Independent Market Research Consultant

Not sure what research you need — or who to use?

There are more ways to do market research than ever — agencies, DIY platforms, panels, AI tools, synthetic respondents and specialist software.

More choice can mean better research. It can also make it much harder to know what you actually need.

MRQual provides independent senior advice to organisations that need market research but don’t have an experienced insight specialist in-house.

We can help you decide:

  • what research you actually need

  • which approach, supplier or platform makes most sense

  • whether you need new research at all

  • how much confidence to place in the findings

No platform, panel or methodology to sell. Just independent advice.

[Talk to Richard about your research]

Market research has become easier to buy — but harder to choose

Not long ago, commissioning market research usually meant choosing an agency and agreeing a methodology.

Today, you might be considering a conventional research agency, a platform such as Vypr or Qualtrics, your own customer survey, online qualitative research, AI-assisted analysis, synthetic respondents — or some combination of them.

Each can be useful. None is right for every question.

And the supplier recommending an approach will naturally know its own solution best.

Sometimes what you need first is someone independent who can ask:

What decision are we actually trying to make — and what is the simplest, most reliable way of getting the evidence we need?

That’s where MRQual can help.

How I can help

1. Decide what research to do

You may know the commercial question you need to answer, but not the best way to answer it.

I can help clarify the decision behind the research and identify the most appropriate approach.

Sometimes that means commissioning research. Sometimes a simpler piece of work is enough. And sometimes the information you already have may answer the question.

Sometimes the best advice is not to commission new research at all.

[Discuss a research decision]

2. Choose the right supplier, platform or approach

You may be comparing an agency, DIY platform, panel, AI tool or several very different proposals.

I can help you understand what each option would actually give you, where the risks are, and which approach best fits the decision you need to make.

That can include:

  • reviewing briefs and proposals

  • comparing methodologies and costs

  • challenging unnecessary complexity

  • assessing questionnaires or research designs

  • helping you choose the right supplier or approach

Because MRQual is not tied to a particular platform or methodology, the recommendation does not have to end with “buy our solution.”

3. Review research before you act on it

Sometimes the research has already been done, but something does not quite add up.

The findings may be surprising. Different pieces of research may conflict. Or an important decision may depend on whether the conclusions are really supported by the evidence.

I can independently review the methodology, questionnaire, sample, analysis, interpretation and conclusions and give you a clear view on whether the research is robust enough to act on.

The question is simple:

Does the evidence really support the decision you’re being asked to make?

Who this is for

This service is particularly useful for organisations that have marketing, brand, product, innovation or commercial teams but do not have an experienced market research or insight specialist in-house.

You may only commission significant research a few times a year.

Employing a senior insight professional may not make sense.

But when an important research decision arises, having experienced independent advice can.

Why MRQual?

I’m Richard Clark, founder of MRQual.

I’ve spent more than 30 years working with research and evidence — designing studies, writing questionnaires, managing fieldwork, analysing findings and helping organisations decide what those findings actually mean.

MRQual has worked with organisations including Diageo, L’Oréal, M&S, Thatchers Cider, Sacla, Thornton & Ross and SPAR.

My role here is not to sell you the most elaborate research project.

It is to help you make the right research decision.

A second opinion before you spend the money

If you’re considering market research and aren’t sure what approach, supplier or platform makes sense, send me a brief description of what you’re trying to decide.

I’ll tell you whether I think I can help.

Richard Clark
Founder, MRQual

07776 145660
richard@mrqual.com

[Talk to Richard about your research]