear from all of us @ GfK Significant!

 

We need your talent!

We are looking for new colleagues in different areas of marketing research: from programming to field coordination.

You can find all job opportunities here.

Discover the latest vacancies:

DP Assistant On-line

Call Center Assistant Supervisor

Face to Face Assistant Field Coordinator

Vacature Senior Expert In International Social Research

Quality of Life in Europe

Are you happy with your life? And what about the other citizens in Europe? We are currently figuring it out for you in the European Quality of Life survey.

The survey will be carried out in 33 countries. In 2011 in the 27 Member States and in 2012 also in Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Croatia, Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro.

The interviews with over 40.000 Europeans will be carried out face-to-face in the respondent’s home.

For further information, click the image below to view the press release. 

Young workers disengaged by pressures of work worldwide

Although younger employees are more likely to be free from the biggest responsibilities at work, a larger percentage of them are "frequently” or "nearly always” concerned about their work-life balance, pressure to work long hours, and personal health.

Some striking facts:

In many countries, work pressures are taking their toll on well-being amongst the younger work generation. The recession has dealt a hammer blow to the aspirations of many. More than a third of young employees have been forced to accept a job they were unhappy with (36 per cent) or been driven down a different career path (37 per cent) because of the economy.

Two fifths (39 per cent) believe that their employer is using the recession to justify asking them to do more, compared to one in four older workers (24 per cent). A third (34 per cent) are also concerned about not having the resources to do their work effectively, compared to 22 per cent of workers in their 60s.

Two fifths (40 per cent) are frequently stressed at work – which is a higher percentage than that seen in any other age. Moreover, almost a third (31 per cent) feel under pressure to work long hours.

As a result, two fifths of young workers (39 per cent) are unhappy with their work-life balance – again the highest percentage of all age groups - while a third (32 percent) feel that work pressure and stress frequently impacts their health – five points more than those in their 50s, and ten points higher than those in their 60s.

Find out more in our press release below:

PRESS RELEASE GfK International Employee Engagement Survey

Political crisis major concern of the belgians

The GfK "Challenges of Europe” survey carried out annually, which asks citizens of 11 European countries about their concerns, has shown that the political crisis is the main area of concern for Belgium. Europeans, in general, are also particularly concerned about unemployment, and price and purchasing power development, closely followed by worries about political and economic stability, criminality and the health service.

Find out more about the study in a press article here.

 

300 extra windmills with the help of GfK Significant

A while ago, GfK Significant carried out an important government research about wind energy in Flanders. Together with Flemish minister Freya Van den Bossche, Significant participated in a press conference on this topic. 

You can find the outcome on several newspaper websites, for example here.

The Powerpoint presentation with the results of the survey can be consulted below:

Draagvlak windenergie in Vlaanderen

In Germany, cross-channel retailing is growing more strongly than pure-play e-commerce

The future belongs to retailers who do in-store business while at the same time serving their customers on the internet. A study by GfK and Accenture shows that by 2015, cross-channel revenues will have increased by almost 80 per cent in the German non-food business

>>more

 

In search of the digital consumer - Around 300 marketing experts attend GfK Research Summit

How do companies reach their customers in the digital age? An international GfK conference dealt with this very question. "The Digital Connected Consumer” was the topic of this year’s GfK Research Summit, which was held in Vienna in mid-June and attended by around 300 marketing experts.

>>more

 Both younger and older Germans travel  - The Dutch are the number one travelers

Six in ten respondents will be spending money on vacations this year. People in the Netherlands travel for the longest periods and, correspondingly, spend more money. The travel behavior of Germans more or less corresponds to that of the average Western European. While in all other countries it is particularly younger people who travel, in Germany there is no difference between the generations.

>>more

 

Germans worry the most - Unemployment is Europe's greatest challenge

The situation on the job market remains of the greatest concern, not only to Germans, but to Europeans in general. Compared with the previous year, the degree of concern has even risen slightly. In 8 out of the 11 countries surveyed, unemployment was the most frequently mentioned issue.  Next, some way behind, come price and purchasing power development, and worries about economic stability. Although concerns about the economic climate have dropped back, nevertheless, this is still an issue which comes third on the list of European anxieties. Out of all the Europeans, Germans worry the most and although Germans are currently a little less anxious about the economic situation, the subject still comes in at No.2 on the list of major concerns.

>>more

 

Find information online – then buy in the shops  

GfK Panel Services Germany and Google analyze consumers’ information-seeking behavior when making textile purchases
Consumers are increasingly using the Internet as a guide when making everyday textile purchases. This is the finding of a survey conducted by GfK Panel Services Germany in cooperation with the Internet search engine Google, on the information-seeking behavior of consumers. 

>>meer

83 procent van de Belgen vertrouwt politici niet

Het vertrouwen van de Belg in zijn politici is naar ongekende diepten gezakt. In Vlaanderen heeft nog minder dan één op de vijf kiezers vertrouwen in de politiek. In Wallonië is dat zelfs nog amper één op de tien.

Bron: Eeckhout, B. 83 procent van de Belgen vertrouwt politici niet. De Morgen, 18/03/10, p. 1-6.

>>meer 

Trends Gazellen

Voor de vierde keer is Significant GfK door Trends uitgeroepen tot één van de snelst groeiende bedrijven in Vlaams-Brabant. De Trends Gazellen-bekroning wordt toegekend aan bedrijven die een belangrijke bijdrage leveren aan de economische dynamiek op het vlak van werkgelegenheid, innovatie, competitief en creatief ondernemersschap. Een prestatie die we samen met ons gedreven en professioneel team aan medewerkers hebben neergezet en een waardering waar we heel trots op zijn.

 

The future of consumption

No one can say exactly what the future holds, but it is possible to gain an idea of future behavioral patterns by taking into account current behavior and incipient developments. On the occasion of GfK's 75th anniversary, experts at this year's GfK conference examined the future of markets and consumption.

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Scherven brengen Carglass geluk

Dat Carglass herstelt en vervangt, is u wellicht bekend. Maar achter het spotje schuilt een strategie die sterk focust op de tevredenheid van klanten en werknemers. Zo sterk zelfs, dat de autoruitenspecialist geen genoegen neemt met gewone tevredenheid. Iedereen moet supertevreden zijn, anders komen ze misschien niet meer terug.

Bron: Hermans, H. Scherven brengen Carglass geluk. Bizz nr. 97, mei 2009, p. 38

>>meer

Decreasing spending power: Fiction and/or reality?    

Media are talking about it abundantly.
FMCG Brands are under pressure
How do consumers really cope with the changing prices?
Will the consumption pattern of consumers change?

>>meer

Willen we een Lexus of gaan we toch liever naar Spa?

In een recent onderzoek ging Significant GfK na wat de Belg tegenwoordig verkiest op de luxemarkt. Daaruit blijkt dat we niet enkel meer luxegoederen verkiezen, maar ook wel houden van luxebelevingen.

>>meer