GIM Suisse AG

What GIM Suisse AG does

GIM Suisse AG is a Zurich-based market research consultancy founded in 2005 and operating as the Swiss subsidiary of the GIM group (Gesellschaft für Innovative Marktforschung mbH, headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany). The company provides full-service qualitative and quantitative market research across more than 30 industries, serving both B2B and B2C clients with a methodology portfolio that includes face-to-face interviews, focus groups, online surveys, ethnographic research, netnography, and digital analytics. Its differentiated offering rests on a stack of proprietary branded methodologies (GIM CONCEPT, GIM Ethno, GIM NetListener, GIM MovIn, GIMplicit, GIM Value Visuals) and a company-owned research facility called GIM Studio Zurich, equipped with one-way mirror observation technology, client lounges, and live video transmission for focus groups and in-depth interviews.

The business model is project-based professional services: revenue is generated through custom market research engagements, with pricing quoted per project based on scope, methodology, sample size, and complexity rather than via published rate cards. Go-to-market is sales-led, combining direct enterprise engagement with the broader GIM international network (Heidelberg, Berlin, Nuremberg, Wiesbaden, Lyon, Shanghai) for multi-country studies. The Swiss entity extends its surface via affiliated sub-brands — GIM direct (CX/CF), GIM foresight (future and values research), GIM analytics (data science), GIM consult (strategic consulting), GIM experience (UX research), and GIM c.o.r.e. (organizational culture) — providing a service portfolio that goes beyond traditional research delivery.

The named enterprise client base spans insurance (Die Mobiliar), financial services (PostFinance), media and publishing (Migros Medien, Ringier), pharmaceutical and healthcare (CSL Vifor Pharma, Stiftung Sanitas), and retail (Coop, via the Familienjury program since 2023). The company is led by Managing Director Carola Eichmann and a team of senior and junior research managers, maintains memberships in ESOMAR and Swiss Insights for industry credentialing, and pursues a B2B marketing approach through its website, newsletter, and LinkedIn presence.

Name

GIM Suisse AG

Legal name

GIM Suisse AG

Website

https://g-i-m.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GIM Suisse AG is a Zurich-based market research consultancy providing qualitative and quantitative research services across 30+ industries to enterprise B2B and B2C clients in Switzerland and internationally, leveraging proprietary methodologies and a GIM group network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Market Research and Consumer Insights

NAICS

Marketing Consulting Services (541613), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)

Keywords

• Market research services
• Qualitative consumer research
• Quantitative consumer research
• Brand and shopper research
• Consumer insights consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Market Research Services: Project-based market research consulting services including qualitative and quantitative studies, industry expertise, and custom research solutions. Revenue generated through client engagements for brand research, product testing, consumer insights, and strategic consulting projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GIM Suisse AG is a Swiss market research institute that conducts qualitative and quantitative market research for B2B and B2C clients across more than 30 industries. The company delivers customized consumer, brand, shopper, product, and patient insights through proprietary methodologies (such as GIM CONCEPT, GIM Ethno, GIM NetListener, GIM MovIn, GIMplicit, and GIM Value Visuals) and operates the GIM Studio Zurich, a dedicated focus group and interview facility.

Product overview

GIM Suisse AG is a leading Swiss market research institute offering a comprehensive portfolio of qualitative and quantitative research solutions under a 'Beyond Research' approach. The core offering includes traditional research methods (GIM Classics) alongside specialized solutions (GIM Specials) such as concept testing, ethnography, shopper research, implicit and motive research, and netnography. The company extends beyond classic research through subsidiary divisions (GIM Beyonds) covering analytics, consulting, organizational culture (c.o.r.e.), customer direct programs, experience research, and future foresight. A key differentiator is the GIM Studio Zurich, a dedicated research facility with one-way mirror observation capabilities. Research is conducted across more than 30 industries in B2B and B2C contexts, with methodologies spanning face-to-face interviews, online communities, virtual reality, and video-based behavioral analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GIM Foresight: Future and values research under the GIM Foresight label, examining future values, sustainability, and brand management.
• GIM Shopper
• GIM MovIn
• GIMplicit
• GIM NetListener
• GIM Value Visuals

Products and services

• GIM Market Research Services
• GIM Classics
• GIM CONCEPT
• GIM Ethno
• GIM NetListener
• GIM MovIn
• GIMplicit
• GIM Value Visuals (Emotion und Value Visuals)
• GIM Patient Journey
• GIM Shopper
• GIM Quick-Insights
• GIM Salesbooster
• GIM Brand Research
• GIM Advanced Analytics (GIM analytics)
• GIM Kids (Kinder- und Jugendmarktforschung)
• GIM ICU (Integrated Consumer Understanding)
• GIM Studio Zurich
• GIM consult
• GIM direct
• GIM experience
• GIM foresight
• GIM c.o.r.e.

