Magnet

What Magnet does

Magnet, Inc. is a privately held brand strategy and market research consultancy headquartered at 68 Margin Street, Westerly, Rhode Island. Founded in 1996 by John Rand Lloyd, the firm was established as New England's first independent brand-planning group and operates with a headcount of 1–10 employees. Over a 30-year operating history, Magnet has completed more than 2,000 projects for over 300 brands, serving clients across automotive, financial services, education, healthcare, hospitality, consumer goods, and retail.

The firm's service portfolio spans market research (focus groups, in-depth interviews, quantitative surveys, ethnographic studies, category analyses), brand strategy and positioning, audience segmentation, ideation sessions, product and service development, creative development research, and creative services. Its core methodology is branded as 'research al dente'—a methodology-agnostic approach that delivers just enough consumer insight to inform brand decisions, supported by qualitative projective techniques (card sorts, collages, personification, Planet-X exercises). All delivery is anchored in human-led research and facilitation; no software platform, technology stack, or AI/ML components are disclosed in the firm's public materials.

Magnet generates revenue through project-based professional services engagements billed on quote-specific terms, with no publicly disclosed pricing tiers or rate cards. Go-to-market is direct-to-client, relying on the founder's 40-year network of relationships with top US and UK marketing communications firms, multinational corporations, and institutions. The firm markets itself via website case studies, client testimonials, and a founder-authored thought leadership blog covering positioning, naming, and persuasion topics. Selected publicly named clients include Visa, Hewlett-Packard, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Subway, Sam Adams, Boston Children's Hospital, Cornell Johnson, Harvard Graduate School of Design, Ruth's Chris Steak House, and Liberty Mutual.

Name

Magnet

Legal name

Magnet, Inc.

Website

https://magnetinc.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Magnet, Inc. is a privately held, founder-led brand strategy and market research consultancy that has delivered qualitative and quantitative consumer-insight engagements to over 300 brands across multiple verticals since 1996.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Brand Strategy Consulting

NAICS

Marketing Consulting Services (541613), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Brand & Portfolio Strategy Consulting (MPAAAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Custom Market Research (Ad Hoc Studies, Segmentation, U&A) (MPAAALAC), Brand Research & Positioning (Audience/Competitive Insights) (MPAAAEAI)

Keywords

• Brand strategy consulting
• Market research services
• Brand positioning
• Consumer insights research
• Creative development research

Headquarters

HQ city

Westerly

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Brand Strategy Consulting: Magnet provides brand strategy consulting services including brand positioning research, audience segmentation, and ideation sessions. These are professional services billed on a project basis.
2. Market Research Services: The firm conducts market research studies including focus groups, quantitative surveys, ethnographic studies, and category analyses. Research services are delivered as professional service engagements.
3. Creative Services: Magnet translates evidence-based brand strategies into marketing communications, including creative development research to evaluate ads, packaging, logos, and marketing materials.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Magnet is a market research and brand strategy consultancy that creates compelling brand strategies using consumer insight, creativity, and deep qualitative/quantitative research experience. The firm conducts focus groups, in-depth interviews, ethnographic studies, and category analyses, then translates findings into brand positioning, audience segmentation, product development, and creative development research for corporations, marketing communications firms, and institutions.

Product overview

Magnet is a market research and brand strategy consultancy offering a unified suite of professional services. The core offering combines qualitative and quantitative market research (focus groups, in-depth interviews, ethnographic studies, surveys) with strategic brand development services including brand positioning, audience segmentation, and creative development research. Services are delivered through interconnected modules: Brand Strategy Services provide the strategic foundation; Market Research Services generate consumer insights; Creative Development Research tests and refines marketing materials; Creative Services execute brand communications; Product and Service Development guides new offerings to market; and Ideation Sessions and Audience Segmentation support strategic exploration and targeting. The firm follows a 'research al dente' philosophy—delivering just enough research to be useful, never more than necessary.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Market Research Services Qualitative and quantitative research services including focus groups, in-depth interviews, ethnographic studies, and category analyses designed to uncover consumer insights and inform brand decisions for corporate clients and marketing communications firms.
• Brand Strategy Services Comprehensive brand strategy consulting encompassing brand positioning research, audience segmentation, and brand architecture development to help corporate clients and institutions build strong, distinctive brands grounded in evidence-based insights.
• Creative Development Research Research services that evaluate consumer reactions to advertising campaigns, package designs, logos, direct mail, collateral, and websites to identify problem areas and improve response rates for advertisers and brand owners.
• Creative Services Marketing communications development that translates evidence-based brand strategies into advertising, promotional materials, and branded content for clients across multiple industries.
• Product and Service Development New product and service development consulting covering audience identification, positioning, packaging, naming, promotion, and launch strategy from concept to market, with documented successes such as the New England Coffee concept-to-shelf launch.

Quantifiable outcome

• Brand strategies have saved and made clients billions of dollars through product viability assessment, correct audience identification, positioning, packaging, promotion, naming, and placement
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Interbrand: Omnicom-owned global brand strategy consultancy delivering brand valuation, positioning, and consumer research across categories — directly comparable services but at significantly greater scale and geographic reach.
• FutureBrand: Interpublic-owned brand strategy consultancy offering brand positioning, research, and design — comparable methodology, but global delivery footprint contrasts with Magnet's single-office operation.
• Landor & Fitch: WPP-owned brand consulting and design firm providing brand strategy, research, and design — overlapping with Magnet's core brand positioning and research services but operating globally with a much larger team.
• Kantar Millward Brown: Global brand research and consulting arm of Kantar offering brand tracking, equity measurement, and positioning research — overlapping with Magnet's research services but operating at enterprise scale with proprietary brand-tracking technology.

Direct peers

• Lippincott: Independent brand strategy firm specializing in brand positioning, identity systems, and consumer research — comparable boutique positioning with similar service portfolio to Magnet.
• MetaDesign: Independent brand strategy and design agency combining research, strategy, and design — comparable service mix and boutique positioning for clients seeking integrated brand work.
• Siegel+Gale: Independent brand strategy and design consultancy offering brand positioning, naming, and customer research — the closest comparable in size and service mix to Magnet's independent brand strategy offering.
• Hall & Partners: Brand and communications research consultancy delivering qualitative and quantitative brand research for major advertisers — most directly comparable to Magnet's market research service line.

Emerging players

• The Blake Project: Boutique brand strategy consultancy specializing in brand positioning, customer research, and brand-led growth — closely aligned with Magnet's methodology and client engagement model.
• BrandExtract: Independent brand strategy and creative agency providing positioning, research, and brand identity services — comparable boutique offering focused on mid-market and growth-stage clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/magnetbrandgroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/magnet-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Magnet