M/A/R/C Research

M/A/R/C Research is a United States-based marketing research and consulting firm founded in 1965. The company traces its origins to Cecil “Bud” Phillips, who had previously led a research team at TracyLocke in Dallas. It was initially established under the name Marketing and Research Counselors before adopting the shorter M/A/R/C Research name. The firm’s work centers on custom research rather than a single standardized product. Its services include qualitative and quantitative research, using both traditional methods and online surveys. This places M/A/R/C within the business-to-business market research and advisory sector, where clients commission studies to understand consumer attitudes, behaviors, market dynamics, and the likely effects of business decisions. M/A/R/C’s stated analytical focus is connecting research findings with commercial outcomes. In particular, the firm is associated with efforts to explain and predict changes in market share, revenue, and bottom-line performance. Its approach therefore combines data collection with interpretation intended to help clients evaluate positioning, customer responses, marketing actions, and other strategic choices. A major ownership change occurred in November 1999, when M/A/R/C was acquired by Omnicom Group, a large marketing and corporate communications company. The acquisition placed the research business within Omnicom’s broader services portfolio. In 2018, Merrill Dubrow finalized the purchase of M/A/R/C Research from Omnicom, returning the firm to independent ownership under his leadership. Reference material identifies the company’s headquarters as Irving, Texas, with additional offices in Greensboro, St. Louis, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York. It also identifies an employee count of approximately 70, although the date and methodology for that figure are not specified. M/A/R/C’s documented business remains focused on commissioned market research and consulting, and the available material does not establish a broader consumer-facing product brand or a current international operating footprint.

M/A/R/C Research was established in 1965 by Cecil “Bud” Phillips in the United States. Before founding the company, Phillips had led a research team at TracyLocke in Dallas. The new firm originally operated as Marketing and Research Counselors, a name that described its role as an adviser and provider of marketing research. It later adopted the abbreviated M/A/R/C Research identity. From its documented beginnings, the company operated as a custom research and consulting firm. Rather than being defined by a mass-market product, M/A/R/C developed studies for individual clients, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Its research could be conducted through traditional fieldwork as well as online surveys. The firm’s subject matter included consumer attitudes and behaviors, with the stated purpose of turning those observations into explanations and forecasts concerning commercial performance. M/A/R/C’s analytical proposition was to connect research results with business measures such as market share, revenue, and bottom-line impact. This positioned the firm between data-collection supplier and strategic consultant: its role was not simply to gather responses, but also to help clients interpret how actions might affect customers and financial outcomes. The available reference material does not identify specific client engagements, proprietary research platforms, or named consumer products. In November 1999, Omnicom Group acquired M/A/R/C Research. Omnicom is described in the reference material as a marketing and corporate communications company, and the transaction brought M/A/R/C into a larger communications-services environment. The available account does not specify the purchase price, the precise post-acquisition organizational structure, or any changes to the firm’s research methodology. In 2018, Merrill Dubrow finalized the purchase of M/A/R/C Research from Omnicom. This transaction marked a change from ownership by a major marketing-services group to ownership associated with Dubrow, who is identified as the company’s chief executive officer. The supplied material does not provide further details about the transaction’s financing, governance, or operational consequences. The company is identified as being headquartered in Irving, Texas, and as having additional offices in Greensboro, St. Louis, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York. A reference listing gives the firm approximately 70 employees, but no date is supplied for that figure. Based on the available information, M/A/R/C Research remains an active American professional-services brand focused on commissioned marketing research and consulting. Its documented history is characterized by a long operating period, a 1999 corporate acquisition, and a 2018 purchase from Omnicom.

• 2018

  Purchase from Omnicom

  [1]M/A/R/C Researchen.wikipedia.org

  Merrill Dubrow finalized the purchase of M/A/R/C Research from Omnicom.

• 1999

  Acquisition by Omnicom

  [1]M/A/R/C Researchen.wikipedia.org

  Omnicom Group acquired M/A/R/C Research in November 1999.

• 1965

  M/A/R/C Research founded

  [1]M/A/R/C Researchen.wikipedia.org

  Cecil “Bud” Phillips founded the firm, initially under the name Marketing and Research Counselors.

• 1965

  Research and consulting operations established

  [1]M/A/R/C Researchen.wikipedia.org

  The company began providing custom marketing research and consulting services, later using the M/A/R/C Research name.

A custom marketing research and consulting partner that links qualitative and quantitative evidence to business performance and decision-making.

• Market research

  Custom qualitative research

  M/A/R/C conducts tailored qualitative studies designed to explore customer attitudes, motivations, perceptions, and behaviors. The available reference material identifies qualitative research as one of the firm’s core service areas, but does not specify particular techniques, panels, sectors, or named programs.

• Market research

  Custom quantitative research

  The firm provides quantitative research commissioned around a client’s particular business question. Such work is described as supporting measurement and prediction related to attitudes, behaviors, market share, revenue, and bottom-line effects. Specific instruments and methodologies are not identified in the supplied sources.

• Survey research

  Traditional and online surveys

  M/A/R/C designs and conducts surveys through both traditional and online approaches. These surveys form part of the company’s custom research offering and are used to collect evidence about markets and audiences. The reference material does not provide details about survey platforms, sample sizes, or specific client applications.

• Professional services

  Marketing research consulting

  Beyond fielding research, M/A/R/C provides consulting intended to interpret findings and relate them to commercial outcomes. Its documented focus is explaining and predicting how client actions may influence market share, revenue, and profitability.

• 2018

  Sale from Omnicom to Merrill DubrowM&A

  Background

  After a period under Omnicom ownership, M/A/R/C Research was purchased by Merrill Dubrow.

  Action taken

  Dubrow finalized the purchase of the research firm from Omnicom and became its identified chief executive.

  Aftermath

  The transaction returned M/A/R/C Research to ownership outside Omnicom. The supplied material does not provide further operational or financial details.

  Source

• 1999

  Omnicom acquisitionM&A

  Background

  M/A/R/C Research was operating as an established custom marketing research and consulting firm when Omnicom Group acquired it in November 1999.

  Action taken

  Omnicom Group purchased M/A/R/C Research and incorporated the firm into its broader marketing and corporate communications group.

  Aftermath

  The available source confirms the ownership change but does not describe the acquisition price, organizational integration, or subsequent operating changes.

  Source

• 2018

  Merrill Dubrow completed the purchase of M/A/R/C Research from Omnicom[1]M/A/R/C Researchen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Leadership change

  Merrill Dubrow finalized the purchase of M/A/R/C Research from Omnicom, ending the firm’s documented period of ownership by the marketing services group.

• 1999

  Omnicom acquired M/A/R/C Research[1]M/A/R/C Researchen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  M/A/R/C Research was acquired by Omnicom Group in November 1999, bringing the market research firm into the marketing and corporate communications group’s portfolio.

1. 1M/A/R/C Researchen.wikipedia.org