Mystery Shopping with Retail Active

Mystery Dining

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

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

The Scope Of Mystery Shopping...

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

One of the questions that we are asked all of the time, both by clients and by mystery shoppers, is if we just go to retail shops. Mystery shopping is a field with tremendous depth and there are a myriad of different applications that some never consider so the answer every time, is a resounding NO!

So, what else is there but retail shops?

•    Telephone services – we can access helplines, contact lines and customer support services via our state of the art call recording system.
•    Hotel mystery guests – we have mystery shoppers who are always available to stay away from home and to give impartial feedback on their experiences. Click [here] for more information.
•    Websites – you can request one of our trained and accurate assessors to look over your company website and test your facilities.
•    Mystery dining – our mystery diners deliver reliable and valuable customer feedback on a range of venues and menus across the UK.
•    Experience and recreation – from Theme Parks to Spas, it is often difficult to gain an impartial insight into performance. We have mystery shoppers who are experienced in every sector and will be able to provide an unbiased judgement according to specific requirements.
•    Transport and Logistics – logistics and transport companies engage mystery shopping companies like Retail Active to measure performance, customer service and compliance.

And beyond...
There are innumerable different products and services provided across the world and if it’s not something we have, “Shopped” before, it is safe to say that we would be very interested in having discussions to see what we can do for you. We are a, “Can-do” company and we encourage blue-sky approaches and if you can provide it, our mystery shoppers can access it.

If you are interested to see what we can do for your company, please email info@retailactive.com or you can call us at our new offices on 01235 856575.

We always have a variety of mystery shopping jobs available for reliable, dedicated mystery shoppers. You can apply online via the Mystery Shopping Academy of Great Britain at www.retailactive.com.

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

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

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

Considered Exit Interviewing?

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Exit Interviewing is one of the most popular projects that we run, both for our clients and for our Mystery Shoppers. Where Mystery Shopping offers a snapshot of one customer’s experience, Retail Active Exit Interviews can gather several opinions from customers in a matter of hours.

Exit Interviewing involves speaking with shoppers as they leave a store and filling in questionnaires with them about their experience, their opinions and their new purchases.

We are looking for both new and experienced customer service Exit Interviewers to work with us on existing projects and to expand our current workforce of Interviewers, as we gain more and more business involving opportunities of this kind.

To be an Exit Interviewer you need to be dedicated, honest and reliable. Although, having Field Marketing, Exit Survey or Brand Auditing experience would be a definite plus! You need to be one of our team of Mystery Shoppers to be eligible, so please sign up at www.retailactive.com and tell us at shoppersupport@retailactive.com why we should consider you to join our team. Whether you are just interested in Exit Interviewing or you are looking for additional opportunities to complete alongside your Mystery Shopping jobs, we would be delighted to hear from you!

Retail Active is one of Europe's leading Mystery Shopping Companies and conducts Brand Audits, Secret Shopping and Customer Satisfaction Surveys to over 170 companies in the UK and Europe.

Video Mystery Shopping

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:00:00 +0000

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.

Networking, networking...

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:00:00 +0000

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.

What it takes to be a Mystery Shopper...

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:00:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

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.

Devon and Cornwall – join our continued expansion!

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000

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.

Thank you to all of our Mystery Shoppers

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Retail Active is the most innovative of all of the UK’s 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 this in mind, it’s that time again – time to say a brief Thank You to our star Mystery Shoppers.

Thank you to Keith from South Lanarkshire:
Your help, at the last minute, on our most recent new project has been greatly appreciated throughout the scheduling team. You’re a star!

Thank you to Natasha from London:
You’ve only recently joined the team and you’ve already completed numerous visits, most of which were hard-to-allocate visits.

Thank you to Justin from London:
You always go above and beyond to be a great help ... especially with our new VM check project!

Thank you to Robert from Stockton-on-Tees:
You’ve been a shining star in an area that is hard for us to allocate visits in. Thank you for trekking out in all weathers for us!

Thank you to William from Limerick:
You’ve been a great help with our recent project in Ireland. Thank you, William.

Thank you to Sarah from Limerick:
As always, you’ve been happy to travel across the country for us, picking up visits en route.

Thank you to Nicola from Belfast:
Travelling far and wide to complete visits for us, you have been a great asset over the past month. We are delighted to have you on the team, and now your husband too!

Last but not least ...
Thank you to all of our secret shoppers – you help to make Retail Active the leading British mystery shopping company. You can find out what we can do for your company, or join our mystery shopping team at www.retailactive.com

Devon - Mystery Shopping Opportunities

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

We are looking for conscientious, articulate and reliable secret shoppers to join us for mystery shopping jobs in Devon.

Following the success of our weekly mystery shopping in the Republic of Ireland, we are running a similar programme in Devon so we are looking to expand our current team. We’re going to be having some really exciting opportunities in the coming weeks, where you could be paid to shop and enjoy products and experiences from your favourite brands.

Retail Active is a market leading Mystery Shopping Company in the UK and we are still growing fast. Our clients employ us to report back on the services provided at their hotels, restaurants and stores. Mystery Shopping is a huge part of our repertoire and our mystery shoppers help us to help our clients improve customer service and experience in their businesses.

If you are looking for mystery shopping jobs and interested in joining the team, please visit www.retailactive.com or telephone 01235 428413 for more information.

Video Mystery Shopping with Retail Active

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:00:00 +0000

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.

Service Hero of the Month - December 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Retail Active is the leading British brand auditing and mystery shopping company and we like to recognise service excellence not just by providing clients with our acclaimed mystery shopping reports, but from accepting nominations for our Service Hero award.

