We are a Market Research Consultancy
About Us
We have been a leading full-service market research consultancy for more than 20 years.
Founded by Alison Steven, The Brand Surgeon works with the largest research houses, media organisations, small boutiques, and everything in between. We also service businesses directly, helping them with all aspects of their marketing.
Our company’s name and logo are an analogy of what we do. We do “keyhole surgery” on brands to investigate problems and help them stay healthy.
We love connecting our clients to their market / consumers / users. Often our clients have been surprised, delighted, and sometimes shocked by what their consumers tell them. The insights and findings we provide, shape and influence key business decisions.
Our respondent’s opinions have helped many companies, including Kellogg’s, Netcare, Lucky Beard, Ipsos, and many others.
Our team brings research opportunities to respondents via different approaches. We invite respondents to take part in online surveys, interviews, focus groups, product testing, mystery shops and everything in between.
What We Believe
We believe in being consistently great. We live by our values through everything we do, every day.
Be a good citizen
People matter, and we believe that it’s in giving that we receive. Respect, and kindness are non-negotiable; it’s that simple. We can impact our nation and give back, even if it’s small.
Find a way
We’re not a huge company, but we believe that there is always a solution! It comes from choosing the right people, asking the right questions, and caring deeply about what you do, and who you do it with. We’re always curious.
Everyone matters
Consistently delivering great work is everyone’s job. No one watches from the side lines. Everyone chips in because there will always be roadblocks and obstacles, and we expect the unexpected!
Feedback is the breakfast of champions
Honesty is essential. Humility fosters growth. Complacency is not an option. Everything and everyone can and should be getting better every day. Think, risk, and grow.
Complicated is overrated
The world is complicated enough. So, keep it simple, make things clear and say it as it is.
Keep it real
Real is the new perfect, own up and clean up the mess (if you make one). Expect the unexpected. Remember that having fun is important business.
Integrity is everything
How we do things is as important as what we do. Do what you say and say what you do. Every person should be better off for having encountered us.
2002

The beginning
Founded by Alison Steven in the UK, The Brand Surgeon starts as a marketing consultancy
2004
Hello South Africa
We relocate to South Africa

2006

New logo
We relaunch with a new logo
2008
Grow, grow, grow
Through many growth campaigns, we reach 20 000 members

2010

New offices
Our newly built office opens its doors
Party time!
We relaunch and throw a party for our clients and industry partners

2015

We launch a sister company
The Brand Surgeon’s sister company Real Life Rooms opens in Sunninghill, Sandton
2019
Innovation starts
We start working on our new online consumer and survey platform

2020

Mobile Moola
Our low LSM panel launches as Mobile Moola in 190 Wi-Fi hotspots around South Africa
2021
Growth
We reach 40 000 members

2022

Our team keeps growing!
Our team gets bigger and better
It’s our 20th birthday, and we get a facelift!
Our new online consumer platform and website launches

Our goal is to answer all our client’s consumer and business-related questions.
We can do end-to-end market research and project management, from helping our clients identify problems, through to delivering business recommendations and solutions.
We design research based on your needs and budget. Some clients want to get in homes, in stores, or do interviews or groups with their consumers. Others want to test ideas, get quantitative statistics to make decisions on various elements of the marketing mix.
We have the largest qualitative database in South Africa, and an online research panel which rewards respondents for participating in market research surveys.
All our respondents have voluntarily joined our database. They have given us a lot of information about themselves. We never buy lists.

Our Services & Research Types
Quantitative Research Services: B2B & B2C
- Surveys / Questionnaires (all methods supported): Web, Mobile, CATI, F2F, & Paper
- Hosting dashboards online for live client viewing
- Client dashboards for live updates

Qualitative Research Services: B2B & B2C, Online & Face-to-face
- Recruitment
- Focus Groups (Online & F2F) and In-depth Interviews (Online, F2F & CATI)
- Neurological biological consumer testing (eye tracking, EEG, heart rate monitoring, etc.)

