Since our founding in 1938, ORC International (formerly Opinion Research Corporation) has innovatively built our foundation through a continual expansion of methods, business issues and vertical expertise, technologies, capabilities and insights.
ORC International Milestones:
1938 |
Opinion Research Corporation is founded by Dr. Claude Robinson, a pioneering figure in market research and the original Director of the Gallup Poll. |
1938 |
Check received from first client—Sears & Roebuck—for a survey conducted in Cleveland. |
1945 |
Conducts first-ever employee research program for General Motors Corporation. |
1963 |
First general public CARAVAN® omnibus survey launches; still the longest continuously running omnibus survey in the United States. |
1975 |
Joins the Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASRO) as a founding member. |
1991 |
Purchased by its management team from Arthur D. Little. |
1992 |
Expands into the UK with the acquisition of Research by Telephone in London. |
1993 |
Continues UK expansion with the acquisition of Gordon Simmons Research in London; IPO made in October. |
1994 |
European Information Center opens in London. |
1995 |
Opens Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. |
2006 |
Acquired by Omaha-based marketing services firm infoGROUP. |
2007 |
Forms partnership with CNN on the CNN/Opinion Research Poll, conducting national, speech reaction, state and flash/overnight polls for the world’s most trusted name in news. |
2007 |
Acquires NWC Research in Melbourne, Australia, our new regional headquarters in the Asia Pacific region. |
2007 |
Acquires Northwest Research Group in Boise, ID. |
2007 |
infoGROUP acquires research firm Guideline, Inc. (consolidation of research firms: FIND, Atlantic Research, Teltech, Signia Partners) with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis and Washington, DC. |
2008 |
Guideline Inc. joins forces with Opinion Research Corporation as ORC Guideline. |
2011 |
Company formally changes name worldwide to ORC International.
Divests from infoGROUP and returns to independent status in partnership with Lake Capital. |