GfK Retail and Technology History
Service Development
1970 GfK retail panel launched in Germany
1980's The retail panel goes international
1997 Launch of the ENCODEX international product catalogue
2004 Worldwide launch of the StarTrack reporting system
2007 Retail Analytics - performance monitoring at store level
GfK Retail and Technology Market Expansion
1970 Photo: e.g. cameras, lenses, accessories
1971 Do It Yourself: e.g. power tools, adhesives
1971 Household Equipment: e.g. batteries, furniture, lamps
1973 Consumer Electronics: e.g. MP3 players, headphones
1976 Domestic Appliances: e.g. toasters, fridges
1983 Office Equipment: e.g. printers, ink cartridges
1983 Telecommunication: e.g. mobile phones, fax machines
1983 Information Technology: e.g. PCs, monitors
1983 Stationery: e.g. paper, labels, writing instruments
1990 Optics: e.g. lenses, glasses, cleaning agents
1998 Software and Video Games
2002 Media: e.g. books, DVDs
2004 Tourism: e.g. car rental, cruises
2007 Fashion: e.g. watches, luggage, accessories
2007 Mobile Content: e.g. games, ringtones
GfK Retail and Technology Korea History
2000.03 GfK Marketing Services Korea establishment
2000.10 Retail panel launched in Metropolitan area
2001.04 Telecommunication (e.g. mobile phones)
Retail panel launched
2003.01 Retail panel area Expansion
(Gyeongsangnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
2006.01 Online Market Retail panel launched , Retail panel area
Expansion to the whole country (excepting Jeju-do)
2007.04 Information Technology Retail panel launched
(e.g. PCs, monitors)
2007.07 Entertainment (e.g. Video Games) Retail panel launched
2007.09 Weekly Report launched
2008.05 Optics ( e.g. Contact lenses) Retail panel launched
2008.12 IT Corporate (B2B) Retail panel launched
2009 Automotive ( e.g. tyre) Retail panel launched,
Retail Ad-hoc services launched
2010.10 Golf Retail panel launched
Professor Wilhelm Vershoven
GfK's founding father, Professor Wilhelm Vershofen, formulated the business idea of GfK in 1934.
Today this idea still represents the quintessential cornerstone on which the success of the market research company is based and that is: "Let the voice of the consumer be heard".
-Find out more about the history of the GfK Group and Professor Vershofen: