Here in the Bunker, we believe market research is for everybody and can apply to just about every situation. To prove our point, and to continue our annual tradition of celebrating the Fourth of July holiday with a snarky blog post, we have come up with a list of significant figures from American history and our  recommendation of a market research technique that, in retrospect, could have helped them or the people around them:

1. Sir Walter Raleigh, founder of The Lost Colony of Roanoke – Site selection study.

2. The Canarsie tribe, who allegedly sold Manhattan island to the Dutch for a load of cloth, beads and trinkets — Van Westendorp’s Price Sensitivity Meter.

3. The Salem Witch Trial defendants – Jury pool research.

4. Benedict Arnold — Brand loyalty tracking survey.

5. Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America during its 4-year history – Long-range feasibility study.

6. William Seward, who, in a rare case of the Federal government getting a good bargain, purchased Alaska for 2 cents per acre – Shop-along field observation.

7. General George Custer, loser of the Battle of Little Big Horn – Strategic planning consultation.

8. Thomas Edison, inventor and holder of over 1,000 patents – New product concept focus groups.

9. Charles Lindbergh, who in the 1930s, advocated stronger U.S. ties with Nazi Germany – Competitive threat analysis.

10. O.J. Simpson, who led police on an ill-fated chase on the L.A. freeway system – Traffic volume study.

11. Al Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential race, despite winning the popular vote – Data weighting.

Happy birthday, America! Have a fun and safe holiday weekend.