Market Research at Your Fingertips
Bixa is an award-winning market research studio bringing you the customer insights you need to attract customers who adore you and keep them coming back. We offer quantitative and qualitative customer discovery—interviews, ethnography, mobile diary studies, usability testing, surveys, focus groups and more—that delivers tangible results for your business.
One of our specialties is youth research and our CEO is the author of the #1 bestseller InstaBrain: The New Rules for Marketing to Generation Z. Whatever your research project, whatever your niche, you'll get fresh data-driven insights that drive your direction and help you create standout experiences for your customers.
headquarters
Focus
Portfolio
Google, IBM, PBS, Ogilvy, Mikimoto, Cox, Constellation, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, American Chemical Society, Coplex, Greendrop/2nd Ave
Market Research: In-Store Interviews (Retail)
While working with a large retailer, we conducted over 500 in-store interviews in 4 states to segment their audience, understand post-COVID customer buying behavior, and recommend highly-targeted marketing campaigns designed to tap into niche target segments.
As quarantine constraints have made local neighborhoods more important in a "homebody economy", shifting to hyperlocal marketing and engagement has become essential for many retailers. We helped this retailer reap benefits by localizing their marketing, tailoring messaging to different neighborhoods, and delivering personalized marketing at scale through channels including community social media pages and forums.
UX interviews and usability testing
We conducted a series of iterative UX interviews and usability testing for a new IBM product to enhance user experience through design.
Rapid Customer Research
We partner with Ogilvy on some of their signature accounts to help them conduct rapid customer research to inform ad campaign or product strategy.
Qualitative Interviews
For PBS, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews, a large-scale survey, and image-based projective interviews. Based on the customer data we gathered, we made specific recommendations to improve the eCommerce experience. Once ShopPBS implemented our recommendations, they boosted product conversions on their website by over 400%.
Market Research
For the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, we conducted market research in order to create a launch strategy for a new YouTube channel for long-form factual scientific documentaries. Our reports are informative, clear, and (of course!) beautiful. We make sure you're getting the data you need and you're not distracted by data you don't. Our deliverables are action-oriented and customized to your goals.
In-depth Customer Interviews
We conducted in-depth customer interviews with American and Japanese customers to understand brand perceptions and recommend website updates to enhance customer experiences of targeted audience segments. We also conducted rapid, iterative usability testing with prototypes.
Targeted Campaigns
We conducted 500 in-store retail interviews with shoppers to segment buyers in a meaningful way and create targeted campaigns for key audience segments.
Market Validation
We work with an innovation studio Coplex to conduct rapid new market validation for new products and services.
Target Audience
We conducted qualitative and quantitative interviews to understand how to build and market a new model for malpractice insurance for single-specialty medical practices. We conducted niche recruiting, in-depth interviews, and a large-scale survey to deeply understand this market and segment them in a meaningful way.
Reviews
the project
Market Research for Startup Incubator
“It was always apparent that they were experts in the space.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m a senior business designer at a corporate startup studio with offices in Pheonix, Los Angeles, and Seattle. We help companies build technology businesses, starting with an idea. I manage a team of engineers, designers, markets, content strategists, and a few analysts. We’re responsible for helping tech businesses launch in 9–12 months.
What challenge were you trying to address with Bixa?
We needed to handle market research and felt that it would be best, due to the potential for confirmation bias, to call upon a third-party for this research. It was important for us to find an objective, experienced partner that could conduct effective interviews help us further understand customer needs.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They’re helping us determine what questions we will ask specific personas, screen individuals to qualify interviewees, and conduct interviews. Their team has been able to gather important information and begin deciphering based on key assumptions we’ve made on the business. Their final deliverables provide us with strategic insights, helping us draw conclusions based on the trends they’ve found.
What is the team composition?
I work with 1–3 people on their team, but my main contact is Sarah (CEO & Market Researcher).
How did you come to work with Bixa?
