Smith Hanley Associates’ team shares their Quirk’s NY 2025 recap, highlighting industry innovations, meaningful connections, and memorable moments.
The Quirk’s Event
Wow!! This year’s Quirk’s New York Event did not disappoint in the slightest.
Smith Hanley Associates’ Lindsey Bartlett, Daniel Wilberschied and Pierson Wofford were at the Javits Center on July 23rd and 24th, soaking up every aspect of the conference.
From gaining new insights at the informative sessions to chatting with so many of the 130+ exhibitors, our schedules were non-stop in the best way possible.
For our team, the chance to reconnect with old friends and spark new connections with potential clients is what makes Quirk’s Events so valuable year after year.
Read below for a Quirk’s NY 2025 recap from each member of the Research & Insights team.
Our Quirk’s NY 2025 Recap
Lindsey Bartlett
Quirk’s NYC was such a breath of fresh air! A few sessions especially stuck with me and have been bouncing around in my head ever since.
The GoodQues team totally blew me away. Their passion for crafting the most creative, thought-provoking research questions is next-level. Their session was a powerful reminder that great insights start with great questions, and they’ve clearly got that down to an art. These women are true trailblazers, always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in research. I walked out of their talk buzzing with ideas.
Finch Brands also delivered a standout session. Their new AI-based tool really showcased how fast the industry is moving. “Knowledge empowerment” isn’t just a trendy phrase, it’s genuinely reshaping how we work. AI doesn’t feel so scary anymore, though it’s clear a lot of folks are still trying to find their angle on it.
I was so excited to be invited to take part in a presentation by Rep Data called “Outsmart the Fraudster: The Data Quality Game.” It was beyond cool to be able to get up on stage in front of a crowd and learn about battling survey fraud. Shoutout Steven Snell!
Highlight of the trip? Honestly… the smell of NYC in the summer (kidding, but only sort of). It’s hard to believe this event only lasts two days, because the inspiration and takeaways feel like they’ll stick with me for weeks.
Mental note for next time: download the event app before you get there to avoid sprinting between sessions. Oh, and leave a little extra room in your suitcase- there’s a lot of swag!
Daniel Wilberschied
Attending Quirk’s Events is always a reminder of why I love being part of the market research industry. This year, specifically, I walked away with a renewed appreciation for the industry’s resilience.
The conversations throughout the event echoed a common theme: we’re in a period of rapid transformation. From concerns around data quality and fraud to the continued rise of AI, it’s no doubt that the headwinds are real.
However, despite these hurdles, there remains a steady flow of confidence. It’s confidence that this industry will meet these challenges head-on, thanks to its collaborative spirit and creative thinking.
The people whom I connected with were wholeheartedly focused on what’s next and how we can get there together. It’s this optimism, innovation, and camaraderie that keeps me inspired in this field.
Of course, no conference recap would be complete without a few favorites. The Quirk’s Karaoke Night was an absolute blast! I also wanted to give a quick shoutout to the Bolt Insight booth for the squirrel claw game, and to Pure Spectrum for a Build-A-Bear that was a great gift to bring home to my two kiddos.
Until next time, Quirk’s!
Pierson Wofford
Quirk’s NYC this past week was an absolute blast! It was such a good time catching up with old colleagues and meeting a ton of new, interesting folks.
Earlier this year, I saw some uncertainty floating around about where the industry was headed… but that vibe has totally shifted. At Quirk’s, I felt a wave of renewed optimism from exhibitors, speakers, and clients alike. The energy was contagious.
Highlight of the trip? Karaoke night. No contest.
There’s nothing better than seeing buttoned-up professionals completely let their hair down and belt it out. People were singing their hearts out like they were auditioning for “The Voice” (and honestly, some of them probably could’ve made it).
It was one of those perfect nights where everyone just got to be themselves and have a great time.
Finally, here are a few reminders that really stuck with me:
- AI is here to stay. You should embrace it.
- Faster doesn’t always mean better. Speed is great, but strategy wins.
- Being a good human costs $0. Kindness still, and always will, matter.
I’m already looking forward to the next one. Let’s keep the momentum going!
The Karaoke Party
Our group at Smith Hanley Associates was fortunate to be able to co-sponsor what many consider to be the most exciting networking event of the week. Historically, the Opening Night Karaoke Party is a major hit, and this year was no different!
Karaoke was held at Stout NYC: a venue with a lively and intimate atmosphere that easily prompted new connections and genuine conversations.
Thankfully, there was no shortage of entertaining performances. From Sabrina Carpenter to Radiohead, every genre was covered and nobody could take their eyes off the stage.
Those who had the courage to perform in front of 100+ people were awarded a funny t-shirt from SHA. And for everyone else, we dispersed koozies with comical sayings that gained popularity quickly.
We also hosted a giveaway: a practical and trendy weekender bag from CALPAK. Congrats to Kira Williamson from Miix Analytics for winning the bag! We hope it serves you well.
That’s all for our Quirk’s NY 2025 recap, thanks for following along!
If you missed us at the event, or if you’re interested in getting in touch with leading executive recruiters in the market research & consumer insights space, reach out to Lindsey Bartlett at lbartlett@smithhanley.com.
