Info

American LIVES specializes in primary data collection and analyses in proprietary studies for clients. We do both qualitative research, such as focus groups and in-home interviews, and quantitative research, such as surveys. Our approach is to develop market strategies with clients and tailor the research to the precise needs of our clients. We work with clients on every aspect of the process of customer contact and specialize in solving the hard strategy problems about relations to existing or new markets, and in coming up with new market research tools to meet client needs. We don't do "off the shelf". American LIVES was started in 1987, and over the last 14 years we have conducted over 500 focus groups and have surveyed over 300,000 Americans on their Lifestyles, Interests,Values, Expectations and Symbols (LIVES Analysis). We do research on the complex products and services that other market research companies do not know how to handle, such as houses, communities, cars, consumer electronics, and other consumer durables. Plus, we do research on symbolically laden products such as wines and magazines as well as on products, services, and events that are lifestyle markers for consumers, such as vacations. Our approach lets the advertiser, marketer, and sales person understand what the product or service means in the life of the consumer, and speak directly to that. That is often what is most important to successful development and marketing. We also rely on a strong network of domestic and international partners, including our european affiliates,SAI (Strategy Analysis International). We frequently work with the real estate industry to identify what kinds of communities, homes, and resorts consumers are looking for. While the large majority of our research projects are proprietary and custom-tailored to specific clients, every year we conduct research on a new development in building communities. We sell these reports to fund the next year's study. In the past, we have done extensive surveys on what community features buyers are looking for, what they think of design issues of New Urbanism, and what they are looking for in a vacation-oriented resort. We also have a new study on the role of Technology in the Home.