The WestGroup Approach

The WestGroup Approach is focused on meeting the needs of our customers. The WestGroup promise focuses on understanding the goals of clients and then helping them find answers for success. We provide a team approach to research and have been doing so for over 40 years. WestGroup has become a center of excellence, integrity and ingenuity in research.

Our team of researchers are both highly effective and fun to work with. Analysts with more than 80 combined years of serving clients, computer-assisted telephone bank, data processing center, and fully equipped focus group suites — all at one location — combine to provide the complete array of marketing research resources to get the answers you need.

The result is better research.

Team Approach

WestGroup is better than other research companies because of the analyst team.

Eight analysts have experience in many industries, most notably: financial, healthcare, utility, retail products, advertising, media, government, and transportation.

While a WestGroup client has primary contact with a single Project Director/Analyst, the capabilities of all the analysts are available to any given project.

Study designs are reviewed by at least two of the analysts, and frequently the entire team is called in to refine the methodology or questionnaire.

The result is better research.

We promise to…

Tell the truth

We have built our business with a commitment to tell clients the truth even if it hurts.

Be objective

Every report and recommendation from WestGroup presents interpretations based on research findings, not on pre-conceived ideas.

Be innovative

Use innovative research designs and state-of-the-art statistical tools to enhance the quality of the study.

Listen

Listen to our clients and always keep their best interest in mind.

Deliver high quality

Deliver the highest quality research at the lowest possible cost.

Preserve confidentiality

Keep all client information strictly confidential and use the information only to conduct the requested research. Protect our clients' study data so that it is available for client eyes only.

Answers

WestGroup chose to add "Answers" as our tag line to more fully express our purpose and corporate identity. Yes, we are a full service market research firm, but what does that really mean?

It means that we are in the business of asking questions and ultimately providing our customers with meaningful answers.

To get meaningful answers, one must ask meaningful and interpretable questions. We are experts in formulating, designing and asking questions. Asking the right questions in the right way yields answers that translate into explanations and solutions.

WestGroup is committed to providing accurate and meaningful answers that explain market behavior and translate into actionable solutions for our clients.

An integral part of Answers is responsiveness. WestGroup is dedicated to being highly responsive to the needs of both our clients and employees.

What would you like to know?

Over 40 Years Strong!

WestGroup Research opened its doors to Phoenix over 40 years ago. However, the WestGroup you now know (and love) is very different from the one-man show started by M. Ray West in 1959. Yet in some ways, it is still the same. The goal then, as it is today, was "answers." At a time when research was found out of state, Ray West was determined to help Arizona businesses find answers close to home. What developed was a company named after its founder, M.R. West; a small outfit solely owned and operated by Ray West, the man many credit as most responsible for introducing marketing research to Arizona business.

During the first 20 years, Ray successfully built M.R. West into a full-service marketing research firm serving clients throughout the Southwest. In his article titled "20 Good Years," Ray reflected, "That's the nice thing about this community (Phoenix), you can get close enough to know the goals of your fellow businessman and then share in their success. I've seen it in the Tucson market as well. You watch a guy work his tail off for years and then it's great to see him make it." This philosophy of business is still found at WestGroup today.

Two key figures in M.R. West's early success were clients who later became part of the team. Ed Bergo, then at Johnson Wax, used M.R. West to conduct product research in the 60s. Ted Apostol, at the Arizona Bank, was one of the first clients of the WestTrack Market Monitor (in 1971 it was called Centel). He used it to measure advertising effectiveness.

The next 20 years were witness to even greater expansion. Under the leadership of Ted Apostol, who left the banking world to become part of the M.R. West team in 1974, the dream of becoming the best marketing research firm in the West was realized.

With Ray as his mentor, Ted honed his research skills. His first research assignment was to manage the fledgling omnibus study that he had used as a client. He has nurtured WestTrack over the years and adapted the study to the market's changing needs. Today, the monthly Arizona study is popular for add-on proprietary questions, pre-post measurements, and multi-industry tracking studies.

After the death of Ray West in 1981 and a change in ownership, Ted was the only employee who remained from the original M.R. West team. He was determined to continue Ray's vision for excellence and integrity in research. For the next several years, he was President of the firm during a tough transitionary period that saw major changes, including the name change to WestGroup Research.

In 1989 Ted recruited Ed Bergo, Beth Aguirre Smith, and Dave Gourley, all successful researchers, and together they bought the research firm. Glenn Iwata and Kathy DeBoer joined the team shortly thereafter. This completed the group that has been instrumental in laying the foundation of WestGroup's current success.

A major strength of WestGroup is the breadth of analytical talent on hand. While many firms have only one or two "minds" on staff to conduct analysis, WestGroup has eight people who have tremendous experience in analyzing and applying research. Ted Apostol reflects, "We have a team of researchers who are both highly effective and fun to work with. It feels like the early days working with Ray. Our team is the one thing that I think really sets WestGroup apart."

The WestGroup team works together to implement a specific vision: to provide solid research services that result in answers for clients. Today, WestGroup has become a center of excellence, integrity and ingenuity in research.

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have helped us achieve our goals. We appreciate your business and look forward to the next 40 years of providing top quality research services.