The last few years have unquestionably tested our dependency on a commercial goods supply chain constantly in motion. From pandemics and severe weather to canal blockages and labor strikes, even the most successful companies are currently feeling the effects of the currently clogged chain, regardless of industry. In the wake of the Covid-19 shut down, factories closed or slowed production and the re-opening of the economy has been anything but seamless. There just isn’t enough – people (longshoremen, drivers, and postal workers), places (warehouse space), or things (lumber, computer chips, paint, etc) – to fill the demand for many of the goods that consumers need and want today.

Short answer – pretty important!  Sustainability is no longer the buzzword it once was at the turn of the century – it’s now a ‘must-have’ instead of a ‘nice-to-have’ when it comes to consumer purchasing behaviors and if your company isn’t committed to reducing their environmental footprint, you might find yourself falling behind the competition.

School is back in session, and many are back to a little bit of normalcy after the Covid-19 pandemic propelled higher education institutions into uncharted territory with abrupt shutdowns and the challenges of online learning and instruction. Nonetheless, there has been an increased push to establish mental health support programs and services to help students deal with the lingering stress, depression and anxiety related to the feelings of isolation and uncertainties about the pandemic and what lies ahead.

Choosing a college is a big decision – arguably one of the biggest of a young adult’s life. Tons of research is done, both formally and word of mouth, visits are made, feelings are had, and finances are evaluated. The timing of the entire process can take up to two years with many students now starting their higher education search early in junior year. Finally, after a consideration process unlike almost any other, the final choice is made.

Businesses tend to perceive market research as a “one and done” part of the process in the early stages of a project, campaign launch or overall business rebrand - limited to an output of data that will be used to inform development and sales teams of who their target audience is and what messages they want to hear. While this information is clearly important, the methods used in early market research can also be utilized by sales teams to increase renewals and upsells on an ongoing basis from existing clients. With the support of internal research teams or supplier-side consultants, sales teams can employ research techniques that will not only provide the insights necessary to increase overall revenue, but also improve the relationship between the company and their clients or customers.