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www.HartfordBusiness.com • May 13, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 3 Newsmakers EDITORIAL Greg Bordonaro | Editor, ext. 139, gbordonaro@HartfordBusiness.com Gregory Seay | News Editor, ext. 144, gseay@HartfordBusiness.com Matt Pilon | News Editor, ext. 143, mpilon@HartfordBusiness.com Sean Teehan | Staff Writer, ext 145, steehan@hartfordbusiness.com Joe Cooper | Web Editor, ext. 127, jcooper@HartfordBusiness.com Stephanie Meagher | Research Director Heide Martin | Research Assistant Steve Laschever | Photographer BUSINESS Christopher Santilli | Publisher, ext. 124, csantilli@HartfordBusiness.com Donna Collins | Associate Publisher, ext. 121, dcollins@HartfordBusiness.com Lauren Stroud | Events & Project Manager, ext. 137, lstroud@HartfordBusiness.com Christina Zuraw | Events Coordinator, ext. 134, czuraw@hartfordbusiness.com Shannon Vincelette | HBJ Office and Events Coordinator, ext. 122, svincelette@hartfordbusiness.com David Hartley | Sr. Accounts Manager, ext. 130, dhartley@HartfordBusiness.com Kristen P. 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NEWS DEPARTMENT: If you have a news item: Call us at (860) 236-9998, fax us at (860) 570-2493, or e-mail us at news@HartfordBusiness.com. Hartford Business Journal accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or materials and in general does not return them to the sender. Hartford Business Journal (ISSN 1083-5245) is published weekly, 49x per year - including two special issues in November and December — by new England Business Media, LLC, 15 Lewis Street, Suite 200, Hartford, CT 06103. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and at additional entry points. Tel: (860) 236-9998 • Fax (860) 570-2493 Copyright 2019. All rights reserved. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Hartford Business Journal P.O. Box 330, Congers, NY 10920-9894 www.copyright.com HartfordBusiness.com (860) 236-9998 VERBATIM Staycation destination? "Our statewide tourism marketing is working, but we're always looking for new ways to work with our partners to improve and build longer-term awareness of Connecticut as a place to visit." Connecticut Office of Tourism Director Randy Fiveash reacting to a new study his agency recently published that said state tourism visitor spending reached $9.3 billion in 2017, up 3.6 percent from 2015. Michael Vigeant | CEO, GreatBlue Research Inc. I f anyone can testify that it's not what you ask, but how you ask it, it's Michael Vigeant. Vigeant is chief executive of GreatBlue Re- search Inc., a market research firm that recently teamed up with website designer/developer ZAG Interactive to purchase for $2.8 million a 30,000-square-foot Glaston- bury office building at 20 Western Blvd., which will serve as their joint head- quarters. GreatBlue uses techniques ranging from telephone sur- veys and focus groups to in- home use tests and journey mapping in order to gather market data for industries like health care, utilities and consumer package and product goods. How the company gathers in- formation really depends on the research subject, Vigeant said. "While some studies require statistical reliabil- ity to answer the 'what' through strong quantita- tive methods," Vigeant said, "others really rely on the 'why' being answered, which makes a qualita- tive approach more applicable." Vigeant said his 13 full-time employees and pool of about 35 researchers will settle in nicely at their new Glastonbury digs. Perhaps he can take a poll to get an idea of how they like it. For companies rolling out a new product or service, when do you think is the best time to conduct market research? The sooner the better. We have worked on many different products and services over the years, many of which remain alive and well today. For us, so much of the customer experience, product design and use, concept testing and purchase/decision making are all areas that are measurable and actionable. We can significantly reduce the learning curve and/or trial-and-error period for our clients, including finding the proper price point for their product or service. What is the most surprising thing you discov- ered through market research? While it may not be exciting to many, the most surprising thing I learned about is the use of military-grade drone technology in the agricul- tural industry to provide more reliable crops using less chemicals and more efficient water use in the process. How do you determine the best methods to em- ploy when researching an issue? The research 'question or need' largely de- termines the approach we will take. However, timing from the client, budget and access to the audience all come into play when scoping out a project. For example, there are fewer CEOs available to speak with as opposed to residential utility customers, so our approach would be dif- ferent for those two audiences. What is the most misunderstood aspect of market research (including focus groups and polling)? There are a few actually: research is too expen- sive, focus groups are dead and nobody answers telephone surveys. GREEN SOLUTIONS…ONE SOURCE The company that builds and installs the critical systems in virtually every type of facility is the same company you can rely on to maintain them. For over 50 years, our clients have trusted us to provide sustainable, more efficient, greener facilities. We are experts in: Energy Systems & Incentives Building Automation Technologies Sustainable Design & Operation 860.871.1111 Toll Free: 800.741.6367 nemsi.com License #'s: E1-104939 • S1-302974 • P1-203519 • F1-10498 • SM1-192 • MC-1134 MECHANICAL • ELECTRICAL • PLUMBING • SHEET METAL • BUILDING AUTOMATION • FACILITIES SERVICES Michael Vigeant