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WHAT WE DO

Association Research

SERVING YOUR MEMBERS IS MORE THAN JUST HOSTING MEETINGS

It’s about truly understanding your members – who they are, what they value, and how your organization can best champion their future.

Associations serve their membership in many ways, and independent market research is a foundational way to deliver that value. Whether conducting a statewide vineyard census or a national state-of-the-industry study, this research lays a permanent roadmap for success. It provides the objective data required to protect the organization’s relevance, empower the industry’s advocacy efforts, and support the business decisions of the individual growers, veterinarians, and professionals who participate in them.

From Insights to Action:

Relying on fragmented data leaves your members navigating market shifts in the dark. Your organization must lead with industry authority through definitive, independent data assets that arm your base with the information they need to thrive. We act as your research partner to deliver the large-scale studies, like statewide censuses or state of the industry reports, that give your entire sector a clear path forward. 

We structure association research to deliver those high-value data assets that answer your industry's most critical questions like:

Our Association Research Toolkit

Member Value & Needs Assessment

Identifies exactly which benefits, resources, and programming your members value most so you can optimize your offerings and protect your retention rates.

Industry Benchmarking Studies

Aggregates data from across your entire footprint to provide critical industry benchmarks that empower your members to make better decisions, improve their operations, and earn more. 

Non-member barrier analysis

Surveys eligible professionals outside your membership to uncover the specific pain points and perceived hurdles stopping them from joining.

Qualitative exploration

Uses deep, focused listening sessions and member interviews to uncover the real, unscripted challenges and professional needs facing your sector.

Usage & Attitudes

Tracks foundational industry sentiment and ongoing member habits to provide your organization with the data needed to drive long-term member value and public advocacy.

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Our Association Research Toolkit

Member Value & Needs Assessment

Identifies exactly which benefits, resources, and programming your members value most so you can optimize your offerings and protect your retention rates.

Industry Benchmarking Studies

Aggregates data from across your entire footprint to provide critical industry benchmarks that empower your members to make better decisions, improve their operations, and earn more. 

Non-member barrier analysis

Surveys eligible professionals outside your membership to uncover the specific pain points and perceived hurdles stopping them from joining.

Qualitative exploration

Uses deep, focused listening sessions and member interviews to uncover the real, unscripted challenges and professional needs facing your sector.

Usage & Attitudes

Tracks foundational industry sentiment and ongoing member habits to provide your organization with the data needed to drive long-term member value and public advocacy.

 

Don't Just Take Our Word For It

See our work in action.

New York Wine and Grape Foundation Survey (1)

Building a Census to Close a 13-Year Data Gap

To close a decade-long data deficit for the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, we captured data on over 29,000 total vineyard acres. This definitive industry census empowers regional growers with the commercial intelligence required to guide strategic investments, defend their interests, and drive public policy.

FUEL YOUR INDUSTRY THROUGH INSIGHTS.

FAQ: Association Research

Q: What is an industry census in association research?

A: An industry census is a comprehensive, large-scale study designed to map the entire physical and economic footprint of a specific sector or region. Unlike standard surveys, a census tracks macro-level benchmarks—such as total production metrics, asset allocations, regional changes, and acreage—to establish an undisputed baseline for an industry.

Q: How do associations use data-backed advocacy?

A: Associations use data-backed advocacy by translating rigorous, independent industry metrics into economic impact reports. These objective benchmarks provide lawmakers, regulatory bodies, and stakeholders with verifiable proof of a sector's economic value, financial footprint, and regulatory challenges to effectively influence policy.

Q: What is a State of the Industry report for associations?

A: A State of the Industry report is a high-fidelity data asset that aggregates sector-wide performance metrics, emerging market trends, and shifting consumer preferences. It serves a dual purpose: establishing the association as the authoritative voice in the market and providing individual members with the commercial intelligence they need to guide their own businesses.

Q: How does regional metric segmentation benefit association members?

A: Regional metric segmentation breaks down macro industry data into specific geographic territories, counties, or business classifications. This allows individual association members—such as independent growers, veterinarians, or business owners—to compare their local operational data against trusted regional benchmarks.

Q: How do research firms protect member data confidentiality during an industry census?

A: Leading research firms use strict data governance and aggregation protocols to protect member confidentiality. Raw operational, financial, or land data is entirely anonymized and synthesized at the macro or regional level, ensuring individual member footprints or proprietary business metrics can never be isolated or exposed to competitors.

Q: How do benchmarking tools improve association member retention?

A: Interactive benchmarking tools turn abstract data into a high-utility, exclusive member benefit. By giving members a secure dashboard to compare their individual performance against regional aggregates, the association shifts from a passive community to an indispensable operational resource, directly driving higher year-over-year renewal rates.