Service Hero of the Month - December 2012

Retail Active is the leading British brand auditing and mystery shopping company and we like to recognise service excellence not just by providing clients with our acclaimed mystery shopping reports, but from accepting nominations for our Service Hero award.

We are delighted to award this month’s Service Hero to Sharon, a valued colleague at the Glossop branch of Wickes.

Sharon has been nominated for recognition as a Service Hero due to her excellent Customer Service skills, noted in a recent mystery shopping visit.  She takes the trouble to explain the services that Wickes can provide and does so at the right level for her customers to understand. 

Our mystery shopper said, “I felt that she was interested in my needs, not just in a sale, and as a result I felt a valued customer and would have been more likely to buy as a result.”

If you want to nominate someone for our Service Hero of the Month, please email shoppersupport@retailactive.com with your nominee’s name, the company they work for and the reasons for your nomination.

The nomination doesn’t have to come from one of our mystery shopping visits or brand audits.  The nominee could work at your regular coffee-stop or supermarket – we are happy to receive all recommendations.

Please include your contact details in the email, just in case we need to get in touch for more information with regards to your nomination.

If you’re interested in seeing how we can help you to improve Service Excellence and Customer Experience within your business, please email info@retailactive.com for more details.

Retail Active Supports Movember

Being a Mystery Shopping Company we have a lot to say to our clients about how to engage their customers. We believe that a customer who is engaged and invested in your business (and this is basically true no matter what business you are in), is a customer who will stand by you. We don’t just mean that they’ll keep purchasing your product either; a good customer is like a good friend, and if you’re good to them they will move heaven and earth to help you, not because of what you’ve done for them but because they believe in you. So of course we hope you feel like we’re doing right by you, because no matter whether you’re a client or a Mystery Shopper you are incredibly important to us, we couldn’t do what we do without you.

Of course you might be justified for asking “What’s with the sudden love in?” well let me tell you. We’re about to talk to you about our beliefs, feelings, and a sterling cause which really knows how to engage you on a personal level. As a mystery shopping company what we tend to talk about is Mystery Shopping, Brand Audits, customer satisfaction surveys and the like. We really don’t talk about our beliefs and passions, we don’t know about other Mystery Shopping Companies (or indeed other companies generally), but talking about our beliefs always seems a little odd. Isn’t it something for the individual rather than a large company? Well of course it is, but it doesn’t mean that we can’t pull together to make a worthwhile difference, and throughout Movember we’re going to be trying to do just that.

For those who don’t know, the Movember Foundation is a charitable initiative aiming to raise funds and awareness for men’s health (specifically prostate and testicular cancer). During November each year they are responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in the UK and around the world. Each participant (a Mo-Bro) starts November clean shaven and grows a moustache over the course of the month. They essentially becoming a walking talking advertisement for Movember (talk about knowing how to use word of mouth to engage your audience). You can find more about them on their website. Here at Retail Active we’ll be getting together to support Movember and hopefully gather a fine collection of distinguished moustaches. So whether you come to us for Mystery Shopping Jobs, to keep your customer service in tip-top shape, or have just stumbled across this blog, we hope you’ll keep following us through Movember and perhaps even join us as a Mo-Bro!

Retail Active IT Development

Here at Retail Active we believe that reliability is at the core of our Mystery Shopping business. From every aspect of our work at the office, the vetting process for those applying for Mystery Shopping Jobs, and the hard work of our Quality Assurance team, we know that we’re giving the right results 100% of the time, a fact that is well received by our clients. Of course our approach to the technology we use to support our Mystery Shopping is exactly the same; we know its good (probably the best of any Mystery Shopping Company around) but because we rank reliability over quickly adding the bells and whistles we don’t get to announce exciting new features all that often.

The focus is always to keep our quality high, and almost all of development goes into new ways to improve the delivery of our core business (Mystery Shopping, Brand Audits, etc).

However, once in a while it’s good to give a nod to the extremely hard work of our IT department, recently they have been working flat out to release a load of updates which make certain aspects of our system quicker and easier to use but have probably been overlooked by most of our users. They’ve also been working on some big changes behind the scenes. All of this is in preparation for some big new features that we’ll be releasing over the next few months which we think everyone is going to be pretty pleased with. They don’t have bells and they certainly don’t have whistles, but we think that they’ll make such a difference to our clients that you’ll soon wonder how you ever lived without them.

