Product category:
Trade associations and professional bodies
News Release from: AIMRI
Edited by the Marketingservicestalk Editorial
Team on 10 July 2007
AIMRI supports international research
agencies
The Alliance of International Market Research Institutes represents the corporate and business interests of market research agencies worldwide and helps you win more business.
Since AIMRI's first meeting in Bruges in early 1991 the organisation has grown to 109 members in 29 countries There are now AIMRI members in most parts of the world
This article was originally published on Marketingservicestalk on 11 Jul 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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AIMRI offers the best opportunity for members to develop their business by connecting them with fellow professionals throughout the world and welcomes membership applications from professional research agencies in all countries.
AIMRI is a trade association for professional market research companies and its principal aim is to promote the business interests of members.
A recent survey among members indicates that a significant proportion have gained additional business as a direct result of membership.
The primary advantages of AIMRI membership for your company are: listing on the AIMRI website where the services for members are being improved continuously (members can link the AIMRI entry to their own existing website); the opportunity to develop vital cross-border trading links with fellow members; conferences and seminars to discuss problems and solutions facing the research profession; AIMRI Codes of Business Practice and Quality Guidelines to reassure clients of members' professionalism; the right to use the AIMRI logo on stationery, reports and proposals to reinforce professionalism; access to clients who are encouraged to attend and participate in AIMRI activities, to the mutual benefit of agencies and clients.
Because membership indicates consistency of standards and reliability, it will confer status on members.
This is particularly important when dealing with international clients who may be confused by the existence of so many national research societies, and indeed by the non-existence of such bodies in certain countries.
Full membership is therefore limited to professional market research agencies who fulfil the following requirements: the principal business activity of the company must be marketing or social research; applicants will normally need to have been trading for a minimum of two years; membership is open to partnerships as well as incorporated businesses; market research consultants (who do not employ more than one other full-time staff person) may join as Consultant Members; members with a network of offices can arrange membership for their branches (branches must trade under the same (or similar) name to that of the parent company/head office and will be listed as members in the directory and the website); members must confirm that they abide by the ICC Code of Conduct (as endorsed by ESOMAR) and/or the relevant code of their national market research association; members are required to adhere to the AIMRI Code of Business Practice and the AIMRI Guidelines for Quality Standards in Market Research.
Professionalism.
The major threat facing research companies is competition from other disciplines such as management consultants, database and telemarketers.
Our profession's share of the total spend on management and marketing information is in decline.
Professional research companies are facing severe price competition from companies that do not adhere to our own industry standards.
How can clients be assured of the quality of the research they are buying? Your AIMRI membership demonstrates to potential clients that they are dealing with a company which adheres to accepted international codes of conduct and to AIMRI's own Code of Business Practice and Quality Guidelines.
AIMRI normally organises three one-day meetings each year in different European countries.
Each meeting has a core speciality around which topics are raised and members experienced in that speciality give short presentations to raise their profile with other members.
The meetings are open to non-member delegates and non-member speakers are also invited.
The meetings provide informal opportunities to develop profitable working relationships.
The Insight Show this year will be on 20-21 November 2007 at Earls Court, London.
The AIMRI Village is again a major feature of the show, occupying a prominent position in order to focus on AIMRI's international rationale.
Most of the members who took part have already re-booked after a very positive experience last year.
Every year the Insight Show gets bigger and better both from the view point of exhibitors and visitors and the proportion of visitors expecting to spend over £100,000 on research rises considerably - last year to 42%.
At least five times a year AIMRI organises dinners for members and guests: these take place not only during AIMRI meetings but also during other events where AIMRI members can be gathered together.
Inevitably much of the work of international research is carried out by telephone and email.
The dinners provide an opportunity for members to meet and get to know each other personally and have proved very popular.
All members have a record on the AIMRI website, which has already established itself as a valuable reference guide accessed frequently from many countries.
It is a useful tool for research users seeking research agencies on a worldwide basis.
A regular newsletter, Synergie, is sent to members, clients and potential clients.
It contains articles by leading research practitioners as well as news of AIMRI conferences and other activities.
Synergie can also be downloaded from the website in PDF form.
AIMRI runs co-operative advertisements in international directories (two in the US, one in the UK, one in Germany and one in France).
Between 15 and 20 members take space each time.
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