Insight Annual Round-up thread 2015: chances to win!NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

The time has come for the insight team at MNHQ to do our annual round up of the year, to plead for those of you not yet on our panel to sign up and to thank you all for taking part in some amazing projects this year!


(In case you don't know insight covers surveys, product events, product tests and sponsored threads on MN, as well as bloggers reviews, and reviewers recruitment)

Read on for the chance to win...
~ A £100 Mitchells & Butlers dining out gift card or
~ A £50 giftcard to spend at M&S or
~ A selection of the new range of Bassetts Vitamins worth over £15 and tailored to you and your family's needs or
~ One of 20 chances to win a Cadbury’s selection box

In 2015, we have given away over £40,000 in prizes - mainly in the form of vouchers but also products including iPad minis, a van full of mini milks, a year's supply of ASDA Little Angels nappies, and excursions such as a family ticket to the Harry Potter studio, an annual family membership to Historic Royal Palaces, and a 7-night camping holiday!

The range of products you have tested and given feedback on is as varied as ever – from Miele tumble dryers and vacuum cleaners, Kenwood kCook food processors, Snazaroo facepaint to Bear Paws and Anchor butter!

We have also run some extremely popular threads, enabling you to have your say on a varied range of topics from the things you let your kids get away with when they’re poorly, to your child’s rapper name, and your ideal celebrity cinema buddy! Recently, the issue of real or fake Christmas trees stirred great debate amongst you Mumsnetters.

We love meeting you face to face – and giving you the chance to experience something new – from a crash course on all things digital with Barclays' Digital Driving License, to a children’s shoe fitting experience with Brantano. Many of you put the new kids' menu at Café Rouge with your family to the MN test.

There was even the chance to test drive the SEAT Alhambra, to see the videos click , as well as visit Thorpe Park again this year.

And ta-da can you spot our new insight ads on this thread, unveiled for the first time? Look out for them across MN in the future.

For a chance to win one of the prizes, please share on this thread what you have enjoyed taking part in this year, or appreciated reading about. Or tell us what you’d like to product test next year?

Most of the product tests are on site but we also do a lot of projects with our lovely (and fast growing) insight research panel, as well as often giving them the heads up about the latest things and chances to win on site. If you are not yet on our panel please do sign up now. You can select how often you get emailed and you can leave at any time if it’s not for you.

Thanks as ever for your time and feedback - all very much welcome

Happy Christmas! [santa]
AnnMumsnet, FreyaMumsnet, AngelieMumsnet, and ZaneMumsnet.

[IrritableBitchSyndrome]

I would be interested in testing tech products, and avoiding chocolate!

[loosechange]

The family favourite will be the Cadburys Christmas bauble test. These were a big hit.

I found the Kaspersky trial interesting, and the Barclays digital driving license very helpful.

I mourned over not being selected for a tumble drier!

One thought - it seems you are increasingly wanting video footage for testing products. Whilst I appreciate the company might like this, my anonymity is one of things I value on MN, and I would be loathe to loose this, however good the product test.

Thanks for all the tests though, I get a kick out of them!

Happy Christmas

[HairsprayQueen]

I always enjoy reading the Thorpe Park threads, DS was a tiny bit too short this year so hopefully it will be back in 2016!

I was also really pleased to win some vouchers on a Bassetts vitamin thread this year, it prompted me to finally buy a new tumble dryer which has made life so much easier so thank you for that

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

My particular favourite was the BBC questionnaire, because it gave me the chance to express my strong feelings about BBC radio and its importance.

I also enjoyed getting the chance to feed back about the McDonalds adverts.

[whohasnickedmyvodka]

I'm really enjoying product testing my breast pump at the moment :) :) :)

[iwantavuvezela]

I was lucky enough to get tickets to Thorpe park, my daughter still rates this as her best day ever, and it has reached the status of a Christmas like experience. This is probably not something I would have done if not picked.
I also got picked for Brantano, it was fun having a voucher and telling my daughter she could choose whatever she wanted! She looked at me dubiously as she is used to me recommending sensible choices! And then I applied for snazaroo as was having a Halloween party and my children and friends absolutely love face paint.
So a mixed bag, I only apply for something I genuinely think I, or my family would like to try out. I am honest in my feedback and feel grateful to be chosen as it feels like winning a prize! I do answer your surveys though and where possible will give feedback and my opinions as I value research.

I had hoped to test run a tumble dryer, never had one before, but read the thread about it.

I agree with the PP who said about making videos, I am not comfortable with this, and value my anomie you on the forum, and don't want to post pics of me and my family. This has sometimes made me not apply for a prudent test.

[elpth]

I've applied for a few things unsuccessfully in the past but got lucky recently, thank you! First with the Cadbury panel (though nowt to come of that yet and looking forward to what comes up next year), then Cadbury's baubles and an Avent breast pump (the rest of the family weren't so keen to help test that one for some reason!).
I've enjoyed the tests I've done and will definitely try to do more in future, thank you!

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

I've tested a couple of things, agree with the video testing- would maybe do one that didn't feature myself or my family members (but it might be a bit of a dull watch!!)

I am always impartial when I review and it's quite refreshing not to be censored/ignored if something isn't hitting the mark.