Venue and Hosting
- Research Hosting (Online & F2F)
- Venue with catering & client viewing facilities
- Online Streaming

Other Research Services
- Desk Research
- Project Management (as required): End-to-End or Partial
- Moderating & Interviewing
- Transcription, Note-taking

Analytics & Report Writing
- Raw Data Clean Up
- Coding, Editing, Analysis, Programming, Power BI
- Report writing- Topline or Full

Client Testimonials
Really organized and go out of their way to keep you updated. Friendly workers and always keep their word when it comes to the survey’s. They do everything very professionally.
Shannon-Lee Wright
I love doing market research events with The Brand Surgeon. The focus groups are always interesting and relevant. The groups are always small and very well organised. They pay very well and on time and it’s really worth participating in the groups. I would definitely recommend The Brand Surgeon.
Nicole W
What a trustworthy platform. Since day one, I’ve never had any problem with The Brand Surgeon. I’ve been answering surveys and they never disappointed me. Sometimes I do surveys that pay a lot of money for about R1200, and they pay in time. If the payment date is the 24th, then exactly the 24th I get my money without any problem with them. I give them 5 stars because they are trustworthy and never disappoint, they pay in time and all your money. I recommend to someone who ever need to make some extra money. He/she can join the platform such an excellent job of what they do to us. The payments are e-wallet, airtime and straight to your bank account
Nsindiso P
I personally think companies benefit a lot from consumer insights given and collected by The Brand Surgeon because their sessions target the correct consumers for companies that will be launching new products and concepts. I remember I once went to one session, the sessions participants in the room came from different backgrounds, it was inclusive, there was equity and diversity as well-meaning everyone was represented amongst different aspects in the country. I think they are one of the leading market research companies in the country.
Anesu W
Great platform. They always delivery what they promised.
Lungile C
I have had an amazing experience with The Brand Surgeon. I got to try out
some premium brand diapers and provide them with my experience as a
mother, and my babies experience using the diapers. I really admired the time
and detail they put into analysing the product, it made me feel great to know
that a company like this exists that is so particular about a consumers experience to ensure we get the best value for our money.
Edwina D
I’ve had several invitations to take part in their survey but unfortunately didn’t qualify. I did my first survey recently and it was nothing short of amazing. I loved their professionalism and friendliness which made me more excited about taking part in that project. My kid also thoroughly enjoyed the experience! Their approach to market research is eloquent, not forceful, and desperate. I enjoyed the mini chats and was glad to have provided my insights! Their clients should be very happy to have them on board! Brilliant team!
Pali M
I had a very good experience with the company, from having a wide range of surveys for different kinds of participant profile. Not to mention the quick payment after you have done the survey and their payments are good and reasonable. This company is very quick to respond when you enquire. I can definitely recommend The Brand Surgeon.
Nosiphokazi S
Wow! I messed up and gave my wrong bank details for a survey, my mistake. I emailed them and they replied promptly and then followed up with two calls and confirmed all in order. Wow! Really going the extra mile for my own error.
Paul R
Absolutely legit research company. Amazing team as well.
Lindiwe L
I have been with brand surgeon for almost 5 years and every time a participate in their surveys, I enjoy as they are professional and they do pay in time, no need to do follow up. Thank you Brand Surgeon.
Lizzie M
The Brand Surgeon surveys. I love them so much; their surveys are interesting and have good rewards. I would recommend them to others. This is a survey site that you can earn money for completing surveys. They are quick, fun, and easy to do. This is a great way for a side income. I love The Brand Surgeon.
Seipati M
Companies using The Brand Surgeon really get the best ROI on their products & services because the guys know the right people for the right market research and insights. Their platform will expand and enhance your knowledge, they are very interactive Lol even if you are an introvert, you gonna have something to say with the kind of fun that is had in those sessions.
Esau S
There are many research companies that promise people rewards after completing surveys, but many do not come back to fulfil their promises. The Brand Surgeon is one Marketing/Research companies that are trustworthy and reliable. When they promise a reward, they deliver on it. Well done to them.
Puisano P
An extremely pleasant experience working with The Brand Surgeon, and an
extremely trustworthy team. Everything is thoroughly explained, and a friendly
helpful team is always available to answer any questions. The team is very
transparent and there are no hidden agendas. Payments were done on time as
promised. And the team is always in communication with you. Responses to
questions are quick. An absolute pleasure working with them.
Terry-Anne Gordon
I have done 2 or 3 surveys with The Brand Surgeon and they do not give the runner arounds with regards to the payment. The surveys are always interesting to do, especially online or via Zoom. I would recommend it anytime of the day. Keep up the good work. I hope to do more surveys in the near future.
Masechaba K
My experience with The Brand Surgeon was really pleasant. I was called by one of their team explaining in detail what the focus group I was participating in about. A friendly and guiding conversation made the entire experience wholesome. They stayed in contact with me and kept communication till the very end when I received my incentive for assisting with their project. They really are caring and would recommend them to anyone willing to share their opinion with them!
Brandon N
Click the “Join for free” button in top right corner of our website and fill in the information that is asked for.
Signing up is FREE and QUICK!
Yes, you can. Once you have signed up to our platform, you are able to share a unique link that is specifically made for you.
Yes! You get 10 points for every completed profile that signs up through your unique referral link. This means that the people that sign up to our platform through your link need to complete their full profile before you are awarded for referring them.
When we are working on large projects which require a lot of respondents to answer a survey. We appoint ambassadors from our current database in different provinces who will be tasked with the responsibility of sending out links to a survey and getting respondents who qualify, to answer them completely. As ambassadors you will get a small recruitment fee for each person that completes a survey. Refer as many people as you can to our platform, and you will have a higher chance of being selected as an ambassador.
To qualify for research, you need to provide honest information about you which will be used to make sure that you get the right surveys.
We need a variety of information about you, eg, your age, where you live, are you employed, do you have any medical conditions etc
This is so that we minimise the number of qualifying (pre-screener) questions that we always must ask and so that you receive research that applies to you.
Yes. You can update your information at any given time or day.
To be able to request a cash out of your points, you need a minimum of 1000 points.
You can cash out in 3 different ways; you can get cash, airtime/data or you can donate your points.
Your cash out takes up to 2 working days to be fully approved, then your cash out is made to you and reflects within 24-48hrs.
You can earn points by participating in in-depth interviews, focus groups and completing surveys. You earn points by sharing the link to our survey platform with others and getting them to join our database.
You log in to the platform and click on the “profile” section and then scroll down to opt out.
We use qualitative and quantitative methods of research such as focus groups, in depth interviews, mystery shopping as well as surveys.
Your profile may have incomplete or outdated information, please check that you have updated all your information.
The information you provided on your profile is inconsistent and you are unable to be used for research
Paid surveys take 5-15 minutes to complete depending on the kind of information that is sought after by our client.
Keep your profile updated. The more we know about you, the better. Clients are always looking for specific respondents and we can only know certain information if you provide it to us.
You can attempt a maximum of 4 short surveys per month and you may participate in a maximum of 2 focus groups/In-depth interviews per year.
Your information will be marked as outdated and will not be used to include you in research studies that you could potentially participate in.
This is because you filled you the information too quickly without reading the questions.
Your answers were inconsistent.
You did not fit the survey’s target group.
Even if we have variety of profile surveys, sometimes our clients need a very specific target group. In that case, we might invite you to surveys on speculation – maybe you fit that very specific target group, maybe you don’t.
Your target group quota is already full. Sometimes it can happen that a target group fills quickly and is then closed. For this reason, it is always recommended that you participate in the survey as soon as possible.
Someone from the same IP address has already taken part in this survey.
Often it is a special request from our clients that only one person from the same IP address may participate in some of our surveys. This means you might on occasion be kicked out from a survey because: people who live in the same household or work in the same company, share the same IP, Internet/mobile providers change user IP’s frequently and someone from the same IP address has already participated in the survey. We regret the inconvenience this may cause you, but this is a technical issue and there is not much we can do.
It’s generally recommended for you to take part in surveys as soon as possible when you receive the invitation e-mail for the survey- so that you will be able to take part before the survey ends. Sometimes we need your participation rather quickly, but we will give you an estimated time of when the survey will close. If you have problems viewing the survey, please first try to copy he link from the invitation e-mail and paste it to your usual browser, and maybe one other browser. If it still doesn’t work, please contact us including the specific link you received so that we can trace the issue quickly.
Member data is strictly confidential and kept in a secure, encrypted database. We never sell or otherwise pass on your personal or contact details to third parties, so you won’t have to worry about spam. For further information please click here to read our privacy policy here.
Contact Us
Respondent Enquiries
Send our team an email at surveys@thebrandsurgeon.co.za
We are a small team, so please allow us 3-5 business days to respond. Please be assured that any enquiries raised will only be dealt with by The Brand Surgeon staff, and that none of your personal details will be shared with any third parties.
Business Enquiries
Email alison@thebrandsurgeon.co.za
Get in touch to find out more about our bespoke research solutions, fieldwork capabilities, and how we can help
you.
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