"Find the right features, place, price, and promotional tools to maximize product (and product portfolio) profit"

While it represents no more than a single sentence, we appreciate the fact that identifying and implementing the optimal mix presents a profound challenge. We often find clients who have been frustrated by expensive "black box" analysis methods wondering whether they should simply turn to do-it-yourself online polling for a "voice of the customer" survey. Those who do often find that that they uncover more questions than they're able to answer.

Much of our work involves helping clients apply leading-edge research to complex integrated product planning. We recognize the critical value of clear plans supported by intelligible analysis. Questions we continually answer include:

• We have too many SKUs -- what is the best way to rationalize them? What is the best mix of SKUs for optimum profit?
• I'm selling the same product in all global regions -- what is the opportunity if I develop versions for each region? And how exactly should they differ?
• I have many possible features that I can add to the next version of my product, but I can't afford to add them all. How do I prioritize, and should I produce more than one version with different feature sets?
• We are considering producing a radical new product, but we need to know exactly who will be most likely to want it, how they will use it, and how many we are likely to sell?
• I can't afford to do a full-blown market test. How can I tell if one program/promotion option is more likely to be successful than another?
• We always focus on price promotions that devalue our product. What are the alternatives that add value or cost less?

• Feature research using conjoint analysis and MaxDiff
• Acceptance research using logit techniques
• Pricing research using conjoint and other advanced techniques
• Competitive choice and threat analysis using conjoint analysis, coupled with market scans
• Parametric's SKUTools™ Simulator