by Like every year, we have listed the most important consumer insight and market research conferences taking place in 2021. After a complete shift to virtual, the first organisers are starting to offer live or hybrid events in the second half of 2021. Check out the MRMW and Qual360 conferences in APAC and Europe for example.
The year 2020 changed the world, and market research, as we know it. Now more than ever businesses need to adjust to a new reality and embrace change. New technologies, bold strategies and forward thinking will help pave the way out of the crisis. Important industry events like those organised by Merlien Institute help sharing the knowledge and spreading the news about innovative new approaches.
While the chance for large, trade show style events are very slim with participants not keen to expose themselves to big crowds, small and highly focused conferences are in the best position to switch back to face-to-face events quicker. The number of online events continues to grow with an increased acceptance of video based solutions around the world. On the other hand, the influx of free, marketing focused online conferences has led to a drop of quality and conference fatigue by market researchers. The number of low quality, free marketing events has not helped the industry. Many of these events are likely to disappear again when participants move beyond a trial and error phase. In the long run professionally organised, specialised events will prevail. Organising a high quality conference takes more than a Zoom or Webex subscription and some smart marketing.
At the same time, the forced switch to online may also lead to some innovative new formats, initially in the form of hybrid events. Combining the best of both worlds may just be the future for market research and consumer insight conferences beyond 2022. Already producers and presenters are fully embracing the new creative options that video productions offer for online events.
Consumer Insight and Market Research Conferences 2021
| Date | Event | Location | Organiser |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 27-29 | Media Insights and Engagement Conference | New Orleans, Louisiana, USA | KNect365 |
| January 29-31 | 2020 QRCA Annual Conference | Austin, Texas, USA | QRCA |
| February 5-6 | 2020 QRPharma Market Research Conference USA | Newark, New Jersey, USA | Pharma Market Research Conference |
| February 11-12, 2020 | 2020 Quirk's Event – London | London, UK | Quirk's |
| February 14-16 | 2020 AMA Winter Academic Conference | San Diego, CA, USA | AMA - American Marketing Association |
| February 17-19 | QUAL360 Europe 2020 | Berlin, Germany | Merlien Institute |
| Feb 24-25 | Ethnographic Qualitative Research Conference | Flamingo Las Vegas, Las Vegas, USA | EQRC |
| March 3-4, 2020 | 2020 Quirk's Event – New York | Brooklyn, New York, USA | Quirk's |
| Cancelled | PAA 2020 Annual Meeting | Washington, D.C., USA | PAA - Population Association of America |
| May 12 | CX Talks: The Customer Experience Summit Dallas 2020 | Dallas, USA | CX Talks |
| May 1-3 | 2019 Qualitative Methods Conference | Brisbane, Australia | Australia |
| June 1-2 | Brand Marketing Summit Europe | London, UK | Incite Group |
| July 14-16 | 2019 Quirk's Event – Chicago | Virtual | Quirk's |
| July 22-23 | QUAL360 North America 2020 | Virtual | Merlien Institute |
| September 1-2 | QUAL360 Asia-Pacific 2020 | Virtual | Merlien Institute |
| September 9-11 | IIeX 2020 | Virtual | Greenbook |
| September 14-15 | CX Talks: The Customer Experience Summit Chicago 2020 | Chicago, USA | CX Talks |
| Sep 30- Oct 1 | MRMW North America 2020 | Virtual | Merlien Institute |
| October 26-27 | CX Talks: The Customer Experience Summit Atlanta 2020 | Atlanta, USA | CX Talks |
| November 17-18 | MRMW Asia-Pacific 2020 | Virtual | Merlien Institute |
| December 1-2 | MRMW Europe 2020 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Merlien Institute |
Merlien’s Consumer Insight and Market Research Conferences 2021
Virtually, hybrid or face-to-face, the global MRMW and Qual360 conference series are covering market research and consumer insights on a global scale. Taking place in Asia, North America and Europe every year since 2008 they bring together client side researchers, international agencies and innovative solution providers. Coming up next will be the co-located MRMW and Qual360 editions in Europe and Asia:
Europe: October 20&21, 2021 Berlin – https://www.eu.insightextravaganza.com
APAC: November 10&11, 2021 Singapore – ttps://www.apac.insightextravaganza.com
