Market Research Agency Philadelphia

From consumer segmentation to brand tracking, product development research and campaign evaluation, Kadence supports organizations in Philadelphia with a comprehensive suite of research services. Over 30 years of global expertise, applied to the sixth-largest city in the United States.

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Philadelphia combines historical significance with a modern, diversified economy and one of the most characterful consumer markets in the northeastern US. For brands operating in the greater Philadelphia region, Kadence delivers research that captures the city's distinctive identity, demographic complexity and regional influence.

Understanding Philadelphia's market

Philadelphia's economy is anchored by healthcare and life sciences, higher education, financial services, technology and professional services. The city's concentration of world-class healthcare institutions, including Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Temple Health, makes it one of the most important healthcare markets in the United States.

The metropolitan area of over six million people spans southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, northern Delaware and parts of Maryland. This multi-state geography creates research complexity, with consumers on each side of state lines influenced by different media markets, tax structures and cultural traditions.

Philadelphia's consumer identity is famously distinctive. Residents tend to be direct, skeptical of hype and fiercely loyal to brands that earn their trust. The city's strong neighborhood identity, from Center City and Fishtown to South Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, Manayunk and the Main Line suburbs, means consumer behavior varies significantly across relatively short distances.

The city's demographic diversity is significant. Philadelphia's Black community represents a major consumer segment, alongside growing Hispanic, Asian and international populations. The Italian American, Irish American and Eastern European heritage communities that have shaped the city's cultural character continue to influence consumer preferences and brand relationships.

Our Global Expertise for Philadelphia

Kadence operates from offices across Asia, Europe and the Americas, with our US presence anchored by teams in New York and San Francisco. Our global network spans London, Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, Jakarta, Mumbai, Bangalore and beyond.

For Philadelphia-based organizations expanding internationally, particularly in healthcare, education and technology, our network provides seamless coordination and genuine local expertise in each market.

We’re consistently recognised as a leading market research agency across multiple markets.

AURA Innovation of the Year award

Innovation of the Year

Finalist

— The AURAs, 2021
Agency of the Year Awards, 2021

Market Research Agency of the Year

Winner – Gold

— Agency of the Year Awards, 2021
Marketing Interactive Agency of the Year, Winner - Gold, 2021

Consultant of the Year

Winner – Gold

— Agency of the Year Awards, 2021
Kadence team collecting Agency of the Year award

Consultant of the Year

Winner

— Agency of the Year Awards, 2020
Agency of the Year Awards, 2020

Market Research Agency of the Year

Finalist

— Agency of the Year Awards, 2020
Quirks Supplier of the Year Kadence International

Market Research Supplier of the Year

Winner

— Marketing Research & Insight Excellence Awards – 2019
Kadence International Market Research Agency of the Year Singapore

Market Research Agency of the Year

Winner

— Agency of the Year Awards, 2019
Kadence International is Highly Commended for Global Agency of The Year

Global Agency of the Year

Highly Commended

— Market Research Society Awards, 2019
Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019

Best Data Collection (face-to-face)

Finalist

— Market Research Society's Operations Awards – 2019
Best Data Collection, Finalist — Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019

Best Data Collection (telephone)

Finalist

— Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019
MRS Opperations Awards Trophy

Best Training and Development

Highly Commended

— Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019
MRS Young Researcher of the Year

MRS Young Researcher of the Year

Finalist

— MRS, 2023
ESOMAR Best Congress Paper

ESOMAR Best Congress Paper

Winner

— ESOMAR, 2023

Philadelphia Market Research

Kadence designs research that captures Philadelphia's distinct consumer character. We help brands understand consumer segments, test new products and evaluate brand perception with audiences across the metropolitan area.

Philadelphia's opinionated, brand-discerning consumer base provides exceptionally direct feedback. Our fieldwork covers the Philadelphia metro and wider Delaware Valley using online, telephone and in-person methods.

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FAQs

How diverse is Asia Pacific culturally?

The short answer is that Asia is incredibly rich and nuanced from a cultural standpoint: the multitude of religious beliefs, histories, languages, and other cultural markers means that each market is more different than similar. This can make Asia Pacific market research challenging without the right partner to help you understand the intricacies of each country. That said, though, the ‘urban Asia’ experience is similar to some extent, and popular culture does form the basis to link up a couple of the Asian markets, so there can be ways to seek out common threads amidst the vibrancy of difference.

Do I need to do all my market research in Asia in local / vernacular languages?

As a rule yes. By conducting research in the local language, consumers will have the capability and confidence to express their thoughts and feelings toward the brands, products or services in question. Unlike some market research agencies in Asia, Kadence has a range of languages in-house thanks to our network of Asian offices, so local language moderation is a service we can provide. That said, it is possible to carry out research in English in some markets (e.g. Singapore, India, Philippines), depending on the subject matter and education level of the respondents you want to reach.

For large Asian markets like China and India, how many cities do we need to cover with our research?

We recommend at least a combination of 1st tier and 2nd tier cities, as well as 3rd tier and rural locations, if possible. On top of getting a read on geographic and demographic differences in the reactions to your products and services, lifestyle / intra-market attitudinal variations exist, so the wider you are able to carry out your research, the more comprehensive your resulting understanding of the market will be.

Are there certain research approaches or methodologies that work better in one Asian market, compared to another?

Yes. Cultural differences between Asian markets mean that you need to carefully consider your methodology. For instance, we find that in-depth interviews, rather than group-based discussions, can work better for some topics in markets like Japan, where there can be a tendency to ‘self-censor’. In contrast, the one-on-one format lends itself better to building trust and establishing bonds between interviewer and respondent, often leading to more productive conversations. 

You’ll also need to consider the technological infrastructure of the markets you’re researching. In India, for instance, you’ll need to take a mobile first approach for reaching those outside metros and tier 1 cities. This is also true of mobile-first markets like Indonesia and China. Whilst cultural considerations can be diverse and numerous, we’re on hand to help, based on our long history of conducting market research in Asia.

Does the sequence of which markets I do my research first in Asia matter?

Unless there are specific roll-out plans that have strategic importance for your product or service across markets, our experience has taught us that any order comes back down to organizational preference. Your internal stakeholders may want to start the research in a market that is a stronghold for the brand to establish ground understanding, then venture into unfamiliar grounds to gather ‘new news’, or vice versa. Ultimately, Kadence is flexible in terms of how / when / where to start a piece of research, and in the absence of real preference, is willing to provide our suggestions and justifications for any arrangements.

Our Customers

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Bloomberg
Unilever
Samsung
Panasonic
Mitsubishi
Mars
Arla
Discovery Networks Asia Pacific
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FAQs

What makes Philadelphia consumers distinct for research purposes?

Philadelphia consumers tend to be direct, skeptical of marketing hype and loyal to brands that demonstrate genuine quality and commitment. The city's strong neighborhood identity creates micro-markets with different consumer profiles. Research designed for Philadelphia captures these distinctive dynamics.

What industries does Kadence research in Philadelphia?

We work with organizations across Philadelphia's key sectors, including healthcare, life sciences, higher education, financial services, technology, media and consumer goods. Our researchers understand the competitive dynamics specific to the Delaware Valley market.

How does Philadelphia's multi-state geography affect research?

The Philadelphia metropolitan area spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. Consumers across these state lines are influenced by different media markets, tax structures and cultural traditions. Effective research accounts for these geographic distinctions.

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