More consumers to have their say for Product of the Year

Australia’s largest independent survey of new products, Product of the Year, is increasing its consumer sample as part of a number of improvements to continue the strong growth of the awards.

 

Its survey will now be headed by Nielsen, the global information and measurement company, instead of TNS. This switch means the sample size will rise by 53 per cent from 7,000 to 10,700 which will help provide more accurate results.

 

Nielsen will also re-design the survey questions giving them a greater focus on new product performance. An expanded consumer preference index will be a key measurement area.

 

“Since launching in Australia in 2009, Product of the Year has grown enormously so it was timely to review the size, scope and methodology of the consumer research used to decide winners,” says Sarah Connelly, director of Product of the Year Australia.

 

“With this expansion, Product of the Year is without question the ultimate vote of consumer confidence in new products.”

 

Nominated products will go to a jury panel for testing before being submitted to the Nielsen survey.

 

Chairman of the Advertising Standards Bureau and former executive director of group marketing for Nestle, Ian Alwill will head this year’s panel. Other jury members include Today Show host Lisa Wilkinson and general manager of sales and merchandise at IGA Peter Love.