Our Company (TRS) Profile Presentation

1. Topline Research Solutions (TRS)
Profile Presentation

2. Presentation Outline
1. Who we are
2. Our Vision & Values
3. Our Inspiration
4. What we do
5. Why use us
6. Where we serve
7. Testimonials

3. 1.0 Who we are
We, Topline Research Solutions (TRS) are an empowered
new generation market/ing research consultancy founded in
South Africa out of the simple acknowledgement that modern
private and public sector organisations will forever need credible
and conclusive research, of the type we offer, to understand their
target markets, monitor & evaluate impact of their interventions
(programmes), as well as test value propositions that will make
them grow, gain market share, be profitable, meet stakeholders
needs and remain relevant.
We passionately believe that effective and genuine engagement of
emerging African markets (historically disadvantaged
communities and mainstream markets) is central to strategies
and interventions that will unlock opportunities from the
potential that these markets exude. No doubt, African
communities are a key part of tomorrow. We at TRS have been
walking the African terrain, for more than two decades. It is not
all pain. Hence ours is a Pan African research & solutions focused
consultancy. You may never know unless you try us!

4. 2.0 Our Vision & Values
Our Vision
We contribute towards complete, correct and clear
understanding of African communities (emerging
markets) through provision of world class market/ing &
social research consultancy.
Our Values
We believe in growth, excellence and people development
through genuine engagements.

5. 3.0 Our Inspiration
We are inspired by the belief that Africa, its people and cultural diversity, are the future
source of revenue & share growth for many organisations that have insatiable quest for
growth and profitability. To effectively unlock value, organisations need to engage tried and
tested research consultants, of our calibre, who are passionate and genuinely in touch with
the intricacies of Africa. TRS research consultants have been collectively “walking” the
African terrain for a few decades and now play a role in facilitating provision and usage of
complete, correct and clear research-based information about the wishes and aspirations of
African communities in their various names & guises, so as to correctly guide potential
investors in Africa.
For many years, Africa and its people have not been completely and correctly understood.
No matter how diverse people are, they all want better life and have different needs that product
and service providers (organisations) need to make an effort to understand formally. South Africa
Zimbabwe, being some of the most affluent African countries and with a number of
empowerment policies and programmes, inspired TRS to migrate our consultancy services
to a number of other countries. We thus proactively seek for meaningful opportunities from
needy organisations & government departments.

6. 4.0 What we do
We are involved in all aspects of qualitative (Focus Groups & in-depth interviews),
quantitative (people & technology based) and ethnographic (immersions) research value
chain as itemised below.
scoping projects/drawing terms of reference (TOR);
terms of reference (TOR) or research briefs interrogation;
proposal writing;
instrument (questionnaire/discussion guide) design;
desk research/literature review;
primary data collection;
project management;
data analysis;
data interpretation;
MS Word report writing;
Power Point presentation delivery;
facilitating of workshops to research users (e.g. marketers and social work stakeholders)
project monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and
change management consultancy.
We are repeatedly involved in the above aspects of research for various organisations in
manufacturing (FMCG), services, public service (Government) and Research sectors.

7. 4.1 Public & Social Research 4.2 Manufacturing (FMCG)
Experience Sector Research Experience
Baseline surveys; Concept, product, packaging & pricing
Stakeholders Satisfaction Studies; testing (innovation research);
Stakeholders Communication audits; Shopper behaviour studies;
Impact of skills training on employment Usage and attitude studies;
equity targets; Segmentation studies;
Skills audits & Sector Skills Plans (SSP) Brand health tracking (brand equity
updates; audits);
Situational analysis on HIV and AIDs Brand communication tracking;
prevention programs & service providers; Volume forecasting,
HIV and AIDs Campaigns evaluation Retail/trade surveys
Dilemmas confronting the youths of today in etc.
South Africa and necessary interventions to
avert vulnerability to risky behaviours;
SMEs needs assessment;
Campaign Impact Assessments;
Programme Monitoring and Evaluations
(M&Es);
Opinion polling;
etc.

8. 4.3 Services Sector Research 4.4 Market Research Sector
Experience Experience
Customer satisfaction studies to inform Qualitative Research
cross & up selling strategies;
Focus Group Discussions [FGDs (including mini
Mystery shopper studies to track service groups)]
on set standards; In-depth interviews (IDIs)
Concept (value propositions) and product Ethnographic research (immersions)
testing;
Advertising research:- measuring the Quantitative research
effectiveness of advertising campaigns;
Media research:- audience measurement Online surveys (panels)
studies; Pen and Paper Personal Interviews (PAPI)
Pen and Paper Telephonic interviews (PATI)
trend research focusing on impact of Computer Aided Personal Interviews (CAPI)
communication technology among various Computer Aided Telephonic Interviews (CATI)
people;
insight passports from segmentation studies Desk research-literature review
etc.
We are aware that effective project management results
in delivery on three key parameters i.e. quality insights, on
time (deadlines) and within set budgets. Both the internal
and external stakeholders’ expectations have to be met.
We deliver research projects in ways that lead from one
project to another. A bird in the hand is worth two in the
bush!

