Ad hoc strategic support

Sometimes you do not need to outsource a whole project. You may simply need experienced support to shape the work, build confidence or take pressure off your team.

BrandConcerns can help with practical, flexible support across insight, research and engagement. That might mean designing a focused research programme, helping you run your own project, moderating interviews, analysing findings, writing a report or acting as a sounding board.

This support can be useful if you:

• need help turning a business question into a clear research plan
• want to run your own research but need expert guidance
• need an experienced moderator for sensitive or senior interviews
• want someone to challenge or strengthen your analysis
• need support with reporting, structure or storytelling
• want practical training, workshops or advice for your team

Whether you need a structured programme or a few hours of senior input, BrandConcerns can help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

BandConcerns was founded by Fenella McCarthy who leads the team.

Fenella is a full member of the MRS and has worked in research for over 25 years.

She is skilled at research projects of all shapes and sizes from complex international projects to smaller focused projects for SMEs and start-ups. As something of a chameleon, she is adept at talking to people in the way and the language they are most comfortable with, whether that is Global CEOs or Government Ministers, Regular Joes or stroppy teenagers.

After starting her career in a qualitative agency, she has worked in-house in brand, communication and design agencies. She hosts webinars and runs training schemes most recently for the Manchester Growth HUB, where she designed and delivered a DIY research programme enabling small organisations to devise and conduct their own, focused research programmes.

Fenella has an MA PPE Worcester College, Oxford but happily has no desire to go into politics.

Evaluating current and potential communications to establish how best to shape your communications for maximum impact.

Seeing is believing. By observing respondent behaviour with products, services and experiences we gain a greater understanding of their reality and uncover unacknowledged constraints and potential. 

Working with 2d design teams, we run co-creation workshops to build and evaluate ideas as well as more classic research sessions to fine-tune concepts.

Your people are your brand so it’s important for them to be your best advocates. We can help you work out how engaged your staff are, what are the issues that need to be addressed, how can they be effectively addressed?

Our approach focuses on dialogue in a variety of formats – depth interviews, discussion groups, larger workshops, values and brand evaluation and development workshops. The outcome will be practical steps. 

Using a mixture of in-home and on location trials and discussions we can help you ascertain the appeal of your product and provide guidance on if / how it might be improved prior to launch. 

For many brands packs are the most important communications tool. Our design savvy team will research pack designs and concepts (2d & 3d) to establish what is working and why. Providing valuable insight into creative refinement. 

Evaluating corporate / brand identity to ensure that it delivers brand value. Our approach ensures that the research doesn’t just become a beauty parade but concepts are evaluated on communication efficacy.

Identifying key brand strengths and weaknesses and how to create a stronger brand positioning & purpose that will resonate with key audiences.

How engaged are your different stakeholders, what must / can you do to improve perception, engagement and ultimately loyalty.