Mystery Dining

Retail Active is at the forefront of UK mystery shopping and brand auditing.  We already provide an insightful and powerful mystery dining service to our clients in the Hospitality industry and the Dining sector. We check customer service, guest satisfaction and quality, as well as providing key information to support marketing and operational decisions.

Just like all of our mystery shopping programmes, all of our mystery dining programmes are bespoke, client focused and designed to allow our clients to drill down and interrogate our innovative and objective reporting.

We know your industry; we’ve spent our lives working in it.  A Retail Active mystery dining programme could help to accelerate sales, motivate, train staff and turn complaints in opportunities.  From fast food to fine dining, every company needs to know where their service could improve and they deserve to know where they are excelling – information that mystery shopping companies like Retail Active can provide.

Our mystery diners are reliable and dedicated.  Before being allocated dining and hospitality mystery shopping jobs, they are trained and vetted to ensure they have the skills necessary to provide accurate feedback.  Our mystery shoppers can provide a objective report only hours after visiting a location and our Quality Assurance Team are online daily and at all hours, to ensure the reports are sent to you on time and the information is accurate. 

To learn more about the prestige mystery dining services we offer, please call us on +44 (0)1235 856575 or contact us via email; info@retailactive.com

If you are interested in starting to mystery dine with us, you can apply online via our Shopper Academy at www.retailactive.com

View previous, “Why choose Retail Active?” posts on;

Automotive Mystery shopping
Hotel Mystery Guest programmes
High Street Mystery shopping

Welcome to Mission Control

 

Retail Active is a fast growing business and at long last we have moved to our new dedicated office aptly named, ‘Mission Control.’

Having dedicated office facilities has enabled us to develop our own, special culture further.  Working as a close team gives us a feeling of pride and a deep sense of mission.

Here’s what some of the team have to say:

“The team are becoming stronger.  We are working together so much better now that we are in one building, rather than split across several offices.  We support each other at every stage of the way!”
Jo – Completion

“The updated technology is a real bonus – we now have the same Wi-Fi that NASA use and we still have great facilities being installed, like the Video walls.  We were restricted by our office before; now the sky is the limit.”
Michelle – Quality Assurance

“It has meant that we now have increased visibility across our business.  Our back of house and scheduling teams can now understand our client’s perspective and the Account Managers have a greater awareness of our Mystery Shopping community.”
Charlotte – Operations

To find out why we are one of the UKs fastest growing Mystery shopping companies and ask what we can do for your company email info@retailactive.com.  

If you are looking to join us as a Mystery shopper, you can join online via our Mystery Shopping Academy at www.retailactive.com

A HUGE Thank You To All Of Our Mystery Shoppers...

A HUGE thank you to all of our mystery shoppers in the UK and beyond.  The past few months have seen us taking on new clients, expanding the services that we offer and we are even moving offices to accommodate our growing empire – we are fast becoming the market leader of all of the UK's mystery shopping companies!  None of this we could have done with you.  Thank you! 

Thank you to Sharon from Wiltshire:

Your name has been given to us as a star shopper on our Health and Vitality shop visits – we have had so many great reports on this project, so to have your name specifically mentioned is amazing.  Thank you!

Thank you to Shaun from West Sussex:

You took on two last minute jobs and completed them perfectly!  Our scheduler mentioned that you are always really nice, encouraging and you always go the extra mile to help out.  Thank you!

Thank you to Alex from Berkshire:

You have picked up a hard-to-allocate visit with important restrictions now, two months in a row – you have no idea how much we appreciate you!

Thank you to Kristinna from Cumbria:

Thank you to Neil from W Sussex:

Thank you to Christiana from Hertfordshire:

You have all gone FAR beyond the extra mile to help with our most recent video project.

Thank you to Jacqui from Bridgend:

You have always been a great member of our mystery shopping team and your recent Shopping Centre video was perfect and just what we were looking for.

Thank you to Richard from Hampshire:

You are adaptable, keen and dedicated and your enthusiasm is a breath of fresh air.  Thank you for all of your help!

Thank you to Philippa from Suffolk:

As always, you are happy to pick up mystery shopping jobs all across East Anglia and beyond and you always manage to fit our visits into your busy lifestyle – it is truly appreciated!

As always, we are delighted to admit that we would be nowhere without our mystery shoppers.

