AI user research for consumer goods and retail
New product concepts, ads, repeat purchase, and the in-store experience. AI interviews hundreds of shoppers at once and finds the reasons surveys miss, in hours.
Common challenges in consumer & retail user research
Surveys only give satisfaction scores, not the reasons customers don't buy again
Focus groups are expensive, small, and easily swayed by the loudest voice in the room
The window to validate a new product before launch is short, with no time for weeks of research
Feedback from stores, e-commerce, and owned channels is scattered and hard to piece together
What consumer & retail teams research with heari
New product concept, flavor, and packaging tests
Before launch, show new flavors, packaging, and concepts to target consumers. Follow up on what they like and what gives them pause, and compare reactions across groups.
Purchase decisions and repeat purchases
Why people buy, and why they stop. Start from their last purchase and trace which brands they compared, what mattered, and how they decided.
In-store and online shopping experience
The whole journey, from walking in or searching to ordering and delivery. Find the step where shoppers hesitate, give up, or complain.
Lapsed and churned members
What lapsed members are thinking. Interview members who haven't bought in months: did their needs change, did a competitor win them over, or did the experience fall short?
Brand perception and ad feedback
How much of your ad actually sticks. Ask participants to retell it in their own words, and find what they remembered and what they got wrong.
Price and promotion perception
How discounts, spend-and-save deals, and member prices shape buying. Follow up on how shoppers really feel about price, which offers help, and which annoy them.
Consumer goods and retail research example
A typical study you can run right away. The research assistant adapts the plan and interview guide to your business.
Study plan
Sample interview guide
The AI interviewer follows the guide and asks follow-up questionsWhy they bought
Core questionWhy did you first buy this yogurt?
Follow-upWhere they saw it, what they compared it to
When they have it
Core questionWhen do you usually have it?
Follow-upWalk me through the last time
Taste and texture
Core questionDid it taste the way you expected?
Follow-upWhat was different
Why they stopped
Core questionWhy didn't you buy it again?
Follow-upWhat they buy now
Behavior data shows what shoppers did. heari finds out why.
Connect ThinkingAI Agentic Engine to pick shoppers by purchase behavior. Bring purchase history into interviews and write findings back as member tags.
What the behavior data shows
Bought only once in the last 90 days, and added items to the cart 4 times without checking out.
What the heari interview found
"I was going to get it for my kid, but then I saw how much sugar was in it and didn't order."
What the behavior data shows
Built up 2,000 member points and never redeemed any.
What the heari interview found
"I have no idea what the points get me, and I looked forever and couldn't find where to redeem them."
Research operations and compliance in consumer goods and retail
Participant incentives
How incentives are paid is explained up front and handled separately from interview content.
Personal data protection
Phone numbers, addresses, and other personal details stay out of interview records.
Anonymous by default
Insight reports cite participants by ID only.
Informed consent
Participants learn up front that an AI is interviewing them, who runs the study, and how data is used. Nothing starts until they agree.
New product not selling? Ask shoppers what's stopping them
Bring a new product or repurchase question. We'll run a round of customer interviews with you in heari.
