+ Design Research Reports, LLC | About Our Company +

About Our Company

Design Research Reports, Inc. is committed to providing our Retail Partners and Manufacturing/Distribution Clients with the most timely and accurate market intelligence available. The key to the intelligence is the analysis of actual consumer purchasing behavior as reflected in retail sales data reported by our Retail Partners. Timeliness and accuracy are enhanced through the use of electronic communication and processing technology available in today’s business environment.

Our focus is the Tabletop, Gift, Collectibles and Home Furnishings markets. These markets enjoy high volumes of unit and dollar sales but must respond quickly to changing consumer demands in the areas of style, color and functionality. Retailers and Vendors can only respond in a timely manner if they have their finger on the pulse of consumer demand. Design Research Reports is dedicated to providing that finger to its Clients and Partners.

The broad range of services currently offered by Design Research Reports has grown out of our flagship service The Macomber Reports™ which we acquired in 2001.

We are continuing Macomber's illustrious 35 years of “Retail Audits” in the Fine China, Casual Dinnerware, Crystal Stemware/Giftware and Flatware markets. Our vendor clients are the premier providers of fine, quality items to the market and our Retail Partners achieve sales of these goods through established service and reputations for providing the finest products to consumers.

We have extended the Macomber model of audits by enhancing the types of analysis to extend into areas of design preference and new product market penetration as well as providing customized views of market segments to meet the needs of our clients and partners. For example, we provide clients with discrete views of specific items within a product category and the distribution of consumer purchases across these items.

New services introduced by Design Research Reports include:

EDI Monitor™ – Providing Manufacturers/Distributors with 24-hour access and turnaround analysis of the EDI data they receive from retailers. Sales and Marketing staff now have access to sales data that is current to the prior week as well as history of sales at the individual UPC/SKU level. Often clients have been receiving this data and nothing has been done with it.

Pattern Tracker™ – Provides real time access to more than 12,000 Pattern, Item and Brand/Line names and their owners. This service facilitates name selection efforts and avoids potential product naming conflicts.

Principals

Richard Babick, President of Design Research, LLC and Design Research Reports, Inc. Sixteen years as Assistant Vice President, Corporate Director of Research for Lenox, Inc.

Kenneth Coakley, Vice President of Information Technolgy, twelve years of information technology consulting experience. Most recently with MetrixPoint and previously with August Shell Enterprises.

Associate

Janine Finkle, Vice President of Market Insights. Previous experience includes sixteen years with Lenox, Inc. most recently as Director of Market Research. Previously employed with Opinion Research Corporation.