We are delighted to award this month’s Service Hero to Sharon, a valued colleague at the Glossop branch of Wickes.

Sharon has been nominated for recognition as a Service Hero due to her excellent Customer Service skills, noted in a recent mystery shopping visit. She takes the trouble to explain the services that Wickes can provide and does so at the right level for her customers to understand.

Our mystery shopper said, “I felt that she was interested in my needs, not just in a sale, and as a result I felt a valued customer and would have been more likely to buy as a result.”

If you want to nominate someone for our Service Hero of the Month, please email shoppersupport@retailactive.com with your nominee’s name, the company they work for and the reasons for your nomination.

The nomination doesn’t have to come from one of our mystery shopping visits or brand audits. The nominee could work at your regular coffee-stop or supermarket – we are happy to receive all recommendations.

Please include your contact details in the email, just in case we need to get in touch for more information with regards to your nomination.

If you’re interested in seeing how we can help you to improve Service Excellence and Customer Experience within your business, please email info@retailactive.com for more details.

Fight the Monday Blues!

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 09:00:00 +0000

It’s Blue Monday – the most depressing day of the year. What’s even worse is its snowing and Britain is coming to a halt around us. The winter feels like it’s here to stay and the first day of spring feels a million years away.

If you’re feeling glum, we have a few ideas that might help;

1. Try a new hobby!

Taking up a new hobby is often rewarding and socially exciting, which is especially welcome through the notorious doldrums of January. We, of course, suggest joining mystery shopping companies as a great idea to get interested in!

2. Get some sun.

Sunlight helps our bodies produce Vitamin D and Vitamin D is great for helping to boost the immune system. Do you find yourself with the winter sniffles through January? Even just getting out in the winter sun can help, especially if you’re walking through town on a mystery shopping trip! 'Seasonal Affective Disorder’ has also been linked to the lack of sunlight, so it could bring you out of the blues too.

3. Get your finances in check.

Now is the time to address the accumulated debt from the holidays. One of the keys factors in the January blues is worrying about debt. We pay our mystery shoppers for completing work for us as well as reimbursing them for purchases, so now would be the perfect time to complete some visits, get yourself a treat and give your credit card a break!

If your company’s customers are feeling under the weather, we could provide insight into why. For information on our services, please email info@retailactive.com.

If you are looking for mystery shopping jobs or are looking to become a secret shopper, please sign up through www.retailactive.com.

Mystery Shopping Jobs in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:00:00 +0000

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.

Service where it matters

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Businesses rely on ensuring that their customers and clients keep coming back. As a mystery shopping company, our entire business is set up around this fact. We keep our clients coming back by helping them keep their customers. Because we spend a lot of time thinking about this, we can sometimes be quite startled when others don’t appear to agree. A recent experience particularly got us thinking about how a business gets (and keeps) new customers. There are a myriad of techniques employed to get new customers into your business, but once there, they’ll only stay if you provide a service that is good enough.

Our experience went like this: we decided to get pizza. Because one member of the group did not want to get pizza from the usual company, we tried a different pizza company. A simple quirk of fate has got us through their door, a good opportunity for them to win some new repeat customers (or not). When we arrive to collect our pizza, our name was already listed as being ready, which pleased us. Unfortunately, we then experienced a series of customer service 'do-nots' that had us wondering whether they had any customer service training at all. The short list being:

They did not acknowledge us. This may not appear to be much of an issue, but certainly exacerbated the problems which were to follow.
They left us waiting for 10 minutes while they took phone orders. This, again, wouldn’t matter so much if we had received the acknowledgement, but instead just made what was to follow worse.
They did not have the pizzas ready. This was pretty bad, but mistakes like this happen and how you handle them can occasionally win you life-long customers. This did not happen though.
They misled us. Two of our pizzas were ready, while one had either been forgotten or accidentally given to another customer. Instead we were told that it was “nearly ready”, whilst we watched the preparation from start to finish.
They did not acknowledge or apologise for our extended wait.

As might be assumed, we decided to never again venture from our usual pizza place. However, this had very little to do with the initial mistake, we’ve waited for pizza before and were hardly in a rush. Instead, it was to do with the apparent attitude of the staff towards us. The feelings a customer has towards a company define whether they will return. If a customer feels undervalued or unwanted, then they are very unlikely to come back. Of course discovering how your business makes your customers feel can be very tricky, but then this is where selected mystery shoppers can make a world of difference. So, when in doubt, call the experts at Retail Active Mystery Shopping.

Happy New Year from all at Retail Active

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 09:00:00 +0000

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!

Service Hero of the Month - November 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to present this month’s Service Hero; Charlotte, a valued member of Boots, who works at their store in Leeds, United Kingdom.

Charlotte has been nominated as a Service Hero due to her personal and excellent Customer Service, noted as going out of her way to ensure that Boots' customers are happy and have everything that they need. In a very busy location, Charlotte makes time to engage every customer as an individual and always has a smile to share.

We are always on the look-out for nominees for Service Hero of the Month so if you have experienced extraordinary Customer Service, whether during a Mystery shopping visit or at any other time, please email your nomination to shoppersupport@retailactive.com along with the reasons for your nomination, your nominee’s name and the company they work for. Please include your details so that you can be contacted regarding your nomination for further details if needed.

To find out what Retail Active can do for your company to improve Customer Experience, please email info@retailactive.com. If you are interested in becoming a Mystery Shopper, please visit www.retailactive.com.

The rise of the e-card

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:21:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

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!

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Retail Active) — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 12:00:00 +0000

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.