Opinion et stratégies d'entreprises Consumer Services Santé Media et numérique Luxe

Since 1938

1938 - 2013 : IFOP AS A REFLECTION OF ITS ERA FOR 75 YEARS

Did you know?

With its first estimations for the 1965 presidential election, Ifop announced General de Gaulle's second round result, confirming voting intentions during the presidential campaign. In contrast, during the 1974 election neither Ifop nor Sofres was able to announce results of the second round in the early evening as voting for Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and François Mitterand was so close.

Look at this column regularly to discover anecdotes from the past related by Ifop experts….

THE 1930s

Jean Stoetzel, professor of Social Psychology at the Sorbonne, leaves for the United States. There he meets Georges Gallup and comes to realise the necessity for greater awareness among companies and administrative and political institutions of the needs and motivations of the various players on the economic and social scene. On his return to Paris he created l'Institut Français d'Opinion Publique on the 1st December 1938. Ifop was born.

Our heritage is academic and entrepreneurial, French and American. It is a happy mix of methodological rigour and intuition worthy of business management.

FROM THE OUTSET IFOP PARTICIPATES IN CONTEMPORARY FRENCH HISTORY

By "re-inventing" the word "sondage"/survey (term previously reserved for oceanographers and geologists). 
By conducting surveys on the most serious political issues: "Are you prepared to die for Dantzig?" 
By proposing tools essential for development of the consumer society of the 50s and 60s. Standards still in vigour today for audience estimation and advertising studies were elaborated and defined by Ifop. Ifop has retained its pioneer spirit. We enjoy inventing, discovering, clarifying. For over 70 years Ifop has been a privileged witness of its age. The company embodies the world it has observed and studied. That is why our view of what surrounds us is unlike any other; it is broad and embraces all horizons.

KEY DATES IN IFOP'S HISTORY

  • 2012

    Creation of Ifop Beauty, beauty expertise developped by the Luxury & Consumer departments

  • 2010

    Creation of Ifop Strategic Planning department, specialized in innovation

  • 1996

    Opening of ifop office in Shangai, which becomes Ifop Asia

  • 1999

    Ifop acquires Canada Market research and consumer vision become Ifop North America

  • 2000

    Ifop acquires Asecom which becomes Ifop Latin América

  • 1947

    Ifop founding member of Gallup international

  • 1974

    Ifop launches and coordiantes the very first eurobameter studies across Europe

  • 2008

    New president – company regrouped in 6 divisions.

  • 1998

    Ifop conducts a major study on the place of women in French society. A summary report presented by Laurence Parisot in the presence of Hillary Clinton.

  • 1993

    First study on preparing for switch to the Euro by Mission Rocard. It concluded in the absolute necessity for a period of transition.

  • 1991

    Ifop participates with its Gallup partner in a major survey of the environment in 40 countries.

  • 1988

    The “presidoscope”, published by Libération, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques, enables definition of a precise “switchers” profile on the eve of the presidential election.

  • 1983

    Ifop conducts the first exit poll in partnership with RTL, interviewing voters as they leave the voting booth.

  • June 1973

    At the request of Antar and in collaboration with RTL, the first half-hourly predictions of holiday departures and the state of traffic congestion on the roads.

  • June 1970

    National survey on sexuality among the French to be used as a basis for the Simon Report.

  • 1968

    For the first time in France a typology is established for a study of the market for a bottom-of-the-range car, introduction of the “seen & read” method for estimating audiences

  • March 1967

    Ifop conducts the first study among children to understand their influence on purchases made by their parents

  • 1965

    Ifop announces on Europe 1 that General de Gaulle continues to the 2nd round of the presidential election as first round voting closes in the evening. Ifop gives a first

  • 1961

    First systematic survey on the impact of advertising in magazines.

  • 1958

    1958 First survey in West Africa: a production company commissions a study of French women and love for a big budget film.

  • 1956

    First use of factorial analysis by computer (IBM 704) for analysis and processing of data for a study of consumption of alcoholic drinks.

  • 1951

    Jean Stoetzel instigates a major Ifop study on the French and temporal pressure: stress before its time!

  • 1949

    First measurements of radio audience

  • 1947

    Launch of first “omnibus” studies: Ifop represents France in the Gallup international network.

  • September 1944

    First post-war study with questions on francs-tireurs, FFI, the role of the Resistance, and who would arrive first in Berlin.

  • August 1939

  • December 1938

    Jean Stoetzel, founder of Ifop, adopts the word “sondage” (survey) for designating sample surveys. Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet claims paternity of the technique.

  • October 1938

    Ifop conducts the first opinion poll in France : “Should we die for Dantzig?”