You can find out what we can do for your company, or join our mystery shopping team at www.retailactive.com

Why Choose Retail Active – High Street Mystery shopping

Competition on the high street is fierce. Not only do high street retailers have to compete with their neighbours, they also need to ensure that their products and services can rival those available online at the click of a button. In a world where convenience is often the determining factor in customer’s decisions, the high street is often overlooked.

It is no surprise that service is what makes customers return to high street stores. When you can get the same product online for a similar price, the personal experience is key. Here at Retail Active, the UK's leading and most innovative mystery shopping company, we strive to aid help clients improve service standards and customer experience. Our mission is to help them become the leader in their field – the brand customers think of first.

Our unique team of mystery shoppers are vetted and trained, before being allocated assignments and mystery shopping jobs. Our Quality Assurance Team are online at all hours of the day to receive reports, ensure that reports are delivered accurately and on time; and that our standard of excellence is maintained.

Considering all options for mystery shopping companies, we are large enough players that we can accommodate any number of stores across the UK and further afield but we have a small company mentality which values client relationships. We are always hands on and we maintain a personal, genuine interest in each of our clients.

If you wish to enquire about the services Retail Active can provide, please email info@retailactive.com or call us on our new number; 01235 856 575.

If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper with us, you can apply online via our Shopper Academy at www.retailactive.com

View previous “Why choose Retail Active?” posts on;

Automotive Mystery shopping
Hotel Mystery Guest programmes

Video Mystery Shopping

Four compelling reasons to use Retail Active Video Mystery Shopping:

1) Customer Experience
See your business from the customer’s perspective – literally.  With Video Mystery Shopping, you can ensure that your company standards are adhered to and that your customers' experiences are of a similar high standard, whichever location they visit.

2) Training
Video Mystery Shops can bring a whole new dimension to your current training programme.  With a DVD of perfect service at your stores, you are not restricted to just telling your staff what excellent service is - you can actually SHOW them.

3) Management
No matter what product or service your company provides, service is always a high priority.  Using undetectable, covert recording techniques, Video Mystery Shopping gives you the facility to monitor and manage your business as never before.

4) Quality
Before undertaking assignments, our Mystery Shoppers are checked and briefed as to the requirements of each project.  The recordings are received by us within a matter of hours and they are put through our exacting Quality Assurance measures, checking video and audio quality, adherence to the brief and reporting accuracy.

We can provide online streaming of Video Mystery Shopping footage or we can have footage recorded on CD or DVD for distribution.  An accompanying written report is always an option and this will always be checked against the recording before both video and report are made available on our online portal.

Whether it’s for a new programme or in addition to a programme you are already running with us, Video Mystery Shopping can bring a whole new element to your business.  Please contact us for a demonstration or for further information, through info@retailactive.com or by calling 01235 438 413.  Retail Active is one of the leading Video Mystery Shopping companies.

If you are an established Video Mystery Shopper, please let us know through shoppersupport@retailactive.com, or you can update your Shopper Homepage with details of the equipment that you own so that we can match you up to our clients’ requirements and ensure that Video Mystery Shopping jobs are available to you.

What it takes to be a Mystery Shopper...

Have you ever wondered how businesses’ make decisions?  A growing number of household names are turning to the services of the Mystery Shopper.  The nature of a Mystery Shopper?  You need to have a good memory, be observational and have good writing skills.

A mystery shopper needs to be committed, able to work to a strict or tight deadline, be enthusiastic and reliable.  Every assignment that we schedule is going to provide useful and often decision making information to our clients.  We need Mystery Shoppers who can complete visits for us, with a very objective approach.  Completing an assignment will provide a customer’s insight into the approach and service that it provides.  

The emerging trend in our clients’ portfolio of requests is the Video Shop.  An accurate account of the Customer Service experience received in their business.  Shoppers completing video mystery shopping jobs are becoming more technical and proficient at covert operations.

So, do you have what it takes?  Ready to document and share your shopping experiences?  Why not sign up and start mystery shopping through www.retailactive.com; the home of one of the leading UK Mystery Shopping companies.

Comic Relief Bake Sale

For Red Nose day, we decided to do a bake sale at our Head Quarters.  We manned a beautiful stall piled high with sweets and treats, smiling with pride over the fine baking skills of Retail Active employees.  Thank you to all of our bakers, helpers and customers – we were so happy to have been so popular and sold so many baked yummies!

