TNS Dimarso

TNS Dimarso is an independent Belgian market research agency based in Brussels. Since its founding in 1963, it has sought to give companies, government institutions, universities, organisations and associations insight into how people think and act in their roles as citizens, consumers, customers, employees or decision-makers. The firm operates as part of the international Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) group, a global leader in market research headquartered in London and listed on the London Stock Exchange. Dimarso's history is closely tied to the consolidation of the European survey industry. Patrick Janssens, later mayor of Antwerp, served as general director of Dimarso from 1985 to 1989. Later, Dominique Vercraeye and Luc Schulpen took full control of the company through a management buy-out. In 1992 the two managers founded the subsidiary Nationaal Instituut voor Dataverzameling (NID), which specialises in collecting the data needed to carry out market studies, mainly by conducting surveys. In 1994 the pair sold 85% of their Dimarso shares to Sofres, a French-origin survey firm that had already bought into the Belgian research company Sobemap Marketing five years earlier; at the same time they acquired 15% of Sobemap Marketing. Three years later Sofres and its British counterpart Taylor Nelson AGB decided to join forces, creating the group Taylor Nelson Sofres. In 2000 the media departments of Sobemap Marketing and Dimarso were merged into a renewed Sobemap Marketing, which focuses on research into the use and impact of media and advertising, sociological research and opinion polling. Dimarso and Sobemap Marketing have since provided their services under the commercial names TNS Dimarso and TNS Media. Since 2001 Taylor Nelson Sofres has been the sole shareholder of both Dimarso NV (including NID) and Sobemap Marketing NV. Also based in Brussels is TNS Opinion (The European Omnibus Survey CVBA), which on behalf of the European Commission takes on the international coordination of the Eurobarometer surveys. As members of the professional federation Febelmar, TNS Dimarso and TNS Media must respect the globally recognised ICC/ESOMAR code of conduct; according to Febelmar, both agencies hold an EMRQS quality certificate.

Dimarso was founded in 1963 as a Belgian market research agency based in Brussels. From the outset it positioned itself as a provider of insight into how people think and act in their roles as citizens, consumers, customers, employees and decision-makers, serving companies, government institutions, universities, organisations and associations. In the period 1985–1989, Patrick Janssens — later mayor of Antwerp — served as general director of Dimarso. Some time later, Dominique Vercraeye and Luc Schulpen acquired full control of the company through a management buy-out. In 1992 the two managers founded the subsidiary Nationaal Instituut voor Dataverzameling (NID), dedicated to collecting the data required for market studies, primarily through surveys. In 1994 the duo sold 85% of their Dimarso shares to Sofres, a French-origin survey firm that had already acquired a stake in the Belgian research company Sobemap Marketing five years earlier. At the same time, Vercraeye and Schulpen acquired 15% of Sobemap Marketing. Three years later, Sofres and its British counterpart Taylor Nelson AGB decided to combine forces, forming the group Taylor Nelson Sofres. In 2000, the media departments of Sobemap Marketing and Dimarso were merged into a renewed Sobemap Marketing, which focuses on research into the use and impact of media and advertising, sociological research and opinion polling. From then on, Dimarso and Sobemap Marketing provided their services under the commercial names TNS Dimarso and TNS Media. Since 2001, Taylor Nelson Sofres has been the sole shareholder of both Dimarso NV (including NID) and Sobemap Marketing NV. Also located in Brussels is TNS Opinion (The European Omnibus Survey CVBA), which on behalf of the European Commission handles the international coordination of the Eurobarometer surveys. Taylor Nelson Sofres plc is a world leader in market research, with its international headquarters in London and a listing on the London Stock Exchange. As members of the professional federation Febelmar, TNS Dimarso and TNS Media must comply with the globally recognised ICC/ESOMAR code of conduct; according to Febelmar, both agencies hold an EMRQS quality certificate.

• 2001

  Taylor Nelson Sofres becomes sole shareholder of Dimarso NV (including NID) and Sobemap Marketing NV.

• 2000

  Media departments of Sobemap Marketing and Dimarso merge into a renewed Sobemap Marketing; services offered under TNS Dimarso and TNS Media names.

• 1997

  Sofres and Taylor Nelson AGB merge to form Taylor Nelson Sofres.

• 1994

  Vercraeye and Schulpen sell 85% of Dimarso shares to Sofres and acquire 15% of Sobemap Marketing.

• 1992

  Dominique Vercraeye and Luc Schulpen found subsidiary Nationaal Instituut voor Dataverzameling (NID).

• 1985

  Patrick Janssens becomes general director (serves until 1989).

• 1963

  Dimarso founded as a Belgian market research agency in Brussels.

Independent Belgian market research agency operating within the global TNS network, serving companies, public institutions, universities and associations.

• Market research studies

• Surveys and data collection (via NID)

• Media and advertising research

• Sociological research

• Opinion polling

1. 1TNS Dimarso – Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2TNS Dimarso – Wikipedia (Dutch)nl.wikipedia.org