By Julian Knight Consumer affairs reporter, BBC News

Mystery shopping has a long history in the UK.
The first mystery shoppers were employed 60 years ago to check financial advisers were doing an honest job. The Financial Services Authority still uses shoppers in this role from time to time.

Over the past decade mystery shoppers have been increasingly used by retailers, utilities and even the public sector.

"Mystery shopping offers a great deal to businesses. Crucially it gives managers a means to test their staff training...it also allows them check on the general ambience, store layout, stock handling and health and safety issues," says Dale Atkinson, spokesman for the British Retail Consortium. "It (mystery shopping) should be an ongoing thing, firms checking that the service they offer is most competitive. Anything to give you an advantage on the High Street" Mr. Atkinson added.

Why not increase your competitive advantage by utilising our mystery shopping skills to increase sales, and ultimately profit.

Mystery Customer Evaluation Team.