Named customers7 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature14 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GIM Gruppe (Heidelberg Headquarters)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIM Suisse operates as part of the GIM group of companies with headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. The partnership enables international research capabilities combined with local Swiss market expertise, sharing methodologies, proprietary tools, and research best practices across the network.
• GIM BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with GIM Berlin office enabling coordinated German-Swiss market research projects and shared methodological expertise.
• GIM NurembergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with GIM Nuremberg office for Central European research coordination.
• GIM WiesbadenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with GIM Wiesbaden office for German market research collaboration.
• GIM France (Lyon)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with GIM France office in Lyon enabling French-Swiss cross-border research and European market studies.
• GIM China (Shanghai)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with GIM China office in Shanghai enabling Asian market research capabilities and international expansion support.
• SWISS INSIGHTScoreOthersGIM Suisse is a member of SWISS INSIGHTS (Swiss Market and Social Research Association), adhering to strict data protection standards and industry ethical guidelines. The membership provides regulatory credibility and demonstrates commitment to Swiss data protection laws including the revised Swiss Data Protection Act.
• ESOMARcoreOthersGIM Suisse maintains active membership in ESOMAR, the global association for market, social, and opinion research, positioning the company within the international research community and accessing industry standards and best practices.
• GIM directcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIM direct is a subsidiary specializing in customer dialogue and feedback, providing CX (Customer Experience) and CF (Customer Feedback) solutions integrated with GIM Suisse's research offerings.
• GIM foresightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIM foresight specializes in future-oriented brand and communication strategy research, providing futurology studies and values research including the Values & Visions 2030 flagship study series.
• GIM analyticscoreTechnology or IntegrationData science and software development subsidiary providing advanced analytics capabilities, combining data science skills with market research expertise to maximize data value for clients.
• GIM consultcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting subsidiary aligning company interests with target group requirements, providing strategic brand and market consulting services.
• GIM experiencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUser experience research subsidiary complementing classic UX KPI frameworks with deeper understanding of consumer emotions and motivations.
• GIM c.o.r.e.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizational culture research subsidiary examining company culture and providing insights for strategic HR management.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• YouGov: YouGov is a global public-affairs and consumer research company with proprietary panels and syndicated brand trackers — a broad incumbent overlapping with GIM Suisse's brand tracking and consumer insights work for enterprise clients.
• GfK (An NIQ Company): GfK is a large international market research group with deep German roots (parent now part of NielsenIQ), offering consumer and shopper insights at scale — comparable to GIM Suisse as a broad incumbent operating in adjacent geographies and over overlapping industries.
• Kantar: Kantar is a global research and insights company offering brand, media, consumer and shopper research — a broad incumbent that overlaps with GIM Suisse's full-service qualitative and quantitative research stack at the top of the Swiss market.
• Ipsos: Ipsos is one of the world's largest market research and public opinion firms, providing brand, advertising, customer experience and qualitative research globally — a broad incumbent competing with GIM Suisse for large Swiss enterprise mandates.

Direct peers

• Sotomo: Sotomo is a Zurich-based research institute combining social science and market research, often hired by Swiss media, public sector and corporate clients for custom studies — directly comparable to GIM Suisse in methodology mix and Swiss client roster.
• DemoSCOPE: DemoSCOPE is one of the largest Swiss-owned market research institutes, offering qualitative and quantitative consumer research, brand tracking and panel solutions across Switzerland — directly competing with GIM Suisse for the same enterprise B2B/B2C clients.
• M.I.S. Trend: M.I.S. Trend is a Swiss market research firm specializing in consumer, retail and media research with its own panel and syndicated studies — comparable to GIM Suisse in serving Swiss B2C brand and media clients.
• Intervista: Intervista is a Swiss market and opinion research firm offering custom qualitative and quantitative work for brands, media, and public-sector clients — directly competing with GIM Suisse for project-based research mandates in the Swiss market.
• Link Institut: Link Institut is a long-established Swiss market and social research firm offering custom qualitative, quantitative and omnibus research — competing directly with GIM Suisse across enterprise, public-sector and brand clients in Switzerland.

Emerging players

• Bilendi: Bilendi is a European digital market research and panel technology provider offering proprietary panels and insight community solutions — an emerging player with partial overlap to GIM Suisse's online community and quantitative offerings, especially for tech-forward Swiss clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights1 record

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gim-suisse-ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 GIM Suisse AG