In-Home Use Test and Product Placement

Best forFood, drink, beauty, personal and household products

DesignsMonadic, sequential and paired comparison tests

LogisticsProduct coding, delivery, washouts and returns

You receiveDiary and recall data, compliance notes and clean files

People judge products at home, over days, in their own routine. Research and Metric runs in-home use tests and product placement research that capture that real experience, from recruiting the right category users to collecting recall data.

We handle the logistics that make or break a product test: blind coding, delivery, usage instructions, washouts and reminders.

A courier handing a plain, unbranded product parcel to a smiling man at his front door — Products arrive blind-coded with simple usage instructions.

What our product tests include

Recruitment of category and brand users to your quotas
Blind coding, packing and delivery of test products
Monadic, sequential and paired comparison designs
Online diaries, recall surveys and follow-up focus groups
Central location taste tests through face-to-face fieldwork

A man filling in a product diary on his phone in a bright bathroom — Diaries and short recalls capture use as it happens.

How we keep product tests on track

A product test is only valid if people use the product as intended.

Clear usage instructions in the local language
Usage and compliance checks during the test
Managed washout periods between products
Reminders that protect retention across multi-week tests
Replacement of drop-outs within quota

How an in-home use test runs

DesignWe agree the test design, products, quotas and timings.
RecruitmentCategory users are screened and confirmed.
PlacementCoded products are delivered with instructions.
Use and diariesParticipants use the product and record their experience.
Recall and deliveryRecall surveys, checks and clean data files.

Related projects

See this work in practice: a sequential in-home shampoo test and an in-home usage test for a snack range.

Why agencies choose Research and Metric

Product logistics handled for you
Strong retention on multi-week tests
Blind coding and compliance checks
ESOMAR-aligned processes and GDPR-compliant data handling

Frequently asked questions

What is an in-home use test?

An in-home use test, or IHUT, places a product with consumers to use at home for a set period, then captures their experience through diaries and surveys.

Can you run sequential tests with several products?

Yes. We manage the order, blind coding and washout periods so each product is judged fairly.

Do you handle product delivery?

Yes. We pack, code and deliver products, and can collect unused product at the end of the test.

How do you make sure people actually use the product?

We give clear instructions, run usage checks during the test and follow up with reminders and recall questions.

Product Placement and In-Home Use Tests