[AnnMumsnet]

Re: the video elements, we often only need some of the testers to do video for us with a product test. Please don't let it put you off applying. Sometimes, I guess for high value items mainly, we would need all testers to make the video. Appreciate the feedback though!

[Whyisitsodifficult]

I was lucky enough to be part of the Valspar paint testing which was great, and let me try a product I probably would have never picked before. Also on the Cadbury Insight panel (still waiting for that) but did receive the Cadbury Chocolate baubles (yum)! It is very exciting getting an email from MN saying you've been chosen or won something. For future trials I'd love to test out a 5 star hotel, holiday abroad, day at a spa! Or maybe something a bit more down to earth like make up or cleaning products! A good one would be a secret shopper type experience to test out customer service in certain stores.

[PeaceLoveAndMincePies]

I loved testing the Pampers nappies - so much so that we use them above any others now!

[axlbaby]

We've been really lucky this year and done lots of testing. Cafe Rouge was probably a highlight. We had a lovely meal out. The girls have enjoyed the cadburys baubles and snazeroo face point the most I think! Look forward to more in the New Year!

[TheBestChocolateIsFree]

We just did the baubles this year - lots of the other stuff wasn't a good fit for us for whatever reason. However I won a couple of decent prizes elsewhere on the site so I'm still happy
Tech stuff is always good to test. I'm a sucker for kitchen/household stuff, and the DC like testing food.

[CopperPan]

I've not been lucky enough to be chosen for a product test, but I've been fortunate to win vouchers in one of the prize draws. I was quite envious of those who were picked to test a Miele tumble dryer or dishwasher!

I also wouldn't want to share photos or videos of myself online, but I might be fine with taking photos/videos where my/my children's faces wouldn't appear.

[StillNoFuckingEyeDeer]

We were lucky enough to be dejected for the Brantano test. The girls loved getting new shoes & I loved not having to pay for them! I was very impressed with the store - we'd never been before. I'll definitely be visiting there again to buy shoes.

I would've loved to test the tumble dryer or food processor. Right now I'd love to test a fridge, since ours appears to be dying.

Like a lot of others, I'm reluctant to lose my anonymity by making a video, but I love being part of the product tests and sharing my opinions.

Thank you.

[wannabestressfree]

Although I am not a winner of 'stuff' I get picked a lot for the experiences.... My sons rave about watching films and going out and leaving feedback :) they feel like employees of mumsnet....
It's a five minute job to fill in some details and in an increasing focus led age we should say what's important and what needs looking at...... I like being part of insight :)

[CheeseAtFourpence]

The Brantano test was fab for us. New shoes and not having to pay for them! We had such a good time doing that one. We were also lucky to be picked for the Bassets vitamins which DD loved too - they are now a daily ritual for her.

We love testing new things - in the new year anything food related would be good or a new washing machine (mines squeaking!).

Thanks for choosing us!

[Wilberforce2]

Cafe Rouge was definitely the best one for us, we don't eat out a great deal so it was really lovely to be given the chance and the food was great. I also tested the Babylon App and my daughter chose to get ill that very weekend and it was a real help! I also did nappies and a couple of others. I love testing out stuff for the kids but selfishly would like another for me as Cafe Rouge was a real treat

[babster]

The whole family enjoyed testing the Cadburys baubles. The kids enjoy being asked their opinion, and it's empowering for them to see that their view influences things (letting them see they should speak up, vote, get involved, be a critical consumer).

[anonooo]

I like politics and policy driven stuff, rather than more cheap advertising for companies. Though of course it is nice when you get to try out and even keep a nice product, I love it all really. Keep it coming. I get to do things with the family I wouldn't normally.

[BornToFolk]

KidZania was definitely the highlight this year. DS had a brilliant time and we were so well looked after. I would never have been able to afford to take him and I'm so grateful for the opportunity.

We also really enjoyed cooking with Anchor butter and the Snazaroo Facepaints.

I'd love to do another day out or experience next year but we really enjoy everything we get a chance to test so just keep it coming please!

[allthingsred]

It's do exciting getting the emails to say you've been picked.
We've been picked to review a few books & was lucky to win in a thread of a product review this year. Which was amazing.
The tech/household appliances stuff would be fab to get a chance to test.
Although my kids are all looking forward to the Cadbury test!

[WowOoo]

I enjoyed the 0.25% of the chocolate baubles I ate. Thanks!

My youngest son enjoyed the book we had. We never get brand new books, so it was a real treat and also a fantastic read.

I agree with others about doing videos. I'm not too keen and so don't think my chances of being chosen are very high for a lot of things.

[coffeeisnectar]

I've reviewed two books which I enjoyed immensely and dd did a pets at home workshop. There has,been no announcement of a winner on that thread yet so still keeping my fingers crossed for a voucher!

I'd love to review more books next year, I'm going to be spending months recuperating from major surgery so a book would help.

[purplepandas]

I have been lucky this year too with the Brantano shoes, Cadbury's baubles and the internet safety programme. I have also taken part in lots of competitions and enjoyed that. My DD enjoyed taking part in the Miffy competition but was pestering me for ages about whether she won or not (MN extended the deadline eventually).

I have also reviewed some fab books and really enjoy this aspect of MN. It means that I review a wide range of books which is always good in terms of trying new things.