• Mystery Shopping your Customer Experience

  • Proinsight Staff Chloe

    Chloe Kinch

    Director of Client Success | Proinsight Mystery Shopping

     As you’re probably aware, a brand is much more than just a company’s name or logo, it is the way their products and services are perceived by their customers and the feelings that their company name evokes. The term ‘brand’ can sometimes be quite difficult to get your head around, but all companies tend to know just how important it is to have a strong brand and the many benefits that come with this.  

     

    When you own a retail company and you’re trying to create a brand, there are many different tools that you can use to help you like marketing and advertising, for example, but many don’t realise that mystery shopping can be very useful too. If you’ve never really considered working with a retail mystery shopper to strengthen your brand before and you’re wondering how they can help, keep reading today.  

     

    Face-to-face mystery shopping 

     

    Of course, because the success of your brand comes down to how your company is perceived by those who experience it, face-to-face mystery shopping services will come in very handy. These services will help you to understand how your brand comes across to those who visit your retail store and how your employees may be helping or hindering your brand with their interaction with customers. This insight will be invaluable when you’re creating a brand.  

     

    Online mystery shopping 

     

    The majority of retail companies have online stores these days and it is vital to remember that your website will also influence customer’s opinions of your brand. Using online mystery shopping services you can better understand what your customer experience is like online from start to finish. Ensuring that your online store doesn’t let your brand down is absolutely essential and it will help to increase the chances of customers choosing your company and your products over your competitors. 

     

    Social media mystery shopping  

     

    In this digital day and age, it goes without saying that your social media channels will greatly influence customers’ perceptions of your company and, in turn, impact your brand. Your social media is an integral part of your marketing strategy these days, but it is always important to remember that the channels you use can help you to instil brand loyalty too. Social media mystery shopping services can help you to review your social channels, ensure that they’re in line with your brand and that your user experience is exemplary.  

     

    Telephone mystery shopping  

     

    Simply put, the key to remaining relevant in the retail industry is to provide uncompromising customer service, not only in-store, but also online and over the phone too. It can be easy to overlook, but every communication customers have with your company will change their perception and for this reason, the way your employees are on the phone is very important. Telephone mystery shopping services allow you to assess your company’s phone etiquette and they can help you to ensure that this is strengthening your brand.  

     

    Competitor mystery shopping  

     

    Learning about other brands and understanding how they give companies a competitive advantage can be very useful too, and competitor mystery shopping can help you to do this. A retail mystery shopper can interact with your competitors and provide you with feedback about their experience. This will allow you to establish what sets you apart from others and enable you to improve your company to help make your brand that little bit more competitive. 

     

    Enlisting the help of a retail mystery shopper 

     

    There really is no denying that working with a mystery shopping company can be invaluable not only when you’re first creating a brand, but when you’re trying to maintain a strong brand too. The information and insight that retail mystery shoppers can provide you with will help you to ensure that your company and your products are being perceived in the right way, and it goes without saying that this is essential to business success.  

     

    To speak with an experienced mystery shopping company about working with a retail mystery shopper in more detail, please don’t hesitate to contact us here at Proinsight. We provide an incredibly vast range of services and we have experience in a number of different industries, so you can trust that we will be able to help. Our friendly team will gladly answer any questions that you may have about mystery shopping and we can work with you to create a mystery shopping programme that is perfect for your individual business needs and brand goals. 

     

    If you’d like to learn more about how a retail mystery shopper could assist your company please get in touch with us here

     

    Mystery Shopping Benefits


    David Hopkins

    David Hopkins

    Managing Director at Proinsight Mystery Shopping

    David has a long history in the business of doing good business. In 2008, he co-founded Proleisure, a leisure consulting company, where he identified a growing need for deeper customer insights across the industry. This led to the launch of Proinsight Mystery Shopping in 2014, with a vision to provide businesses with the valuable data needed to enhance customer experience.

    Now, as we approach our 10th year, Proinsight has become a leading provider of specialist mystery shopping, auditing, and research programs, serving a diverse range of sectors across the UK including real estate, fitness, retail, hospitality, and so many more. We remain committed to helping our clients achieve excellence and drive meaningful improvements in their businesses.

    David is deeply committed to enhancing customer service across all industries. His passion lies in providing valuable mystery shopping insights that empower clients to take actionable steps towards improvement. By delivering these insights directly, David helps businesses create effective strategies to elevate their customer experience and drive meaningful change.


    Chloe Kinch

    Chloe Kinch

    Director of Client Success at Proinsight Mystery Shopping

    Chloe joined Proinsight Mystery Shopping as an Account Manager in 2017. Prior to her role at Proinsight, she served as National Sales Manager at Parkwood Leisure, where she gained extensive experience in exceeding customer expectations and developed a deep understanding of the leisure industry.

    Chloe quickly advanced within Proinsight, progressing from Account Manager in 2017 to Head of Client Success in 2020, and ultimately to Director of Client Success and shareholder in 2022. In her current role, she leads client relationships with prestigious brands such as David Lloyd, Dyson, and Apple. Chloe is responsible for designing bespoke mystery shopping programs tailored to each client's specific needs, aimed at enhancing customer service and optimising sales processes across various industries, including real estate, hospitality, retail, leisure, and more.


    Lucy Winn

    Lucy Winn

    Brand and Communications Manager at Proinsight Mystery Shopping

    After graduating with a degree in Marketing from the University of Westminster, Lucy successfully grew and scaled her own e-commerce womenswear clothing business over a span of four years, expanding into international retail markets including Japan, the US, and France. With extensive expertise in brand development and digital communications, Lucy has driven commercial growth through strategic initiatives like influencer marketing, digital campaign management, and both online and offline retail expansion.

    In July 2024, she joined Proinsight Mystery Shopping as Brand and Communications Manager, where she leads the strategy and management of all digital platforms, including the website and social media, with a focus on driving shopper sign-ups and generating client leads. Additionally, she oversees event management for both internal company days and major external summits like Connect CX. At these events, we emphasise the critical importance of exceptional customer service across various industries, positioning it as a cornerstone of a brand’s overall UX strategy.


    Robert Brocklesby

    Robert Brocklesby

    Senior Client Success Manager

    Robert is a Senior Client Success Manager at Proinsight, bringing over 20 years of consultancy and industry experience in customer service measurement and development. Throughout his career, he has led numerous high-impact projects for well-known clients across the UK, spanning a wide range of sectors. His work has consistently driven significant improvements in customer experience and contributed to sustainable, profitable growth.

    Robert recognises that each client is unique. He designs tailored Mystery Shopping programmes to monitor, enhance, and elevate the customer journey, aligning with each organisation’s specific goals. In addition to his consultancy work, Robert is a qualified teacher and regularly delivers customer service workshops. These sessions focus on identifying key strengths and uncovering areas for development, empowering frontline teams to drive continuous improvement.


    Deborah Jones

    Deborah Jones

    Senior Client Success Manager at Proinsight Mystery Shopping

    Debs has spent the last 25 years working in the health and fitness, hospitality, leisure, and childcare industries, holding senior management and consultancy roles. She has also enjoyed some backpacking and travel adventures along the way! In her spare time, she loves all things health and wellness, spending time with friends and family, and hiking with her lovely dog!