Indicia is an ethnography consulting firm that conducts in-depth research on energy and sustainability issues for clients through qualitative research methods like interviews and fieldwork. They focus on helping organizations understand customer behaviors and needs to reduce costs and increase satisfaction. Indicia's team of anthropologists have extensive experience conducting large-scale research projects for governments, non-profits, and businesses. They prioritize transparent and partnership-based work delivered on time and on budget.

1. Ethnography for your
business

2. “It is time to start thinking critically
about culture when designing
products, programs, and services. “
- Susan Mazur Stommen, Founder of
Indicia

3. Intro Humans, behavior,
sustainability
Indicia is the only consulting firm that addresses energy and other sustainability issues on
a large scale ethnographically. We have teams of trained ethnographers conducting in-
depth research on issues related to energy and sustainability.
Our solutions and recommendations arrive in the form of behavioral understandings and
insights, grounded in proper research, both from reviewing the literature and our own
novel fieldwork. The end result can be thought of as a form of ‘enriched analysis.’
More and more, larger organizations are starting to understand the importance of
ethnographic data. One of our goals is to assist small to medium enterprises to access the
tools of anthropology.
We only focus on issues/projects we’re good and passionate about

4. PROBLEM
Decision-makers who forgo the
richness of qualitative data are
missing an opportunity to make a
connection with their customers.
They can thus easily lose touch
with the communities they serve.
Simultaneously, they lose out on a
key strategy to beat out larger,
better funded competitors who can
field a vast array of products or
services but lack close customer
relationships.
The use of ethnography cuts out
guesswork around product and program
offerings.
Anthropologists do a better job of
understanding exactly what customers
want and why.
Ethnographic research reduces waste
and cost to the decision-maker, while
also increasing the likelihood of
customer satisfaction.
SOLUTION

5. PROJECTS
We conduct research for a
variety of clients, including
state governments, federal
agencies, corporations, and
NGOs.
We synthesize research,
and use it to reach it new
audiences, informing
strategy, and sharpening
insights.
We communicate results
across forums from
conferences to social
media, striving for thought
leadership!
WHAT WE DO
Design research
Execute surveys
Hold focus groups
Organize user testing
Interview consumers
Conduct workshops
Deliver white Papers
Present at conferences
Review technical papers
Steer program committees
WE ALSO
Develop websites
Manage social media
presence
Produce publications
Present webinars
Write blogs
Produce content
Give press interviews
Manage large grants
Participate on panels
Plan events
Handle product launches

6. Client Relations True partnerships
Our customers prefer to work with us because we are right there with them during
the actual process, explaining our moves and incorporating them into the team’s
fabric. Our clients tend to be environmentally focused, dealing with new technology,
or operating in new spaces. Bosch Thermotechnology (geothermal), Embertec (Tier2
APS), and IQ Energy (LEDs) are good examples.
We encourage former and existing clients to participate in new projects we develop,
which leads to a mutually beneficial outcome that leads to an overall better result.
Not only do we keep in touch, we refer their services whenever possible. Our clients
are our partners and we want to ensure their welfare.

7. Core Values
We bring in projects on time. Deadlines are sacred to us.
We bring in projects on budget. Our motto is, “You can always come in under budget!”
We offer realistic, even conservative scopes. If we commit to it, we can do it.
We are transparent about what we can and cannot, or will and will not, do for you.
We have bandwidth: in 18 months we managed 44 client deliverables, or one every
two weeks!
Our work is theoretically and methodically grounded. It is of peer-review quality.
We can also partner as a non-profit or as a WOSB in the Federal contracting process

8. Competition We don’t have any
There is a lack of high quality, qualitative data/research methods geared towards
small to medium enterprise. Many marketers who offer ‘ethnography’ are not
trained in anthropology, and do not have the depth of theoretical perspective or
methodological training we have. We like to say that all research begins with
theory!
There is a dearth of anthropological consultants who focus on exclusively on
energy and sustainability. Most ethnographers tend to not have specializations
and act instead as general consultants. Similarly, there are consulting firms which
handle environmental topics but have no qualitative methodology bench.
Finally, even if you find the rare bird that has both sets of strengths; the likelihood
that they have secured and managed large municipal, state, regional, and federal
projects is very slim.

9. Milestones
1995
2006
2009
2011-2014
2014
2015
2016
“An examination
of Iranian
American
Marriage
Models” uses
Ethnographic
Decision Tree
Modeling
“Engines of
Ideology”
published ;
Indicia
Consulting
Founded
Pivot to energy
from built
environment;
Cool
Communities
project with
LBNL
Director of
Behavior and
Human
Dimensions,
ACEEE
Reboots Indicia
Consulting; Joins
Goucher College
as faculty in new
Environmental
Studies
Graduate
Program
Begins
“Cybernetic
Fieldwork”
project for
California Energy
Commission
Founding of
Indicia
Community as
an incubator for
nonprofit
activities

10. Engaged and evolving
On-going appointment at Goucher College
Woman-owned Small Business certified
Indicia Community, a registered non-profit in the District of Columbia
Registered to do business in the State of California
Member of E3 and SUSSTAIN research networks
Registered in SAM, PEPMA, and EERE Exchange

11. Team Experience and skills
We have tapped into a network of extremely talented and passionate individuals
who have experience and desire to work in the field of environmental and social
sciences. Everyone has extensive skills, specialties, and experiences. Our
anthropologists all have graduate degrees with a focus on applied anthropology.
We are a small, woman-owned, woman managed organization. We structure
projects around small teams that have at their core partnerships across functions.
Indicia is also made up people who have flexible schedules to work with the project
as opposed to working around it.
We mentor and empower team members to reach their full potential. At Indicia, we
give folks the opportunity to spread their wings and explore new horizons. We also
provide our team members the chance to develop their management skills, even at
entry levels. This means that people are treated with respect and given autonomy.
Happy people make for good outcomes.

12. Languages we speak
Our team members are
well traveled and multi-
lingual. We count
English, German,
Gujarati, Hebrew,
Hindi, Marathi,
Spanish, and Swedish
among the languages
spoken fluently and
comfortably by our
team!

13. Prıcıng Plans
On-site
consultation &
brainstorming
Half-day/local only
(Washington D.C.
Metro area)
$750.00
Local Retainer Custom
Want a chunk of
our time?
We are available
on a retainer
basis.
$10Kmin
Lets work together
on a specific
project.
Contact us to get
a proposal started.

14. Indiciaconsulting.com
susanmazur
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Twıtter/indiciainfo
info@indiciaconsulting.com
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y/indicia-consulting