User Research - S3A Canada

We firmly believe that capturing market research insights from buyers at all levels of competition is a vital component of the product development process.

Product development shouldn’t just be done in a silo, with designers and developers closely looking at the product. It’s too easy to get tunnel vision and build a product that’s more focused on what you can and want to deliver, rather than what the customer wants.

Market research done right forces you to step out of that bubble and not just look at how you can make the product shinier, faster and stronger, but how you can give it the right place in the market. Because product development is also developing a marketing and sales strategy. It’s putting customers on a journey that turns them into lifetime loyalists.

Our market research program helps you determine what the research mix should look like, since developing a new product is never just about just a product.

Exploratory Research

Our initial research goals endeavor to provide a comprehensive overview of the total target market, including segments, growth rates, pricing tiers, regional breakdowns and a thorough analysis of profit margins. Basically, we research what you specifically need to research.

Define Objectives

After exploratory, we pinpoint what you really need to learn from the market as it pertains to your product idea, including competitor analysis, buying patterns, market segments, key clients and distribution channels. Research objectives need to be clear and focused.

Concept Testing

Research continues even after initial product development. Is the idea you have good enough to enter the market, or do you need input to fine-tune it? Focus groups play a key role. What features do they like? What would they pay for this? How easy is it to use?

Insight to Innovation

Many traditional user research consulting firms excel at collecting general insights but may lack the essential knowledge required for integrating product-specific data into relevant design and development. This often leads to a lot of data without a clear roadmap for action. On the other hand, industrial design firms are creatively inclined but might be guessing at customer preferences due to the absence of a solid foundation in user research.

Our unique expertise lies in developing apparel and accessory products within the sporting goods industry, and we’ve augmented this strength with partners in research. This fusion of capabilities allows us to bridge the gap between research and product insights. Our primary advantage in conducting user research is our ability to design research programs that yield practical opportunities for innovation.

Here are a few of the user research tools:

TeamLocker Product Research
Interview research
Buyer Persona Research
Market Segmentation Research
Store and On-Line Research
Customer Satisfaction/Loyalty Research
Pricing Research
Competitive Analysis Research
Prototype Evaluation Research
First Look Focus Groups

Customer Retention

Did you know that it can cost five times more to attract a new customer, than it does to retain an existing one? A customer may be loyal to your product today, but this can change if confronted with lower prices, better quality, improved access and/or a better customer experience.

You can reverse this trend by gaining a deeper understanding into how your existing customers think, their challenges and priorities, how they see your company, and why they value your products or services.

You can then use this knowledge to improve your brand’s strengths and identify ways to solve any weaknesses. This intelligence puts you at a distinct advantage in a fast-changing marketplace and equips you to be more knowledgeable than your competitors.