Networking, networking...

Retail Active is the one of the leading Mystery Shopping companies in the UK and certainly the most innovative.  We only stay this way by listening to our clients, providing tailored Mystery Shopping and Brand Audit services and by staying in contact with our Mystery Shoppers and listening to their needs and wishes. 

One of our Mystery Shoppers' number one requests is to stay up-to-date with visit releases online.  With our bespoke job allocation system, visits are notified to our eligible shoppers within a set radius of their home address. Often, Shoppers want to know about what’s happening across the UK; maybe they are looking to travel for us, picking up a number of assignments for their favourite brands or maybe, they are holidaying in a different area and want to re-coop some of their expenses.

You can stay up to date with visit releases, office news and urgent Mystery Shopping jobs online at www.twitter.com/retailactive, and you can network with us by searching for Retail Active on Facebook.

Devon and Cornwall – join our continued expansion!

Following on from the success of our search for mystery shoppers in Devon, we are now also expanding our exciting new project into Cornwall and parts of Somerset.  We are looking for genuine, reliable and articulate mystery shoppers in these areas to join us in our mission to improve customer service and guest experiences across Great Britain and beyond. 

Although we have had a surge of applications from the West Country, we still have space on the team for those looking to work flexible hours, enjoy the UK’s best brands and get paid to shop!

Retail Active is one of the UK’s leading mystery shopping companies and we are currently booking new clients for our Summer 2013 programme. To find out what Retail Active can do for your company or book your company for mystery shopping visits, please email info@retailactive.com.

 If you are interested in joining our Worldwide team of secret shoppers, you can sign up online for mystery shopping jobs at www.retailactive.com or telephone 01235 428413 for more information.

Video Mystery Shopping with Retail Active

Retail Active is one of the market leading Mystery Shopping Companies in the UK and we are undertaking a new venture for one of our existing clients. Due to the number of Video Mystery Shopping opportunities coming up, we need to expand our team of registered Video mystery shoppers.

Do you have experience in VIDEO MYSTERY SHOPPING? We would love to get you involved!  Please contact us on 01235 438 413 and let us know what equipment you have. You can also edit your Shopper Homepage to detail the equipment you own, to ensure that you are offered Video Mystery Shopping jobs.

We can only offer Video Mystery Shopping work to our registered Mystery Shoppers so if you're interested, join the team online at www.retailactive.com

We already have a great team of Video mystery shoppers on our panel so if you’re looking for a Video Mystery Shopping company, please email us on info@retailactive.com to see what Retail Active can do for your company.

Mystery Shopping Jobs in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

We are looking for genuine, reliable and articulate mystery shoppers to join us in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Over the next few weeks we have some very exciting assignments on offer; jobs where we pay you to shop and you get paid for doing something you really enjoy!

Retail Active is one of the leading Mystery Shopping Companies in Europe and we are growing fast.  Companies employ us to check out the service offered at their stores, hotels, restaurants and resorts.   We are on a drive to help improve the quality of service and standards for consumers and by working with us, you will play a very valuable part.

If you are interested in joining us and are looking for mystery shopping jobs, sign up at www.retailactive.com or telephone 0044  1235 428413 for more information.

Thank you to all of our Mystery Shoppers

Retail Active is the most innovative of all of the UKs Mystery Shopping companies, but we know that a lot of our great reputation is founded on the hard work of our mystery shoppers all over the globe.  With that in mind, it’s that time again – time to say a brief Thank You to our star Mystery Shoppers.

Thank you to Pauline from Berkshire:
Your help on our recent Shop-a-long project has been FANTASTIC and your willingness to help out at the last minute is always appreciated.

Thank you to Julie from Cornwall:
You are so happy to travel for us to mystery shopping jobs in the depths of Cornwall and always complete reports to a fantastic standard – you’re a true credit to the team.

Thank you to Martin from Bristol:
Even though you don’t drive, you’ll hop on a train for us for visits around your area and still manage to get home and have your reports online in good time – your dedication to work is admirable.

Thank you to Jill from East Sussex:
A new addition to the panel, you’ve already made a name for yourself within the scheduling team as friendly, reliable and, most of all, patient! 

Thank you to Melanie from Norfolk:
Another new recruit who has made their name with last minute visits being completed to a very high standard with great reportage – thank you, Melanie.

Last but not least...
A HUGE Thank You to every one of our Mystery Shoppers worldwide – we truly appreciate your hard work and dedication.  Without you, we would not be the UK's leading Mystery Shopping and Brand Auditing company.  You can join us as a mystery shopper, or see what we can do for you as a company, at www.retailactive.com.

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.

