Consumer panels are groups of consumers in specific sectors recruited by research companies and agencies to answer particular research questions relating to product testing, taste testing, or other areas. Most often, they are specialist panels which take part in numerous projects. Consumer panels are handy for short, quick surveys, emphasising a sample of those with expert knowledge rather than a representative sample of the general population. In the context of product development, consumer panels can provide valuable insights into how a product is likely to be received by the target market. By testing products with a group of consumers who are representative of the target market, developers can get an idea of how the product will be used and what potential problems may arise. As a result, they can make necessary adjustments to the product before being released to the general public. As such, consumer panels play an important role in developing new products.