One of my colleagues recommended them along with a few other vendor options. They seemed like a perfect fit early on, so we started working together.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent about $100,000 so far.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in August 2020 and have already completed two projects with them. We’re moving forward with an additional two projects with them.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The client felt that this was the best presentation and research they’ve seen within their industry in a very long time. They were extremely happy with their work. Additionally, the Bixa team was extremely responsive, professional, personable, and energetic.
How did Bixa perform from a project management standpoint?
We communicated about progress in weekly meetings and had an overall project plan that documented milestones. Sarah provided us with updates on their research via email. They delivered the final products about a week and a half early.
What did you find most impressive about them?
It was always apparent that they were experts in the space. They’re passionate and knowledgeable about their research. They have the capabilities to accommodate any type of business. We found that we got more value than what we paid for their work.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I can’t think of anything.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
It helps to come to them with context and an outline of your goals. That will help them do their job better.
the project
Market Research for Skincare Company
"Their availability, their professionalism, and their superb know-how impressed us."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the president of a consulting company located in France and I help companies across the world to launch products or services.
For what projects/services did your company hire Bixa?
One of my customer would like to use a skin care product. Originally we thought about focusing towards ladies with some particular benefits for skin needing more elasticity. After the brilliant search realized by Bixa, we are now looking into extending our target customers.
What were your goals for this project?
Understand what ladies over 60 required in terms of skincare products. We wanted to understand the market, the type of packaging and the way to approach them.
How did you select this vendor?
We searched online and saw that Bixa had great reviews. After an initial call, we really liked their approach and their professionalism. They were available, reliable and very approachable.
Describe the project in detail.
One of my customer would like to use a skin care product. Originally we thought about focusing towards ladies with some particular benefits for skin needing more elasticity. After the brilliant search realized by Bixa, we are now looking into extending our target customers.
What was the team composition?
2 people from Bixa, the CEO and a project manager.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Bixa over-exceeded what we anticipated. We now understand where to move next.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Extremely effective. Communication was smooth, scheduling always on time, they went beyond what we expected.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
Their availability, their professionalism, and their superb know-how impressed us.
Are there any areas for improvement?
No
the project
Marketing Strategy for Change Management Company
"They delivered thoughtful insights that not only met our users' needs but also aligned with our company's strategy."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I'm the CEO of The Mindset Group, an enterprise coaching and change management consultancy.
For what projects/services did your company hire Bixa?
We hired Bixa for audience segmentation, branding strategy workshops, and the creation of a robust, customer-centered marketing strategy.
What were your goals for this project?
In the past, our branding and marketing strategy had been completely driven by our executive team and board of directors. Our goal in hiring Bixa was to transform our outlook into something more customer-focused. And wow, did they deliver!
How did you select this vendor?
I has worked with Bixa's CEO, Sarah Weise, years ago when we were both at Booz Allen Hamilton and she was managing UX projects. I knew how good she was then and was thrilled to be able to work with her again.
Describe the project in detail.
Bixa has been invaluable in helping us understand and segment our target audiences and mapping out a strategy to build distinct brands for each. We kicked off our project with an amazing facilitated workshop where we white-boarded out everything. This helped us to clarify our goals, audiences, and what we knew about each target audience segment.
Before we hired Bixa, our branding was muddled together. Now that we have implemented their recommendations, we've built out an umbrella company and three distinct brands, with different audiences for each.
What was the team composition?
One of Bixa's lead researchers/strategists was our point of contact during the project. They brought on other staff as needed to support the project. We found even their junior researchers to be so impressive. You can tell they put a lot into their staff's training.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
By getting our business niche just right, our business has taken off and our revenue has increased by over 300% as a result. We will be continuing with a package of weekly coaching because we have found their research and marketing strategy experience completely invaluable as our company scales.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
They were very flexible and quick to communicate. They ramped up fast and even led a workshop after-hours when our whole team could make it.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
I was blown away by the knowledge Bixa had about customer research and marketing strategy. They delivered thoughtful insights that not only met our users' needs but also aligned with our company's strategy.
