DSD has the skill and experience to provide a range of proven research services, either directly or through managed third party research companies. Research clearly plays an essential part in our clients’ planning process, but we also undertake ad hoc projects as they arise. Research techniques include self-completion surveys, telephone surveys, focus groups, and mystery shopper programmes.

As part of our planning process, we offer a sophisticated media profiling service. Through analysis of ACORN geo-demographic data we can create maps for our clients showing where there are ‘hot spots’ of their individual target market. By further co-ordinating this information with up-dated drive-time information, we are able also to help our clients plan accessible distribution, locate new stores, and in the case of our school clients, plan new bus routes.