We were all still wearing our deelieboppers whilst scheduling mystery shoppers, waiting for the final figure to be announced.  We are immensely proud to announce that we raised an impressive £216.78!

You can keep up to date with our office activities and upcoming mystery shopping jobs at www.twitter.com/retailactive or by searching for Retail Active on Facebook.  We have 3,000 Likes and getting stronger every day.

You can join the team online by clicking through to www.retailactive.com and learning about our Mystery Shopping standards and techniques in our Shopper Academy. Retail Active is one of the leading Mystery Shopping Companies in the UK.

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.

Happy New Year from all at Retail Active

New Years Day is a time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future.  2012 has seen our business grow and it has been a pleasure helping you reach your goals.

To all of our clients, employees and our worldwide panel of mystery shoppers, auditors and interviewers, our success in 2013 depends on all of you.  Thank you and we wish you all and your families our best wishes for happiness and prosperity in 2013.

Happy New Year!

The rise of the e-card

Christmas is just round the corner and here at Retail Active our tree is already up and the office is covered in cards and advent calendars.  We’ve also started to receive a few e-cards, which has got us thinking.

As a mystery shopping company, we are thinking about the relationship between business and consumers, and particularly what a company’s behaviour says about itself and its relationship with its customers.

A quick search around the internet will find a lot of people decrying the e-card as pointless and impersonal.  The reasons given are all fairly similar, the ease of which an e-card is sent makes them feel less meaningful.  With a traditional card, you know the person sending it has thought about you as they chose, wrote and sealed the card, whereas with an e-card they may well have simply imported their email contacts and clicked 'send all'.  But these arguments are all on the assumption that it is an individual sending cards to another individual.  When a company sends greeting cards, they are taking your name from a database, using bulk purchased cards and preparing them in an automated envelope stuffer – probably the same one used to send your bills.

The process is not all that different from what they would be doing with the e-cards, so why not save the environment a bit and skip delivering actual cards?  The answer is fairly simple as it turns out. 

Most companies put a lot of work into not appearing faceless and corporate, they engage in massive programmes to engage their customers and ensure their customers think of them as something more than 'just another company' (we would know, we provide the mystery shoppers who check how they are doing!).  When you’ve invested this heavily in building that relationship with your customers, the last thing you want to do is give the impression that you are being impersonal.

With electronic communication ever taking the place of traditional modes of communication, it is safe to say that the e-card is here to stay (and the traditional card might be doomed), but for now, if you are a business who cares about your relationship with your customers, a well chosen traditional card is your only real choice.

Let us know! Will you be sending e-cards this year?

12 days of Retail Active

On the first day of Christmas, Mystery Shopping gave to me;
An email – “Welcome to the team!”

On the second day of Christmas, Mystery Shopping gave to me;
A local meal on my lunch break,
And I’m happy to be on the mystery shopper team!

On the third day of Christmas, Mystery Shopping gave to me;
Coffee on my commute,
A local meal on my lunch break,
And I’m happy to be on the team!

On the fourth day of Christmas, Mystery Shopping gave to me;
All of my Secret Santa presents,
Coffee on my commute,
Catching up with the girls on my lunch break,
And I’m happy to be on the team!

On the fifth day of Christmas, Mystery Shopping gave to me;
AN EXTRA PAY DAY!
All of my Secret Santa presents,
Two hour-long commute,
Did twenty visits on my lunch break,
I’m far too busy now I’m on the team!

On the sixth day of Christmas, Mystery Shopping gave to me;
Some make-up for the missus,
AN EXTRA PAY DAY!
All of my Secret Santa presents,
The coffee went cold in the rain,
Did twenty visits on my lunch break,
I’m far too busy now I’m on the team!

On the seventh day of Christmas, Mystery Shopping gave to me;
Toys for the children,
Some make-up for the missus,
AN EXTRA PAY DAY!
All of my Secret Santa presents,
Forgot to even pick up coffee,
No time on my lunch break,
And I’m happy to be on the team!

On the eighth day of Christmas, Mystery Shopping gave to me;
A much-needed night out dancing,
Toys for the children,
Some make-up for the missus,
IT’S ALL BEEN SPENT ALREADY?
I don’t even know James from Accounts,
I NEED CAFFEINE!
No time on my lunch break,
And I’m happy to be on the team!