9. 5.0 Common questions we deal with
What is the size of our market?/What is our market share?
What is our image like on the market? What are we associated with? Why?
What is the profile of our typical customer?/Who is our customer?
Where do our customers buy? Why?
Is our value proposition (concept) relevant for our target market?
What are our customers’ product preferences/needs? Will my new product sell?
What the product/service choice factors? (category drivers & barriers)
Is my advertising working? Will my planned campaign recruit customers?
What media works best for my intended communication? (Media preferences)
What is the relative strength (equity) of our brand? What is the make-up of the equity?
What is the customer service experience versus competition?
How do our customers/stakeholders rate our service/programme?
Can I charge (price) more, up to what level?
Can I change packaging?

10. 6.0 Why use us?
Many of our Clients have cited the following as compelling reasons for
engaging TRS:
Alignment to best practice: Our research staff has industry knowledge
spanning across the research value chain. We know what it takes to
conduct effective research & have several accessible written testimonies of
conclusive research delivery. We are testimony to the principle that 99% is
not good enough in research. Members of TRS are from the bigger (global)
scheme of things & are attentive to local nuances. Among us we have more
than twenty years corporate governance experience. We know the
business imperatives that market research seed into.
We can deliver change management workshops: good research
must lead to bankable ideas and result in change (e.g. better service
perception, market share gain etc). Since people naturally resist change, we
help our Clients embrace change that good research inevitably calls for.
Clients literate fieldwork supplier: we offer unsolicited country or
market reports to guide results reporting by organisations who
commission us for fieldwork/data gathering only. We are familiar with
Clients’ insatiable quest for insights (that which is in sight but not obvious
to everybody) & consistent demonstration of knowledge of their
businesses strategic focus.

11. Why use us (Continued)
Africa-centricity: African (or emerging) communities are a key part of the future but need
diversity management skills/experience, of our kind, to sail through some of the ‘pain’ points &
barriers. We know what works to consistently deliver projects within desired quality, timelines &
budgets in Africa.
Past research audits (desk research): we believe it is not enough to start at the brief and
end at recommendations. We deliver streams of knowledge rather than stand alone pockets of
research. Average or conventional researchers are not trained do this as it comes across as
unprofitable hard work. We like to be complete & correct in what we do and make small money
but sustainably.
Research training: knowledge not shared is as good as unknown. SA is going through skills
revolution and Zimbabwe is going through self correction. We thus formally play our part
through training our people & Client teams on research processes to ensure that all
organisations that commission research to guide management decision, realize true value.
Global alignment: We were, in 2010, elected to be the South Africa representative of the
WIN/GIA group which is a global network of reputable research companies worldwide.

12. We are sure that to remain relevant, businesses must provide what the customer wants
(functional) and leave the customer feeling positive about the experience (emotional) as
shown below. Our hybrid research designs help you completely understand your
customers/stakeholders and what you need to do to migrate them to be “engaged
customers”. In this state, up selling and cross selling strategies tend to work with ease.
High
Engaged Customers
Feel
Satisfied Customers
Unhappy Customers
Low High
Functional

13. 7.0 Where we serve
1. Angola
2. Botswana
3. Ghana
4. Kenya
5. Lesotho
6. Malawi
7. Mozambique
8. Namibia
9. Nigeria
10.Swaziland
11.Tanzania
12.Uganda
13.Zambia
14.Zimbabwe

14. Team
Tari: Research Manager- Zim
Patson Gasura: MD Pauline: Financial Consultant
Diana: Sales &Marketing Mgr
Lee Ann : Strategic Consultant
Rose: Research Consultant Mary: Social Research
Florence: Operations Mgr Ernest: Data Services Mgr
Executive
Nomthandazo: Research Officer Yvonne: Admin- Zim
Oliver: Research Officer Khanyisile: Data Services Assistant

15. Our lead testimonies!

16. BUS. SECTOR Clients
Manufacturing (FMCG) 1. Coca-Cola South Africa
2. Decor Design Group (Zimbabwe)
Market/ing Research 1. Flamingo International (UK)
2. Frontline (South Africa)
3. Gazelle Global (USA)
4. InterMedia (UK-USA)
5. Research & Marketing Services (RMS)-Nigeria & Kenya (Cigarettes studies)
6. Synovate (South Africa & Kenya) (Beer tracking studies)
Services 1. ADvTECH
2. African Sun
3. ECONENT Wireless
4. FNB
5. Liberty Life
6. Nokia
7. Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA)
8. PriceWaterhouse
9. Standard Bank
10. UBANK (formally Teba Bank)
Social/Public service 1. Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA)
Research 2. Department of Social Development South Africa (DSD)
3. Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)
4. Innovation Poverty Action (IPA)
5. Khomanani
6. Limpopo Dept of Economic Development Environment and Tourism, SA
7. South Africa National Bood Service (SANBS)
8. Services Sector Education & Training Authority
9. Wholesale & Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA)

17. Topline Research Solutions (TRS)
Registration No: 2007/040835/23
Vat No: 4850 2356 58
South Africa: 3rd Floor Standard Bank Centre, 304 Oak Avenue
P.O Box 4171 Randburg 2125, Johannesburg, South Africa
Tel: +27 11 787 6500/6877
Fax: +27 11 787 6502; Fax2email: 27 865 035458
Email: admin@topliners.co.za/patson@topliners.co.za
Website: www.topliners.co.za