Every business is looking for reliable data nowadays. Without it, it’s impossible to succeed. But in a region as dynamic and diverse as Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), data alone won’t guarantee your success. What matters more is local insight. Understanding what numbers really mean, what drives behavior behind responses, and how culture, language, and history shape consumer thinking is a must.
At Stratega CEE, local expertise is the core of our services. Since launching in Poland in 2011, we’ve completed more than 1800 market research projects and worked across markets like Romania, Czechia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and more. By the end of 2025, we expect to surpass 2000 projects which will be a testament to our regional presence and hands-on methodology.
We believe market research is simple and doable. But first, you need to produce meaningful insights, and to be where the people are – on the ground, in the language, and inside their culture.
CEE: A Region of Shared Borders, Not Shared Behaviors
CEE is not one market. It’s a variety of markets. Each has its own language, history, economic structure, and consumer mindset.
In Central and Eastern Europe subtle distinctions matter. For instance:
- A product feature valued in Czechia might be ignored in Bulgaria.
- Ad messaging that works in Hungary might seem tone-deaf in Poland.
- Trust in brands, reactions to pricing, or adoption of new technology vary dramatically even between neighboring countries.
Treating CEE as a monolith leads to missed opportunities by market misunderstanding. That’s why businesses need local insight, not just generic data or regional averages. Understanding what makes each market unique is what will guarantee your next successful decision-making process.
Stratega’s Advantage: Built From the Ground Up
Unlike agencies that approach local markets from a central hub, Stratega CEE was born in the region. We started in Poland, but we quickly realized that we had to embed ourselves across CEE if we wanted to truly deliver high-quality market research.
Today, Stratega operates with fully staffed teams in:
- Warsaw (HQ)
- Bucharest
- Prague
Our researchers aren’t just fluent in the local language. They’re fluent in the local context. They understand market rhythms, how to ask the right questions, how people actually answer, and how to decode the meaning behind the words.
We don’t just translate surveys. We adapt research to market realities to ensure relevance and accuracy in every location we work.
Local Teams = Local Trust
What sets us apart isn’t only where we work. It’s who we work with! Our team includes experienced local moderators, field managers, analysts, and sector specialists.
When we run a project in Czechia, a Czech team leads it. When we work in Romania, we rely on our Romanian colleagues with deep knowledge of the market. This structure ensures that:
- Recruitment reaches the right profiles, even in hard-to-reach groups
- Focus groups feel natural and are culturally sensitive
- Surveys use appropriate language and tone
- Reports reflect true interpretation, not just surface-level summaries
Clients receive results they can trust, because they come from people who know the ground.
The Hidden Costs of Centralized Research
Some global brands choose to conduct CEE research from afar with headquartered in London or Berlin, compiling results centrally. It may seem efficient but it often leads to problems such as:
- Lost nuance in translation
- Generic insights that miss market-specific trends
- Inconsistent quality across markets
- Delayed timelines due to miscommunication or data volume
Stratega CEE solves this by providing end-to-end coordination with local execution. Our regional model offers both consistency and cultural sensitivity. There’s no disconnect between strategy and fieldwork. The people designing your study are the same ones interpreting your results.
Understanding Culture, Behavior, and Expectations beyond Language
Language is just one part of being local. True insight requires knowing how people behave, not just what they say.
For example:
- In some markets, social desirability bias is more common, people may give answers they think are expected unless the moderator builds genuine trust.
- In others, direct questioning may be uncomfortable, requiring adjusted phrasing or different stimuli to get honest responses.
- Purchase drivers, brand loyalty, price sensitivity – these are shaped not only by income level, but also by local history, advertising culture, and generational experience.
This is where Stratega’s cultural fluency adds value. We don’t just ask questions. We design research that fits the social and emotional realities of each market.
Seamless Coordination Region-Wide
When clients need projects conducted across several CEE countries, Stratega becomes a one-stop partner. Thanks to our local infrastructure, we deliver:
- Harmonized methodology across markets
- Central project management
- Localized execution and interpretation
- Unified reporting with regional and country-level analysis
Because our teams collaborate across Warsaw, Prague, and Bucharest, we avoid the delays and misunderstandings that can occur with multi-agency setups.
We also provide clients with direct access to in-market researchers, not just account managers. That means faster response times, clearer explanations, and richer insights.
Empowering Brands to Act With Confidence
Over the past 14 years, we’ve helped companies launch products, refine messaging, understand brand health, and adapt to evolving consumer expectations. Across sectors from FMCG to healthcare, finance to technology, our insights have helped businesses thrive in CEE.
Our clients value that we:
- Know which methods work best locally
- Handle fieldwork logistics and recruitment ourselves
- Bring strategic thinking and practical recommendations
- Deliver insights that are tailored to each market, not templated or guessed
The Next Five Years at Stratega
We believe local insight will only grow in importance as CEE markets continue to evolve. In the next phase of our growth, Stratega CEE is committed to:
- Expanding into more regional cities across the CEE
- Reaching 3000 projects by 2030
- Developing advanced analytics and AI-supported reporting
- Launching sector-specific research units in healthcare, fintech, and e-commerce
- Participating in global events to stay connected to international trends, like the upcoming ESOMAR Congress 2025
We’re growing while staying true to our values: quality, local expertise, and actionable insight.
Want Local Insight You Can Trust?
If you’re planning market research in CEE, don’t rely on assumptions. Rely on a team that knows the markets firsthand. At Stratega CEE, our approach is personal, precise, and proven.
👉 Learn more about our Market Research Services CEE and let’s explore how we can support your growth in the region.
See You at ESOMAR Congress 2025
We’re excited to share our expertise at the upcoming ESOMAR Congress 2025, taking place at the Prague Congress Centre from 22 to 25 September 2025. If you’re attending, let’s connect and talk about how local insight can drive better decisions in the CEE region and beyond.