On the ninth day of Christmas, Mystery Shopping gave to me;
A romantic meal for two,
A much-needed night out dancing,
“Barbie is SOOO last year!”
“Don’t you love me as I am?”
Another mid-month pay day,
How was I to know he was vegan?
THANK YOU for the coffee on my commute,
The local meal on my lunch break,
I’m so happy to be on the team!

On the tenth day of Christmas, Mystery Shopping gave to me;
My Christmas presents paid for,
But they messed up our order,
I trod on his toes,
What do you mean, you don’t like Barbie?
NO, YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL WITHOUT THE MAKE-UP!
IT’S ALL BEEN SPENT ALREADY AGAIN?
Had to re-wrap all of the presents,
Spilt the coffee on my commute,
Rescheduled the meal on my lunch break,
But I’m thankful I can get out of the house!

On the eleventh day of Christmas, Mystery Shopping gave to me;
Work to get me out the house,
My Christmas presents paid for,
“That’ll be to take away”,
Quick dash to the Pharmacy for plasters,
Thank goodness for gift receipts,
How is red the wrong colour?
How did we get through all this money?
Mixed up all of the gift tags,
Didn’t even get a chance to enjoy the coffee on my commute,
Christmas makes me crazy,
But I’m delighted to be on the team!

On the twelfth day of Christmas, Mystery Shopping gave to me;
A perfect Retail Active Christmas,
Some time to myself,
All the presents under the tree,
The turkey is in the oven,
Enjoyed our night out dancing,
Finally some peace and quiet,
You look gorgeous with that lipstick,
Every minute working was worth it,
Everyone’s happy in the end,
Drowned in a large glass of Bucks Fizz,
I love Christmas really,
And I’m delighted to be on the team!

If you would like to be a mystery shopper, Google mystery shopper jobs, or visit retailactive.com

Why choose Retail Active – Hotel Mystery Guest programmes

Why YOU choose Retail Active for your Hotel Mystery Guest programme?

As one of the leading Mystery Shopping and Brand Audit providers, we pride ourselves on delivering meaningful and concise reporting for the numerous Hotel and Resort companies that have already benefitted from our services. 

Many of our most established clients are Hotel and Resort corporations and our years of experience within this sector has helped us develop a unique approach to focus exactly on what is expected of a Mystery Guest programme. 

We help our valued clients gain a complete understanding of what their hotel service experience really is from a guest’s perspective.  At Retail Active we provide a complete solution, from initial research regarding your Mystery Guest programme to the final conclusions and recommended actions.

Our carefully selected global mystery shopper panel are always available to stay away from home and to give impartial feedback on their experiences.  Each mystery guest has been trained to spot the specific attributes of your guest expectations and the bespoke elements of your brand.

Our clients are enjoying unrivalled growth and success.  How much is poor service costing your business?  Find out what we can do for your company at www.retailactive.com.

Welcome to the team, Kimberly!

The UK’s leading Mystery Shopping and business intelligence company, Retail Active, is proud to announce the recent Client Account Manager appointment. 

Kimberly Morgan, from Oxfordshire, has been in the industry for over five years with more than two years in Account Management.  She has a background in finance and marketing and an MBA from the University of San Diego. Working with us for some time, she has impressed us to make recent developments in her role and this important appointment due to her deep, grass-roots understanding of the industry.

Julian Chamberlain, Director of Retail Active, adds, “We are very excited to have yet another brilliantly conscientious and client-focused individual on the team and I’m sure that Kimberly will delight our clients just as she has us at Retail Active.”

Retail Active is one of the leading and fastest growing Mystery shopping companies in the UK and now is a great time to join us.  See what we can do for your company by clicking here, or ask us at info@retailactive.com.

We are always looking for brilliant and driven individuals to join us as Mystery shoppers and you can via our Shopper Academy at www.retailactive.com.

Service Hero of the Month - October 2012

We are pleased to present this month’s Service Hero; Daniel, a valued member of Timpson, who works at their Fenchurch Street Station store in London, United Kingdom.

Daniel's hard work, dedication and enthusiasm for the brand he represents were evident during recent visits to Timpson, Fenchurch Street Station. His passion for great service and expert knowledge has helped his customers make the right choices for repairs and product purchases. We have received outstanding praise from customers regarding their experience, specifically stating that their opinion of the brand has been positively influenced as a direct result of Daniel's great advice and guidance.

