Insight Annual Round-up 2014: vouchers to be WON! 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 giftcard to spend at M&S or
~ one of four £50 giftcards for Bella Italia

In 2014, we have given away around £40,000 in prizes - mainly in the form of vouchers but also including plumbing jobs, products but also Cetraben excema cream!

The range of products you have tested and given feedback on is as varied as ever – from Miele vacs, TomTom’s Go 5000 sat nav and Microsoft's Lumia 735, Xbox One Console and Linx tablet to Barny cakes and Ambrosia mini pots!

Plus we were thrilled when Mumsnetters had help getting pregnant by participating in the Clearblue Ovulation Test with Dual Hormone Indicator product test .

We have also run some extremely popular threads, enabling you to have your say on wider political issues such as the Scottish Referendum and the Cabinet Office. And really, who would have thought porridge was SUCH an engaging topic?!

We love meeting you face to face – and giving you the chance to experiences something new – from preview screenings of Annie to the family holidays at Butlins and Haven.

And loads of you enjoyed breakfast at Bella Italia with your family and recently some of you had a ‘behind the scenes’ visit to M&S.

There was even the chance to test drive the Renault Zoe, to see the videos click here

For a chance to win one of the vouchers, please share on this thread what you have enjoyed taking part in this year, or appreciated reading about. Or tell us what you’d 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 insight 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!
AnnMumsnet, LaurelMumsnet, AngelieMumsnet, MichelleMumsnet and KathrynMumsnet.
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Highlight for me was being chosen to take part in the Pru Health Vitality trial, with gym membership, all sorts of freebies, and a day at Champneys. What a treat! It definitely kickstarted 2014.

I've loved being on the panel - from testing out mystery products (what was that amazing detangling spray???) to breast pads (ok not so glam) but most exciting (for me anyway!) was going to the preview screening of Annie. About to taste some chocolates now! Not bad eh?!

Test pens - yes, that's a very good idea! There are so many to choose from, and our dc need a constant supply of decent - but cheap! - ones.

The last 2 years (in fact, since we moved house), have been very quiet. I was feeling like the last kid left in the playground and was rarely picked for anything (except the Barny cakes).

Turns out you were saving the best for last. I am loving my steam mop. Thanks Mumsnet!

I'm sure I have tested a couple of things this year- was the Tesco uniform this year? If so, it came at the right time, as we were totally skint, so were able to get useful bits for back to school for my dds, before being bankrupted by the cost of dc's totally logoed secondary uniform. And shoes! Fabulous school shoes for dd2 that have not scuffed at all, and look as shiny as when we got them July (despite belonging to a puddle hopping 4 year old).

Uniform trials are great, I think.

Would love to win a voucher, but hasn't happened yet. .and was gutted to miss the Karcher steam cleaner trials (though I know a couple of posters who did do it, and was pleased for them.). Any other steam cleaners needing testing, my bathroom would be eternally grateful.

Vodka testing would be welcome, or any clothing for the truly short and sturdy but not necessarily petite (very different in my opinion). I'm 4ft 8, so off the proper sizing scale scale, but I have noticed more and more companies are considering a 29inch leg to be 'short' . It isn't.

Merry Christmas to you all.

I love being on the insight panel and do my best to complete all the surveys.

I was lucky enough to test a Miele dishwasher recently which was fantastic timing as our previous dishwasher was about to give up the ghost. The whole experience was good, from the banter on the thread with other testers to the lovely Miele delivery guys who fitted the dishwasher for us. Filming the feedback was moderately embarrassing but quite funny (especially for DH).

My other favourite product test was the CEWE photo book... Really lovely product.

Looking forward to more in 2015. I'm due DC3 in 2 days so will hopefully get a chance to test some baby products

I've had a bit of a manic year and i don't think I've signed up to as much. i got picked once for bt parental controls, i can't remember if it was this year or last bit ended up not doing it as i couldn't find the time so I scaled back the things i signed up for after that. i have this year done the tomtom which was good.

i enjoy product tests, especially when it is something that slots in to everyday life and smaller things that involve the family, thinking about stuff I've had in past years, nappies, laundry detergent and breakfast biscuits have been things the whole family has been able to have an opinion on. That isn't to say we don't like the bigger more expensive ones .i feel quite privileged to have been able to try things i wouldn't normally be able to afford like the tomtom and in a previous year the phone I'm tapping away on right now.

surveys i find a bit hit and miss, there seems to have been a lot about branding and how you rate this or that brand for stuff and if you have seen adverts and where and all that gubbins and frankly the answer is usually "i don't have a clue" and i end up closing the survey before I've finished. They are also often quite badly written which annoys me when i spend quite a lot of my time on research methodology and how to put together a questionnaire! discussions can be difficult, i end up feeling like i have to devote the time to read the thread so i don't repeat what others are saying and then i feel like i have to come back to it. But i do appreciate the opportunity for discussion and it is nice to have it in the open where we can read what others think and engage in debate so it is good, just perhaps lower on my own priority list right now.

I do like the chance to try stuff out, not sure how much of what I've done is panel stuff and how much is open to the wider mn but it is nice to participate when i can. Here's to 2015 and what it may bring.

Well I can't complain this year I've had some blinders. I've missed out on some cool stuff too though - my resolution for next year is to check the site more often for tests. My absolute favourite has been my Tassimo coffee machine - I use it almost every day mmmm lattes :) My Cewe photobook was another highlight, what a lovely product, and another favourite has been the Cif express to floor - such a cheap product test, just thought I might as well, but it has saved me hours! Am never without a bottle now. I am still pleased with how well it cleans every time I use it. Maybe a product test for next year could be getting me a hobby?