Data Processor Vacancy

Data Processor - Salary: 16k - 17k
Hours of work: 9.00 - 17.30 Monday to Friday
Harwell, Oxfordshire

Retail Active Mystery Shopping is growing fast and we are looking for a Data Processor to join us at our Head Office in Harwell, Oxfordshire.

We have an exciting IT opportunity for a highly motivated individual to join our Operations team designing forms for deployment to the internet through our proprietary system. The successful applicant will report to the Operations Manager. You will be a motivated and energetic individual, used to working in a fast paced environment and delivering results.

Our Operations team is responsible for delivering bespoke Mystery Shopper research that contributes a meaningful and lasting difference to our client's business performance. This is an environment where we work to tight deadlines, ensuring the standard of service we provide our Secret Shoppers and Clients is second to none.

Accuracy and diligence are essential competencies, as is the ability to analyse and interpret research data. You will have a strong understanding of Microsoft Excel, be IT literate and have a keen eye for detail. Experience with CSS is desirable though not essential.

While this role is predominately focuses on creating data input forms, you will also be involved in developing new creative projects on a regular basis. We will look favorably on those applicants that can demonstrate their abilities in other IT areas outside of data input.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Working with our proprietary system, you will design bespoke forms for deployment for the internet to meet client Mystery Shopping Programme requirements
• Input research data to the Retail Active System
• Determine client facing dashboards, enabling clients to see accurate and meaningful research data at a glance
• Work closely with Client Account Managers, interpreting their needs to ensure clients receive an exacting level of service at all times
• Provide support and guidance to all the Allocation team so that projects can be implemented smoothly and effectively
• Develop bespoke demonstration websites for clients where required
• Meet implementation targets and deadlines
• Work with other members of the IT team to ensure the department works smoothly and effectively

Retail Active is a fast growing mystery shopping company, there is plenty of scope for those with drive and ability to develop their career to the highest level. This great opportunity to join a fast paced team that thrives on success.

If you would like to apply for the position of Data Processor, send your current CV, stating your qualifications and experience to info@retailactive.com . Please include a cover letter setting out why you should be considered for this role.

Retail Active is one of Europe's leading Mystery Shopping Companies and part of the Sequential Solutions Group.

We're Hiring

Mystery Shopper Scheduler - Salary: 16k - 17k

Hours of work: 9.00 - 17.30 Monday to Friday

Harwell, Oxfordshire

Retail Active Mystery Shopping is growing fast and after several high profile client wins we are looking to grow our Oxfordshire based team.

We have an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated individual to join our Allocation team as a Mystery Shopper Scheduler.

The successful applicant will report to the Mystery Shopper Team Leader and will be a motivated and energetic individual, used to working in a fast paced environment and delivering  results.

Our Allocation team is responsible for ensuring that each of our exciting Mystery Shopping assignments is completed to standard and on time. This is an environment where we work to tight deadlines, ensuring the standard of service we provide our Mystery Shoppers and Clients is second to none.

While this role is predominantly focused on allocating assignments, you will also be involved in developing our mystery shopper community and in the implementation of new projects.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Using the Retail Active Mystery Shopper allocation system to fill assignments
• Telephone shoppers to pre-qualify their eligibility to undertake Mystery Shopping Jobs
• Call Shopper to brief them on assignment details and job requirements
• Work with our Quality Assurance team to ensure that secret shopping visits are completed to standard
• Meet allocation targets and deadlines
• Work with other members of the allocation team to ensure the department works smoothly and effectively

Retail Active is a fast growing company. There is plenty of scope for those with the drive and ability to develop their career to the highest level. This is a great opportunity to join a fast paced team that thrives on success.

If you would like to apply for the position of Mystery Shopper Scheduler, send you current CV, stating your qualifications and experience to info@retailactive.com . Please include a cover letter setting out why you should be considered for this role.

Retail Active is one of Europe's leading Mystery Shopping Companies and part of the Sequential Solutions Group.

Recruiting in the villages

Retail Active Needs YOU!

The UK's leading Mystery Shopping and Brand Auditing company, Retail Active is recruiting! Retail Active has thousands upon thousands of registered Mystery Shoppers who daily conduct activity on behalf of our client base, but we need more!

Due to our continued growth we are looking to enhance our panel of experts especially in villages and small towns that are less populated than others. Village life is completely different to large towns and cities, and having a good representation of these areas is critical for our clients.

We will be providing more and more Mystery Shopping Jobs in these areas, and we would love to have the village life point of view! If you are interested then please visit our website www.retailactive.com and follow the Mystery Shopper Academy.

