How will companies change the way they do Market Research to cope with the economy downturn?

I consider companies will focus on their most important objectives:

1st - Increasing sales in their profitable market segments

2nd- Retaining their most profitable customers.

In this way, as the recession moves on, the budget for market research will focus on understanding those market segments and their current clientes much better.

The market research must help the contractor to maximise their efforts in the short term, I mean that the data and information provided in market research reports needs to represent an opportunity to act now aiming the future of the organisation. The report must help sell products now, retain clients now, create opportunities to referrals now and support innovative processes.

Fabio