I loved the products I got in the mystery product test, and I liked feeling that I was really testing something, rather than being asked to say how great it was (although the products I've had are great of course :) ) - I am now frustrated though! My lovely moisturising bubble bath is gone and the oil spray won't last forever!! I want to know what they are!! What will I do with DCs skin afterwards??

fRaah I'm with you - more alcohol next year please!

Only discovered MN panel this year after winning a £50 voucher in Jan - and I LOVE IT! Highlights have been the YouView box which we love and has settled down and got even more reliable since I posted the review and the Farrow & Ball project which means I've got my finger out and decluttered/redecorated the spare room rather than leave it for another 2 years.

I'd like to try a cleaning service, family meals out and hear about decent holiday destinations for families withs kids of all ages, particularly abroad.

Niggle

I loved being part of the TomTom and Bella Italia trials this year. Whenever I buy something new I always read the reviews, particularly on MN, so it was great to be able to help out. We'll be buying a new car in 2015 so a test drive or two would be most appreciated

I enjoyed the TomTom 5000 product test, everyone gave lengthy I depth feedback, there were even a few testers who lived near by who were testing the device on the same roads as I did so that was interesting.

I enjoyed talking about what made a family holiday special and how to cope while you are away with small children.
Sometimes I don't post but I read masses of threads and I'm always heartened by the sense of community on Mumsnet and the humour and resilience of posters.
I've read posts where I laughed and cried wishing the same paragraph ( and we should always remember paragraphs because a long post is almost impossible to read on a tablet or mobile phone if it's all in one big solid mass )

I'm looking forward to joining in with more sponsored discussions and product test 2015, I've enjoyed them all this year from the TomTom to the Tena's........I haven't experienced a 'day out' to test/try out something as yet as they tend to be in or around London. It I remain hopeful. Thanks Mumsnet, keep up the sterling work

Haven't trialled anything yet - fingers crossed for next year - but have enjoyed doing surveys and hearing about products I wouldn't otherwise have noticed. Oh, and I've had a couple of free books which is always a bonus!

I think the last one we did was the vitamins , was that even 2014? Applied for a few others but not successful and several weren't relevant or accessible. Fun to be involved though.

i got to try some great baby products with my DD2 which was fun. Thank you Mumsnet!

I was lucky enough to get a fabulous trip to Frankfurt to visit thePampers factory . It was a really interesting experience the test babies were adorable and the lie in sans dc was amazing so thank you very much Mumsnet .

I have loved all the products I've tested related to my new baby, this has included the Milton steriliser and tena pads!
I'd love to see opportunities to test/review/answer questions on and read about useful appliances, new products related to mother and baby/toddler and I'm currently taking part in using the barclays homeowner app which is great to find out about. Without the panel opportunities I wouldn't have found out about it.

Thank you and all the best to all for the coming new year :-)

I didn't know there was a panel, but have signed up now.

I have trialled the Tom Tom and think that was brilliant. Have also completed a couple of surveys as well. I only see those that are on active conversations though.

Looking forward to 2015 to see if there are any extra product tests I can do that aren't offered to outside the panel. Feel like it is a secret club or something.

Agree that it would be good to trial places that are in other areas than London. Living in the NE, its a bit of a trek (not to mention the price) to get to London. I do love London though so if travel costs could be negotiated, that would be good. Or maybe we could trial the Train companies so I can have a day out in London. Sorry just musing now. As you were.

merry christmas its been a pleasure to participate in surveys also it was great to test the flora gold product and give my feedback on it i recall winning a voucher earlier in the year would be nice to test a larger product next year

It was great to test the Xbox one, Lumix tablet and the Lumia phone, all three are great and as Apple users a delightful insight to the other side - Windows!

I have also been lucky enough to receive a Dyson for testing, which was interesting but the Miele and Sebo still reign supreme!

I did several months of lengthy surveys on the chocolate testing but failed to win a voucher for faithfully responding in recorded time. I didn't think there was that many of us on the chocolate panel so was ever hopeful. The voucher would have been better than the not so nice chocolate!

I really appreciate all the opportunities and will continue to enter, thank you again for the fab Microsoft package, delivered 24 hours after being picked- wow!

I contributed to the walnut whip discussion and have been desperate to taste one ever since. But, every M&S I've been to hasn't had any in stock . But, I did win a £100 M&S voucher for my comments, so if I ever do find a store, that equates to a lot of walnut whips . Thank you mumsnet.

mylife has changed quite a bit recently and im often tempted togo on a singles holiday id ove to to look into options for a single woman traveller stories.tips advice . also id love to look at more eco friendly products cleaning household etc, we all need to be more eco friendly these days, i really enoy reading te review they r honest and by real people . the comps r also great and i enjoy the book reviews although more poetry wouldbe nice. keep up the good work. its also very engaging

I loved the Crewe photo book product test! Would absolutely love the chance for more pregnancy and conception trials similar to the clearblue one as we are currently trying for another baby

I love being part of the panel and was lucky enough to be picked for the Pampers Germany trip last January. It was one of the highlights of my year. I would love to take part in some of the family activity based days, such as the cruise ship day, if they could be made available in Scotland. Thank you MNHQ.