To nominate someone who you feel should be recognised for their excellent Customer Service skills, please email shoppersupport@retailactive.com with your nominee’s name, the company they work for and the reasons for your nomination. Please also include your details so that we can get in touch regarding your nomination, in case we need some more information.

Remember, your nominee doesn’t have to be from one of your mystery shopping assignments and you don’t have to be working for our mystery shopping company to nominate someone.
If you would like to find out what Retail Active can do to improve Customer Service and Customer Experience in your stores, please contact info@retailactive.com.

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.

Jet Setting with Retail Active

We always look to soar above and beyond expectations for Mystery Shopping companies and sometimes, we need to take that literally.  We are looking for Mystery Shoppers who are frequent flyers and would be available to complete secret shopping visits at airports worldwide.  We have regular air side visits available for many interesting, varied clients.

Retail Active are the UK's leading Mystery Shopping and Brand Auditing company and being one of our growing panel of secret shoppers you can reap its rewards;

•    Get paid for shopping with the best Mystery shopping company out there.
•    Eat in the world’s finest restaurants and stay at the world’s best hotels.
•    Improve Customer Experience and service through our innovative reporting process.
and...
•    Earn some cash for your holidays, whilst you’re in the Departure Lounge!

We have visits available at all main UK airports, so if you’re already a Retail Active Mystery shopper, please do let us know if you’re a frequent flyer by emailing shoppersupport3@retailactive.com.  If you’re new to Mystery Shopping, we would love to have you on board; please sign up at www.retailactive.com .  Air side visits are available online but if we know you are a frequent flyer, you can be offered Airport Mystery shopping jobs direct to your email without waiting for notifications!

Join Us Now

Exciting Mystery Shopping Opportunities


How would you like to get paid for doing the things you love? Visit high street shops, luxury hotels and holidays or sample the delights of your favourite pub?

Retail Active is the leading British mystery shopping company, sending thousands of mystery shoppers each week to sample and test our client’s brands and products. We are growing fast and are always looking for real customers like you to join us to help assess customer service and make a real difference to standards of retailing, leisure and hospitality.

You can sign up on our site for free at retailactive.com or find us by searching mystery shopping jobs on your search engine. You will be asked to complete a short test via our mystery shopper academy and should you successfully pass we will invite you to apply to join our panel.

You will be paid for you time and in return will be required to complete an online survey explaining your thoughts, together with any other feedback you can provide.

Tough market conditions mean companies from all sectors are having to fight for every penny and the standard of customer service is a vital ingredient in winning and holding on to business.

The importance of customer service has an increased relevance in today’s marketplace. More and more companies are turning to Retail Active for advice on how to improve their business performance.
Being a mystery shopper can be tremendous fun and very rewarding.  Its worth noting, however only to  apply to reputable Brand Audit  and Mystery Shopping Companies such as Retail Active mystery shopping.  Never be tempted to apply for mystery shopper positions without being able to telephone the company directly.

For more information on the exciting opportunities available please visit retailactive.com

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.

Operations Director

Salary: £48k, Bonus Scheme, Company Car, Incentive Package and Benefits
Based: Harwell, Oxfordshire


Retail Active is one of the fastest growing customer  intelligence companies in the UK. We work with some of the world's best known brands and are now looking to implement our aggressive growth plans in the UK and overseas.

We currently have a vacancy for an Operations Director, based at our office in Harwell, Oxfordshire. This is a pivotal role and vital to the company's future success. Reporting to the Managing Director you will be directly responsible for executing the company's business plan and daily operational activity. You will work closely with the Commercial Director and be responsible for the Operations Teams, ensuring flawless execution of the Retail Active proposition to complete client satisfaction.

Prior experience in customer research programmes is essential, coupled with an excellent understanding of customer experience in retail and hospitality environments. You will also have proven senior management (operational) experience in a high pressure environment.

You will have outstanding interpersonal and presentation skills, be commercially astute with an aptitude for strategic business development. Key to this role is your ability to drive growth by adding real value to both existing and new clients.

As Operations Director you will be responsible for leading your teams by example, forging strong high-level relationships with clients and for meeting demanding business targets.

This is a unique opportunity to join a dynamic business at an influential level with potential to reap substantial rewards and success.

