Real Deal Has Iris Eyes Smiling
Illawarra Mercury
Saturday September 16, 2006
THE Illawarra Regional Information Service has secured a major contract to conduct market research for a new insurance company targeting the Australian market.
REAL Insurance is part of a large multinational company enjoying a global expansion and it selected IRIS ahead of some of Australia's leading market research companies.Marketing director Murray Howe said REAL Insurance was part of the South African-based Holland Insurance Company and chose IRIS because it liked the way executive director Simon Pomfret and his team worked.Mr Howe was also familiar with IRIS and Wollongong because he completed his degree at the University of Wollongong.He said while REAL Insurance was new to the Australian market it was looking to expand quickly, particularly along the east coast.REAL Insurance is endeavouring to provide a unique approach to insurance and will require IRIS to conduct extensive research in many regions."It is a win-win for both organisations," Mr Howe said.Mr Pomfret said the South African insurance company was a good strategic fit for IRIS. Like the Illawarra and groups of businesses such as the Wollongong manufacturing Cluster (i3net), REAL Insurance wanted to make a big splash in regional markets across Australia."Hence they saw benefits of using IRIS' expertise and experience in researching regional consumer markets. That is one of the reasons why IRIS won out against some of the big boys in Australian commercial market research."Mr Howe said REAL Insurance would sell its products in the Illawarra but wouldn't have an office here. He said most of its business would be done online.The good news is expected to continue for IRIS this week when it hosts its largest annual economic update. NAB chief economist Alan Oster will deliver an economic report on how the national and international markets might affect the Illawarra economy.
© 2006 Illawarra Mercury