We’ve completed research on topics for which most people would never imagine that market research could be used (romance writers, pregnant smokers, and mountain lions, to name a few). In fact, I’m sure many people only consider market research to be used for consumer goods.

But, even I was surprised when I ran across this article on market research being used to design parenting classes. It is a classic market research example showing the disparity between the product offering (i.e. the classes) and the consumer needs (i.e. what parents wanted). In reality, market research can help better understand the needs and wants of the target audience for virtually any product or service, whether that product or service is being sold, or provided at no-cost, say by a government agency, or nonprofit organization. Is there any subject or industry market research can’t help?