Frequently Asked Questions
Citing SPINS data
Retailer FAQs
Client FAQs
Product Information Submission
Citing SPINS Data
Please follow these basic guidelines to ensure that you source SPINS correctly in marketing materials and in the press:
1. Always reference SPINS with all letters capitalized.
Correct: SPINS or SPINS, Inc.
Incorrect: Spins
2. In the first instance of attributing information to SPINS, please use the following description: "SPINS, a market research and consulting firm for the Natural Products Industry"
Example: "According to SPINS, a market research and consulting firm for the Natural Products Industry, Acme Naturals' pretzel sales reached $2 million in 2004 (SPINSscan Natural, 52 Weeks Ending 1/1/05)."
3. All References to SPINS data in sales, marketing, and published materials must include the following:
A) Channel reference i.e.: SPINSscan Natural, SPINSscan Conventional (powered by ACNielsen Scantrack)
B) Week ending date (i.e. 52 Weeks Ending 2/19/05)
4. We also highly suggest that you contact SPINS to verify the accuracy of all information before its release.
Contact us by telephone: 415.957.4400 or email: Clients | Press
5. Please forward SPINS any final ad copy, sales materials, or article quotations citing SPINS information for our files. We are frequently asked to verify data references.
6. When possible, please link any online references to our website (www.spins.com).
Retailer FAQs
How much does it cost to become a Retailer Partner?
IT'S FREE. Our Retail Partner Program is funded by data sales to Natural Products manufacturers and other industry clients so that they can better meet the needs of retailers, increase their sales and have the most accurate picture of this dynamic market.
How much time does it take to participate?
Our retail partners report taking about 15-20 minutes to extract and submit data each 4-week period.
What if I can't pull the data from my scanning system?
Just as SPINS' retailer partners vary, so do their scanning systems. Our Retail Services team is confident that we can help you to submit your scanner data.
Can I share my SPINS data?
You may share your stores' sales data as you see fit. SPINS market data, categorization and content is for your benefit and internal use only.
Who will see my store data?
Your individual store or chain-level data is aggregated with other retailers in your region so that there is no way for others to identify it individually. The data is completely confidential and is never seen by anyone but you, your designated internal team and SPINS supportive Retail Services team.
Client FAQs
How can I purchase standard syndicated data?
SPINS' syndicated services are sold by channel and by category. SPINSscan Natural tracks sales in the Natural Product Supermarkets universe and SPINSscan Conventional covers the Mainstream Food, Drug, and Mass Merchandisers (FDM). Clients can either purchase a snapshot, which is one time static view of the market, or an ongoing subscription of 52-month aggregated data delivered monthly or quarterly. Custom reports are also available.
Is there a discount if I buy more than one report?
There is a discount of 10% for the purchase of multiple snapshots (SPINSscan Natural or Conventional), and a 20% discount for the purchase of multiple subscriptions (SPINSscan Natural only).
Does SPINS sell store level information? SPINS does not provide store-level information to anyone but the associated Retailer Partner. Sharing store-level data with anyone else violates the confidentiality agreements we hold with all our partners. SPINS does provide store-level movement data for all Wild Oats Markets stores with the Wild Oats Key Account Data service. More info on our Key Account Services.
Are regional reports available?
SPINS offers a 7-region break-out for the Natural Product Supermarket Channel and 52 different food markets in our SPINSscan Conventional service.
Does SPINS report sales information on private label items?
SPINS tracks the sales of private label supplements in SPINSscan Natural and SPINSscan Conventional.
How much historical data does SPINS have?
Historical movement data for Natural Product Supermarkets is available starting in 2001. Archived data back to 1996 is available for special projects.
Is SPINS data projected?
Yes, SPINS uses a stratified sample that is projected to represent the universe of Natural Product Supermarkets .
Are custom reports available?
Yes, SPINS works with clients to develop custom reports that address specific business issues. More info on SPINSsight Consulting Services.
Product Information Submission
Do we have to send product information for all brands and items now?
If your products are correctly represented in SPINS' data, there is no immediate need for you to send us complete product information. If you find an inaccuracy in your current product information or are planning a product launch, we ask that you send all product information as soon as possible. This will allow SPINS to maintain the accuracy of our Product Library, and collect product information for characteristics in development that we have not previously reported on. This will add a great deal of value to your reporting.
If we do not send information now, will our products still appear in SPINS' reporting?
SPINS activates items after collecting UPC information from retailer scan data and conducting extensive product research. If manufacturers send us complete product information, we are able to expedite this process.
We currently provide ACNielsen and/or IRI all new packaging. Do we need to send the packaging to your Content Services Team as well?
Yes, it is essential that SPINS also receive product information. At this time, the companies manage product information through their own distinct processes and collection systems.
If we provide product information through membership in GS1's 1SYNC ® Data Pool or another third-party data synchronization/data warehouse, do we also need to send the packaging/product information to your Content Services Team?
Yes, because all third-party data collection services are independent of SPINS at this time, we require complete product information.