What MSPA Americas does

MSPA Americas (legal name: Mystery Shopping Providers Association, North America Region Corporation) is a not-for-profit international trade association founded in 1998 and headquartered in Orlando, Florida, representing the customer experience, mystery shopping, and retail merchandising industries across the Americas. The association serves two primary segments: approximately 400 service provider companies (marketing research firms, merchandisers, loss prevention firms, and surveyors) and a database of 60,000+ independent contractors (mystery shoppers and merchandisers). Its core products are organized around membership tiers (free General and $49/year Premier), with access to the Opportunity Board job marketplace, the Shopper Database for contractor recruitment, and over 20 proprietary certification courses spanning Automotive, Banking, Retail, Hospitality, Video Shopping, Casinos, and other verticals, administered through the KnightOwl learning management system.

Revenue is generated across four streams: membership fees (tiered subscription), certification course sales ($15 Premier / $55 General per course, with bundles available), advertising and sponsorship (website ads $500-$3,000/quarter, newsletter $500/issue, event sponsorship), and directory listing add-ons ($40-$150). Distribution combines a digital-first model through the mspa-americas.org portal and GrowthZone membership platform with high-touch annual conferences including the CME Connect Conference (for service providers), ShopperFest (for independent contractors), and MSPA Connect (newer brand connecting suppliers with decision-makers). Operations are managed externally by Buena Vista Events & Management, allowing the association to maintain a lean 1-10 employee footprint while serving members throughout North, Central, and South America through partnerships with sister chapters MSPA Europe/Africa and MSPA Asia/Pacific under the MSPA Global umbrella.

Name

MSPA Americas

Legal name

Mystery Shopping Providers Association, North America Region Corporation

Website

https://mspa-americas.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MSPA Americas is a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1998 representing the mystery shopping, customer experience, and retail merchandising industries across the Americas, serving approximately 400 service provider companies and 60,000+ independent contractors through membership, certification courses, and annual conferences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: MSPA Americas generates revenue through two-tier membership structure. General (free) Subscriber membership and Premier (paid) membership at $49 annually, providing access to certifications, opportunity board, and member deals.
2. Certification Courses: Revenue from selling certification courses to members. General members pay $55 per course while Premier members receive discounted pricing at $15 per course. Bundles are available at reduced rates.
3. Advertising & Sponsorship: Revenue from website advertising (rotating ads from $500-$3,000/quarter), newsletter advertising ($500/issue), and event sponsorship opportunities at ShopperFest and Connect conferences.
4. Directory Listings: Revenue from directory listing add-ons including company logo ($100), website link ($150), and additional industry/service listings at $40 each.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

MSPA Americas is a not-for-profit trade association that provides tiered membership, proprietary certification courses, annual conferences, and an Opportunity Board / Shopper Database to companies and independent contractors in the mystery shopping, retail merchandising, and customer experience measurement industries. It serves as the industry's governing body, setting codes of ethics and standards while connecting vetted service providers with a 60,000+ contractor database.

Product overview

MSPA Americas is a trade association offering membership-based products and services for the customer experience measurement and retail merchandising industries. The core offering is MSPA Americas Membership, which provides access to the Opportunity Board (job board for mystery shopping and merchandising assignments), the Shopper Database (directory for recruiters), and member benefits. The association provides over 20 certification courses through KnightOwl learning management, including core courses (Intro to Mystery Shopping, Professional Report Writing, Professional Responsibility & Ethics, Gold Certification) and specialty industry certifications (Automotive, Banking, Retail, Hospitality, Casinos, Video Shopping, etc.). Annual conferences include CME Conference and ShopperFest for education and networking, and the association operates recognition programs including MSPA Elite Awards and Shoppers' Choice Awards. The product portfolio functions as a unified membership platform with certification as a key differentiator.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MSPA Americas Membership
• MSPA Certification Courses
• CME Conference
• ShopperFest
• MSPA Connect
• Opportunity Board
• Shopper Database
• Advertising & Sponsorship
• Directory Listings

Named customers16 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MSPA GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSPA Global is the overarching international association governing all regional chapters. MSPA Americas operates under MSPA Global along with MSPA Europe/Africa and MSPA Asia/Pacific regions. The global board oversees standards, bylaws, and international cooperation.
• MSPA Europe/AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner chapter of the global MSPA network. MSPA regions collaborate on international standards, share best practices, and provide mutual support for members operating across regions.
• MSPA Asia/PacificminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner chapter (currently suspended from Global Association as of July 2020). Historical partner relationship within MSPA network.
• Buena Vista Events & ManagementcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerManages MSPA Americas operations including conference planning and association management services. Rich Bradley serves as Ex Officio Governor representing Buena Vista on the Board of Directors.
• Choice ScreeningminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBackground screening services partnership offering exclusive discounts to MSPA Americas members through the Tool Box section of the website.
• MemberDeals PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive benefits program partners offering discounts on entertainment, travel, and lifestyle experiences including theme parks, hotels, rental cars, concerts, sporting events, and retail brands for MSPA members.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Intellus Worldwide: Intellus Worldwide is a global association serving healthcare and consumer insights research professionals. It is comparable as a trade association focused on research service providers with a similar membership, events, and best-practices model.
• Insights Association: Insights Association is the North American trade association for the market research and analytics industry. It serves a similar constituency of research service providers and shares MSPA Americas' role in setting ethics standards and providing training/networking.
• MSPA Europe/Africa: MSPA Europe/Africa is the sister regional chapter of MSPA Americas within the MSPA Global network. It runs the same membership, certification, and event programs for customer experience and mystery shopping professionals in the EMEA region.
• QRCA (Qualitative Research Consultants Association): QRCA is a trade association for qualitative research consultants. It overlaps with MSPA Americas' member base of customer experience and market research professionals, and shares a similar membership and certification-driven model.
• Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA): CXPA is the leading trade association for customer experience professionals globally. It is comparable to MSPA Americas in mission (advancing the CX profession), membership model, and certification programs (CCXP).
• ESOMAR: ESOMAR is the global trade association for market research, insights, and analytics professionals. It is directly comparable to MSPA Americas as a membership-based trade body serving professionals across the broader research and customer experience ecosystem.
• MSPA Global: MSPA Global is the overarching international body that coordinates all MSPA regions (Americas, Europe/Africa, Asia/Pacific). It is the most directly comparable peer, operating the same trade association model for the global mystery shopping industry that MSPA Americas operates regionally.
• MSPA Asia/Pacific: MSPA Asia/Pacific is the APAC sister chapter of MSPA Americas. Currently suspended from MSPA Global as of July 2020, it represents the same trade association model serving a different geography.

Regional players

• Market Research Society (MRS): MRS is the UK trade association for market, social, and opinion research. Comparable to MSPA Americas in mission and membership structure, but serving primarily UK-based research professionals and not directly competing in the Americas.
• Australian Market and Social Research Society (AMSRS): AMSRS is the Australian professional body for the market and social research industry. Comparable to MSPA Americas in structure and offerings (membership, certification, code of conduct), but geographically focused on Australia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MSPA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MSPANAChannel
• Facebookfacebook.com/MSPAAmericas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mspa-americas/?viewAsMember=true

Compliance2 records

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 MSPA Americas