Northeast Utilities

2008 Residential Appliance Saturation Survey

gL Market Research was selected to conduct a mail survey of residential customers in NU's three operating companies: Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P), Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO) and Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH)

The study is scheduled for completion in December 2008.

Word of Mouth Marketing

Conducted a word-of-mouth marketing seminar that illustrated the concepts, techniques and benefits of word of mouth marketing strategies and tactics including:

• The definition of word of mouth marketing

• Word of mouth marketing tactics

• Pre-requisites for an effective word of mouth marketing campaign

Attendees also participated in an interactive game called Word Up that helped reinforce the concepts.

The Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce

2007 Benchmark Membership Survey

In May 2007, the Board of Directors of the Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) commissioned gL Market Research to

conduct membership research.

Data was collected via the gLS - MAT. The gLS – MAT is a web-based Membership Assessment Tool developed by Dr. Subbroto Roy and Lloyd Duggan that has been tested in different membership contexts.

Members responded to the survey over the two week period from May 21, 2007 to June 1, 2007.

Five (5) objectives guided the research:

• To assess satisfaction levels with the Chamber, its program offerings and services
• To assess members’ perceived value of their membership and how that varies relative to relevant member characteristics
• To facilitate the design of future program offerings and/or services
• To determine aspects of Chamber membership that drive member loyalty and retention
• To identify key issues that can be used to recruit new members, thereby increasing overall membership

The GMCC Board will use the data to facilitate its continuing effort to meet the needs of members, attract new members and retain existing members.

“Once again, great job!  I especially enjoyed the verbatim responses.  They seem to validate our new initiatives such as SBI and the new networking groups.  There are some good suggestions for partnering with other groups…”

Thomas Marano

Chairman of the Board

The Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

“gL Market Research provided us with valuable insights about our members that will help us in making decisions about our member recruiting and retention efforts. Their research gave us a benchmark Average Identity Score that we can use to determine the effectiveness of future member programs and initiatives and the state of our membership.”

Séan W. Moore

President

The Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

State of Connecticut Department of Public Health

2006 Perinatal/Maternal Depression Campaign

Focus Groups

gL Market Research worked with Anita Ford Saunders Communication and Elkinson + Sloves, Inc., to conduct focus groups for the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health. The research was commissioned to evaluate the effectiveness of an advertising campaign designed to raise awareness of perinatal depression. The campaign was launched in June 2006 and concluded in August 2006.

Between 10% and 12% of all women are affected by maternal depression during or after pregnancy. In June 2005, the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) received a competitive one year $250,000 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) to develop a statewide, multi-lingual, multimedia public awareness campaign regarding perinatal depression. Connecticut was one of 10 states to receive funding.

Study Objectives

The objectives of this qualitative research were to:

• Assess the target group’s understanding and reaction to the message.
• Identify which tactics had the most impact.
• Obtain insights from the target group that could be used in a new campaign.

Four (4) focus groups were conducted from mid - March through early April 2007 in Norwich, Waterbury, New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut. All focus group participants were either African American or Latina women of child-bearing age (18-44 years old).

 “The work done on this project was professional and timely”

Felicia Epps, CT Dept of Public Health