Are there any areas for improvement?
No areas of improvement. We have had an immensely positive experience with the Bixa team.
the project
Market Research and Testing for Large Design Agency
"They made sure things never slipped through the cracks."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the senior designer at Ogilvy. We’re an agency that focuses on UX design.
What challenge were you trying to address with Bixa Research?
We needed to conduct user research on a specific part of the business problem our client was facing. We hired Bixa Research to create a discussion guide for this project.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Bixa Research created a discussion guide, which included writing three different narratives for the user research, conducting user interviews, and formalizing it all into a synthesis read-out, with actionable to-do items.
They conducted 10 usability interviews over the course of a week and then produced a high-level findings summary within 3–4 days. They also produced an Excel spreadsheet of 60 very detailed findings, with a level of effort scopes from the design team for each of them.
What is the team composition?
I primarily worked with Sarah (CEO & Lead Researcher, Bixa Labs).
How did you come to work with Bixa Research?
Bixa Research was recommended to us by a previous employee.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve invested $185 per hour, for 40 hours per week, which lasted about a month.
What is the status of this engagement?
This project spanned from May–June 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We were testing a specific prototype to start implementing our designs. We found very detail-oriented design updates, which really made our designs come to life better.
How did Bixa Research perform from a project management standpoint?
The team was very attentive to details and always delivered what was promised on time. They made sure things never slipped through the cracks.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The team was able to understand both our ecosystem and the ecosystem of our client without missing a beat.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, not that I can think of.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
I would recommend that potential customers articulate what they’re looking for. They should be as transparent as possible to get their desired result.
the project
Market Research for Insurance Company
"They are professional and knowledgeable. They picked up on the nuances of our industry extremely fast."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the VP of Innovation for Constellation, Inc. a medical professional liability insurance company serving physicians, hospitals and senior living customers throughout the US.
For what projects/services did your company hire Bixa?
Bixa developed a market research plan for testing a new concept we were evaluating for a defined target market.
What were your goals for this project?
Conduct a qualitative-quantitative-qualitative study to gain customer insights into a new product innovation and leverage those learnings to launch new solution if feedback was positive.
How did you select Bixa?
Recommendation from our Venturing Studio partner Coplex.
Describe the project in detail.
CONFIDENTIAL but involved it involved qualitative-quantitative-qualitative methodology.
What was the team composition?
Sarah from Bixa was primary contact. She managed her team of resources to deliver the project.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Fantastic customer/prospect insights, amazing project report and presentation. Informed and drove our decision to pursue next steps.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Communication was excellent and tasks managed extremely well.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
Delivered the goods in a professional, timely and cost effective means.
Are there any areas for improvement?
None that I can see.
the project
Market Research Project for Startup
"The insights gathered by the Bixa team were invaluable in formulating company strategy."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am a start up founder.
For what projects/services did your company hire Bixa?
We hired Bixa to perform market research to validate an initial company concept.
What were your goals for this project?
To validate the market for a consumer product, to gain insight on consumer expectations.
How did you select this vendor?
Online website and interviews.
Describe the project in detail.
Market research for a new product line, including multiple interviews with target group.
What was the team composition?
Bixa assigned a team to work with us.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
The insights gathered by the Bixa team were invaluable in formulating company strategy, and validating, or invalidating, certain assumptions. This preliminary market research has been key in refining our product plans and company direction.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Very effective workflow.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
We were very impressed with the product and market research generated by Bixa. They were able to aggregate and distill important market insights from a series of interviews. The provided results that were insightful, actionable, and valuable.
Are there any areas for improvement?
No.
The end clients praised the final presentation of the research and strategic recommendations presented by the team, some calling it the best research presentation they’ve seen in the industry in years. The team was attentive, responsive to feedback, organized, and enthusiastic about their work.