You can't run a business if you don't know what the heck your customers want. Getting that intel is called "customer insight," which is pretty much as its name suggests: insight into your customers. But getting it isn't exactly so easy. The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce is holding an event on this very topic that's winding down now, but it's not exactly something you want to rush to sink your teeth into anyhow. What's coming up a bit further way and is sure to be a bit more exhaustive -- in a good way -- in terms of its scope is Customer Insight Week, taking place at the McCormick Place Convention Center from September 26 to 28. That means there's plenty of time to still qualify for early-bird registration and also wrap your mind around what sort of insights you want to get.
Plus, there are a whole heck of a lot more speakers at this event than at the CCC's. From McDonald's Heather Oldani (director of U.S. communications) and Lobster Gram's Dan Zawacki (founder and president) to University of Illinois at Chicago's Eugene Fregetto (clinical associate professor of marketing) and the Tribune Media Group's Kathleen O'Hara (VP marketing).
It costs a gorgeous penny to attend -- $1,599 to attend or $1,999 as a vendor -- but the entrance fee will go up considerably by August 26. So, give it a look and mull it over.
David Wolinsky is a freelance writer and a lifelong Chicagoan. In addition to currently serving as an interviewer-writer for Adult Swim, he's also a columnist for EGM. He was the Chicago city editor for The Onion A.V. Club where he provided in-depth daily coverage of this city's bustling arts/entertainment scene for half a decade. When not playing video games for work he's thinking of dashing out to Chicago Diner, Pizano's, or Yummy Yummy. His first career aspirations were to be a game-show host.