We’re really excited about these releases and are confident that other Mystery Shopping Companies will be looking to emulate them. But at the end of the day nothing can emulate the extremely hard work of our IT department that has gone into making our system the best and most reliable Mystery Shopping system around.

Why choose Retail Active – Automotive Mystery shopping

Retail Active is the market leader of British mystery shopping companies and we also have strong roots in brand auditing, with numerous clients in several sectors.  Like our secret shopping reports, our audit reports are a snapshot of how businesses are performing, but they go one step further in to checking how compliant they are to company standards and what facilities are in place.

With years of experience as the leading brand auditing and mystery shopping company, Retail Active knows many of the problems that arise from running franchise operations.  Our audits highlight issues such as non compliant signage, inferior customer environments and incorrectly displayed POS; all of which could affect customer experience and sales.  Through a regular mystery shopping and auditing procedure, we can help save clients money.  We do this by ensuring that service and premises are maintained to a higher consistent standard throughout the franchise.

We have an International team of auditors who are detail conscientious, articulate and work to an exacting standard.  Retail Active provides a brand auditing and mystery shopping service throughout Europe, completing thousands of assignments each month to test service, quality and brand compliance.

We liaise with our clients to understand the emphasis of their audits, before preparing a custom audit programme to support their needs.  At Retail Active your Brand Audit will be completed perfectly, precisely and in a timely manner.

If you wish to enquire about the services Retail Active can provide, please email info@retailactive.com

If you are interested in becoming a brand assessor, please click through for more details on positions available.

If you are looking for mystery shopping jobs, or are looking to become a secret shopper, please sign up through www.retailactive.com.

How To Turbo Charge Your Sales & Profits

Over the last year, Retail Active has played a vital part in the success of our client’s business performance.  We don’t pretend to be the silver bullet, but are very proud to announce the average YOY revenue increase experienced by our customers is over 18%, in a very challenging market. 

As a Mystery Shopping Company, Retail Active provides a holistic service to improve customer loyalty and satisfaction.  We use a range of products and services - from Mystery Shopping, Brand Auditing and Customer Satisfaction Surveys to Employee Opinion Surveys.  With all of our programmes we carefully research our client’s specific requirements, taking care to immerse ourselves in their culture, spotting opportunities to share our unique research capabilities.  Research is driven by our expert team to analyse results, spot trends and communicate ways to maximise behaviours, revenue and profits.

We often identify quick wins and over the years have learnt that 90% of customers who have left a store without making a purchase do so due to poor service.  In other words, poor service has forced 90% of your potential customers to buy your products elsewhere.

Your current customers should be your greatest asset in recommending your brand, your best way to increase profits, your most frequent visitors and your greatest critics.  Current customers, when kept happy, return more often, increase their spending and recommend you to family and friends.

70% of customers are prepared to pay more IF they receive a better service.  Improving your service would result in 70% of your customers being happy to pay more.

If you are wondering how customers rate your service, you can contact us on 01235 438413.
If your customers are spending more money, more often, are happy to spend more on your services and are shouting your praises from the rooftops - then you then you must be one of our clients.  If not, please visit www.retailactive.com to find out more.

Retail Active is a British research organisation, specialising in secret shopping, using carefully selected mystery shoppers.  If you are looking for mystery shopping jobs and would like to join our panel, please contact us. We take huge pride in being one of the globes most successful mystery shopping companies and are always looking for talented secret shoppers to join us.

Mystery Shopping Alert

Over the past few weeks we have been made aware of honest mystery shopper applicants being targeted by tricksters.  Retail Active does not recruit mystery shoppers through an email, club, agency or list and advises those wanting to work for a Mystery Shopping Company never to part with cash in advance.  If you do then there is a very high probability that you will be defrauded.

Unsuspecting people, wanting to earn extra money, risk being scammed by bogus market research companies, who are trying to cash in on this increasingly popular activity.

Genuine mystery shopping companies like Retail Active advertise their contact number and can be called directly.  Always apply directly to mystery shopper agencies, If in doubt phone.

 Internet tricksters have angered genuine mystery shopping companies, like Retail Active, which is one of Europe's leading Brand Audit and Mystery Shopping agencies. The company gets calls from people all over the world worried that they have been duped - or are about to be.

 Retail Active's managing director, Julian Chamberlain says:

 "We are very angry that fraudsters are trying to exploit mystery shoppers who genuinely want to earn some much-needed extra income, as well as help improve customer service.

"We have received reports of people being asked for personal details when applying for mystery shopping jobs, which are then sold off to use on marketing lists - or for other uses, such as fraudulently accessing people's bank accounts.

"No reputable Mystery Shopping Company would ever ask for money in advance- so that is one  good way to establish if a company is genuine or not.

 All reputable mystery shopping companies provide training, so if there is none, the likelihood is that you are being conned.

The easiest way to be sure you’re application is safe is to register with a secret shopping company like Retail Active, at www.retailactive.com.

Refer a Friend

The UK's leading Mystery Shopping Company and Brand Auditing services provider, Retail Active, is buzzing already about 2012. This year looks to be the busiest yet with new projects and fantastic Mystery Shopping opportunities for all registered Mystery Shoppers. But all this additional work mean more Mystery Shoppers ar required!

Retail Active launched the Refer a Friend scheme just at the end of 2011 to reward our loyal shoppers. The idea being that all shoppers who refer a friend or family member to register with Retail Active, get entered into a weekly draw to win £50 worth of Amazon vouchers! The best part is that the friend or family member also gets entered into the prize draw.

Retail Active are continually looking for more and more talented individuals to join the team and start working with us. With thousands of Mystery Shopping Jobs available each month, 2012 is going to be our busiest yet and the team at Retail Active are waiting to welcome you on board.

Mystery Shopping activity can be anything from retail store visits with purchases, to a nice meal for two at a fancy restaurant. Whatever you are interested in, Retail Active has the job for you. Mystery Shopping is a great way to supplement your income, but also gives you a chance to have your say on the key areas consumers are concerned with. Make sure you have your say, and sign up today!

For more information and details on the Refer a Friend scheme, or to become a Mystery Shopper - Visit our website at www.retailactive.com and register today!

Christmas Spending Survey 2011

Mystery shoppers like most regular customers are planning their own spending cuts this Christmas despite the desperate need to "Spend, spend, spend" to boost our economy. A survey by leading UK Mystery Shopping company and Brand Auditing Specialists, Retail Active found that four out of ten shoppers say they plan to spend less or much less on Christmas than last year. In fact some would go as far as to decided to 'not do' presents at all!

Retail Active's managing director, Julian Chamberlain said: "We asked 2000 people for details of their Christmas shopping plans and 1279 responded. Well over half (66%) said the uncertain state of the economy  made them worried about spending money on Christmas.

"Families say they plan to save on Christmas spending this year, wherever possible - with more than nine out of ten saying they are  going to spend at least 30% less than last year.

"Times are tight and our survey shows that people are resorting to selling belongings to raise cash, dipping in to savings and using credit cards for Christmas Purchases."

Discount stores and better planning by family's have allowed some to reduce their overall spend. Spreading the cost by starting shopping earlier in the year, is a technique referred to by many of the shoppers that responded to our survey.

Christmas is a busy time of year here at Retail Active, and there are lots and lots of Mystery shopping jobs available, and an ideal way to get the inside scoop on current promotions etc on the high street. If you are interested in our Mystery Shopper programme or have a requirement within your business, then please visit our website for more information and ways to get involved. 

Arguably the Best Mystery Shopping Company in the World

Retail Active, the leading Mystery Shopping and customer experience agency is bucking the trend with continued growth and significant investment in people and technologies.

Following their successful move to the new £40m International Space Innovation Centre, Retail Active is expanding its workforce and business activities.

Trading at the Oxfordshire based Mystery Shopping and Brand Audit Company has been significantly ahead of expectations. Over the past 12 months the company has seen a 40% increase in turnover. Retail Active boast an impressive client list, having some of the most recognised companies in the world on their books.

Julian Chamberlain CEO of Retail Active puts the impressive performance of the company down to the whole team’s dedication to delivering excellence. “In a market where there are several companies offering a similar service it’s essential to have a point of difference. The Retail Active approach is to deliver flawless execution of our services - we just don’t accept sloppy practices”.

”I passionately believe that people make the difference. You can have the best systems, technology and processes in the world, but if you don’t have the right team in place you will never win. Our team are not just experts in their field; they are also a highly motivated force with the passion to provide every client with the best possible Mystery Shopping and Brand Audit Programme.

Commenting further Chamberlain said, “Each day we receive enquires from clients dissatisfied with the way they are being treated by other mystery shopping providers. We are here to welcome them to a new and better way of working, one where the client actually gets what is promised to them.

We have never lost a customer; it’s this that enables us to claim Retail Active is arguably the best Mystery Shopping Company in the world.