by Michael Carlon | Jan 5, 2011 | Self Awareness
I started my career in marketing research at an interactive marketing agency in Westport, CT known at the time as Modem Media. It was there I saw my first focus group and, upon doing so, I knew immediately that I wanted to be the person in the room asking questions...
by Michael Carlon | Jan 4, 2011 | Silly Thoughts
Now that the holidays are over and I am settling into my new organization, I vow to devote more time to updating this blog. Maybe vow is too strong a word, perhaps I will just promise to update it more often. It seems that breaking a promise (with a decent enough...
by Michael Carlon | Sep 15, 2010 | Faith and Pop Culture
Yesterday I finished an eight group project which of course means I have to sit down and write a report. Those of you who have followed this blog know that I have a tendency to procrastinate when I have some writing to do. Here is what I did this morning: Walked the...
by Michael Carlon | Sep 1, 2010 | Silly Thoughts
Sometimes we can find humor in the most unlikely places. Last year I was in Columbus Ohio running some focus groups for a client looking to get a read on various ways to bundle features and benefits for a new product. There were 5 “concepts” highlighting different...
by Michael Carlon | Sep 1, 2010 | The Moderating Life
Early on in this blog I mentioned that one of my clients is a large lawn equipment company (see post entitled Accents are Funny). During a recent project our task was to understand how consumers describe the benefits of these features in order to help my client and...
by Michael Carlon | Aug 31, 2010 | Parenthood
It is amazing how much of an effect our parents have on our lives. Oftentimes in focus groups I hear statements such as: “I use this detergent because that is what my mother always used.” “My grandmother had the best skin and this moisturizer was part of her...
by Michael Carlon | Aug 19, 2010 | Self Awareness
Prior to this week I was on the road for nine days; all for one project. This of course means I have a lot of writing to do. Many people I know who do what I do for a living dread the report writing process, with good reason. We have to take multiple hours of...
by Michael Carlon | Aug 13, 2010 | Traveling Observations
What a week! Yesterday I ended an eight day project involving a series of focus groups, in home interviews, and shop-a-longs in Cincinnati and Charlotte. My brain is spent, so much so that I cannot even begin the report writing process until I get to chill out a bit....
by Michael Carlon | Aug 10, 2010 | Traveling Observations
I am in Charlotte this week for some focus groups and in home interviews / shop a longs. I am looking hard for this Southern Hospitality thing I have heard about, but thus far it has been elusive. I checked into my hotel yesterday morning which apparently had a...
by Michael Carlon | Aug 6, 2010 | The Moderating Life
I ran three focus groups yesterday in Cincinnati and the topic of discussion was refrigerated heat and serve entrees; you know, the things you stick in the microwave, heat up for a few minutes, and call dinner. I started the session asking people what they thought of...
by Michael Carlon | Aug 6, 2010 | Traveling Observations
I find myself on commuter jets quite often for business. I will be honest, I do not like flying them. I happen to think that it is the “entry level” job for a new pilot. Last Sunday I flew from LaGuardia to Dayton on a US AIR commuter flight that was...
by Michael Carlon | Aug 5, 2010 | The Moderating Life
I interviewed a man the other night in his home and the topic of our conversations was eating habits. He told me that his eating habits had changed rapidly in the past few months and of course I had to ask him how they have changed. He told me that since April he had...
