What’s the best way to see how you compare to your industry and/or local peers? In many cases, mystery shopping services could be a means of helping you gauge your competitors. If you want to see how the rival shop in town is interacting with customers, it may be wise to send some secret shoppers to evaluate the customer experience in the same way you measure your own.
Using Mystery Shopping to Benchmark Against Competitors
Want to see how your business compares to others in your industry or local area? Mystery shopping can help you find out. By sending shoppers to evaluate your competitors in the same way you measure your own business, you can get valuable insights into how rival shops interact with customers and where you stand.
Are Mystery Shopping Assignments for Competitors Common?
Many clients ask if we offer mystery shopping for competitors. The answer is yes, as long as it is part of a regular program that also includes inward-facing mystery shops at your own locations. Pricing for competitor shops is typically the same or very close to your existing rates, and you can order them on an as-needed basis.
We are happy to provide comparison data as long as the purpose is to measure your performance against the competition—not simply to spy. This approach helps you see how you stack up and identify areas for improvement.
Finding Room for Improvement
Competitor mystery shops give context to your own data. You may think your business is excelling in certain areas, but without a benchmark, your analysis could be incomplete.
Some examples of what competitor mystery shops can reveal include:
- Pricing
- Product features and benefits
- Product availability
- Staff sales skills
- Staff response times
- Subjective customer feedback
When you combine these insights with your own mystery shop results, you get a clear picture of what’s working for your business, what your competitors are doing well, and where improvements are needed.
Enhance Your Marketing Research
Don’t assume you’re ahead—or behind—without checking the facts. Competitor mystery shops give you data-driven insights so you can see what works and where you can improve. These evaluations help you strengthen your customer service, improve employee performance, and build a stronger reputation. Once your customer service evaluation is complete, you can see what they are doing well and where you can improve, helping solidify your business and building your reputation.
If you’re curious about how competitor mystery shopping can fit into your program, 360 Relay can help. We’ll show you how to measure your performance, compare it to competitors, and use those insights to enhance your business. Ask us about incorporating competitor shops today.