Director of Retail Active Julian Chamberlain said "We are delighted that our growth has enabled us to provide more mystery shoppers jobs in these key areas, and although we are swamped with applications for registration - we still need more - Particularly in those less populated areas, and in small villages. So please get in touch! "

Retail Active is amongst the best when it comes to Mystery Shopping Companies in the UK - be part of a great team and undergo activity that is really rewarding and genuinely looks to improve Customer Service.

Retail Active is a leading Mystery Shopping Company in the United Kingdom and Europe.

Making a Living as a Mystery Shopper

When 25 year old Jay Cox gets home after a day’s shopping – he counts up how much he’s earned.

Jay, from Exeter in Devon, is a full-time Mystery Shopper, carrying out undercover assignments all over the country, to assess standards of customer service.

He can appear unannounced in businesses ranging from High street retailers to posh South Coast Marinas - with a brief to buy a mooring for a luxury yacht.

There’s a James Bond touch too. He often carries a concealed digital camera with a pin-head sized lens hidden in his lapel or under his cap.

Jay, who left school with just a handful of c and d grade GCSEs, says Mystery Shopping can bring in up to £25,000 year.

He started part time six years ago – and went “professional” two years ago.

He says; “Employment prospects in Exeter are not good if you don’t have any qualifications – so Mystery Shopping is an ideal career choice.

“I enjoy being my own boss, I like working with people and I have a flair for technology.

“You have to be very organised and make careful plans to maximise the number of visits and minimise travelling expenses.

“When I work in London, I leave home at 4am to start work at 9,

“I can get in between four and seven visits per day.

“I pose as a customer and make detailed notes about the quality of the customer service. The biggest thing I’ve bought is a house.

“As well as getting paid, you get to keep some of the smaller items – but obviously I had to give the house back!!”

Jay, undertakes regular assignments for Britain’s market-leading Mystery Shopping company, Retail Active Mystery Shopping.

Retail Active’s managing director, Julian Chamberlain said: “Mystery Shopping is an ideal way to earn extra cash and enjoy shopping at the same time.

“It is perfect for people looking for a second income or for students seeking to make some much-need cash.

“We employ thousands of Mystery Shoppers. Few of them want to make a living like Jay – but his case does show that if you have drive and imagination- there is no reason why it shouldn’t be a full-time job.

“Retail Active Mystery Shopping fulfils a vital role in retailing – by helping companies to constantly assess the quality of their customer service and to keep ahead of their competitors.

“All we ask is for our shoppers to be conscientious, articulate and able to recognise great service.

“You can experience top brands, restaurants, hotels and holidays – and help to make a real difference in keeping businesses on their toes.”

Earn Extra Dosh Working as a Mystery Shopper

This article appeared in The Sun newspaper, Thursday 22nd October 2009


Earn extra dosh working as a mystery shopper

Join the secret service!


Fancy being paid to eat in top restaurants, go on holiday or test luxury yachts?

You could do all these things as a mystery shopper.

The job is an increasingly popular way of topping up your income and enjoying valuable perks. It also fits around your lifestyle. Paul Prowse, from financial advice website Moneymagpie.com, says almost anyone can be a mystery shopper.

He says: “All you have to do is be an actual customer in a shop or restaurant or hotel then say what you think of them afterwards. “You don’t need any qualifications but you do need excellent observation skills, a good memory and strong opinions.”

“Typically, you’ll be given a brief and a checklist of things to look out for. You need to follow your instructions (without letting anybody know you are testing them), evaluate the response and then provide feedback – usually through an online questionnaire. “For example you might go to a pizza restaurant, order some pizza and judge the cleanliness of the restaurant, the helpfulness of the staff, and the quality of the food.”

Paul adds: “Pay rates vary from company to company and depend on the work. Generally, you can expect to earn £5 - £25 per task plus expenses.”

“Make sure you find the right mystery shopping agency for you. Some department stores, like Selfridges, run their own schemes. But never pay to join a company – it’s likely to be a scam.”

Linda Smith signed up with Retail Active Mystery Shopping and ended up posing as the owner of a luxury yacht to check out facilities at a swish marina. The 57- year-old business studies teacher from Southampton says: “It is a great way to earn extra pin money and have fun as well.”

“I’ve never owned a boat but I had to read up on them and about tides so I could ask the right questions. Then I was asked to visit all their other marinas, where they gave me the red carpet treatment every time.”

“I’ve also had to check out the NHS by phoning hospitals and testing the quality of service delivered to patients.“

“You always get a full briefing on the background to the job and the questions you need to ask”

Julian Chamberlain, of Retail Active, says: “We employ thousands of mystery shoppers. It is perfect if you want a second income or you’re a student.”

“Payment depends on the size and nature of the assignment but we’ve just paid some shoppers more than £200 for a single job.”

“Plus you’re keeping businesses on their toes.”