Key responsibilities of this position include:

• Delivery of the company business plan and financial objectives
• Management of the Completion Team, Quality Assurance Team, Account Management and IT Teams to ensure flawless execution of the Retail Active proposition
• Communication and delivery of agreed company KPI's weekly, monthly and quarterly and annually
• Attending high level meetings to ensure complete client satisfaction, representing the companies range of services whilst making a meaningful difference to client businesses
• Understanding client objectives and continually qualifying client needs through communicating to and meeting with clients at strategic and head office levels
• Compare revenue performance with market opportunity by product
• Fulfill ad hoc reporting requests as needed
• Maintain a well informed understanding of competitors activity, products and objectives
• Work with the Managing Director and Sales Director on relevant client acquisition projects, participate in company marketing and sales efforts where appropriate
• Seek every opportunity to represent Retail Active, its products and business interests with third party organisations and business partners
• Interact and foster outstanding working relationships with clients, be fully conversant with Retail Active products in order to help drive sales - and specifically on large, cross-discipline pitches and RFPs
• Delivering an agreed increase in overall productivity by focusing on streamlining current processes and implementing industry best practices
• Lead large national and international projects, from initial costing through logistical delivery and quality assurance
• Deliver business to grow at +30% per year while decreasing operating costs through process re-engineering and supply chain and people management
• To attend monthly Business Planning meetings and agree points of further action to deliver the company plan

Required Skills and Experience:

• Degree in communications, market research, business, or related field
• Extensive experience managing operations for a qualitative market research organisation
• Experience in leading and motivating teams to deliver outstanding results in a demanding environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, being used to present complex data in an interesting and easy to comprehend way
• Outstanding project management skills with the ability to establish priorities, manage multiple projects, establish time lines manage and appraise team leaders and employees to achieve objectives
• Experience working with top clients across multiple industries, including FMCG, Finance, Healthcare, Retail, Hospitality, Automotive and Technology
• Experience in successfully implementing new product innovation to the market place
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to interact professionally and effectively with all levels of employees and senior leadership
• Ability to operate effectively under pressure of deadlines. Ability to adapt quickly to change
• Leadership experience as demonstrated by successfully managing an organisation of at least 15 team members
• A commitment to maintain confidentiality of employee, client and business data 
• Strong strategic, analytical and critical thinking skills
• Good knowledge of PowerPoint, Word and Excel
• Experience managing large, complex domestic and multi-national projects across cultures
• Experience working with senior management to drive and implement key business strategies

Closing date for applications is 24th August 2012.

Retail Active is one of the fastest growing brand audit and mystery shopping companies in the UK. We work with some of the world's best known brands sending specially trained mystery shoppers to assess the quality of service at client's premises. Mystery Shopping is a fast growing market research technique and we are actively recruiting secret shoppers of all demographic profiles. Those wishing to apply for mystery shopping jobs should apply at www.retailactive.com. Alternatively applicants will find us by searching mystery shopper on Google.

European Queue Survey

Members of MSPA Europe have conducted a major, pan-European, survey of queues. This is the fourth survey of its kind conducted by MSPA Mystery Shopping Companies, with the results giving valuable insight and an interesting picture of the way customers experience service.

Mystery Shoppers from 23 countries joined queues in a range of retail types including grocery stores, banks, fast food outlets and travel ticket offices. Secret Shoppers reported on the time taken to reach the front of the queue and on the response of the member of staff to the queuing customer. Nearly 3000 mystery shopper queue reports were submitted, making this the largest survey of its kind.

Julian Chamberlain, MD of Retail Active Mystery Shopping and Brand Audits said "Frustratingly mystery shoppers could see ways in which the queue could be shortened, by opening more available tills, or bringing extra staff to assist, but noted that this very rarely happened.

"The research shows that Russia has the longest and slowest queues and Post Offices have the longest queues.

"Customers appear resigned to staying in the queue, but one in three was dissatisfied about the experience."

The surveys show that on average it takes almost 9 minutes to reach the front of the queue, 1 minute less than 2 years ago and still about the time taken in 2008, indicating that cost cutting changes made because of the recession may be having a real impact on customer experiences.

Retail active is a leading mystery shopping company providing research throughout Europe. Mystery Shopping is a valuable way to help organisations measure exactly how well, or badly, their customers are treated.