About Me

My Story

I began mystery shopping in the late ’90s shortly after leaving my career as a public school special education teacher to become a stay-at-home mom. During that time, I was looking for ways to earn extra income and discovered mystery shopping. Over the years, I worked as an independent contractor for several marketing firms.

After seven years, I returned to teaching but continued mystery shopping. Even after taking early retirement, I kept it up — not only because I enjoyed it, but because I knew I was providing businesses with valuable, genuine insights they couldn’t always see themselves.

At the start of 2025, I realized I could leverage my mystery shopping expertise to support local businesses with affordable, impactful services. This idea took shape after a conversation with a small business owner who expressed concern about how customers perceived their business, especially when they weren’t around. That moment sparked the vision to create a service that is both meaningful and accessible for businesses of all sizes.

With over 25 years of hands-on experience, I created Local Lens Mystery Shopping to offer businesses a better option: customized mystery shops conducted by someone who knows the industry inside and out, at a fair and affordable price. No overpriced packages — just quality mystery shopping when you need it.

Over time, I also recognized that understanding customer experience doesn’t stop with observation alone. That realization led to the creation of the Local Lens Experience — a simple, in-store tap-to-feedback display that allows real customers to share honest, anonymous input right after their visit. Together, mystery shopping and the Local Lens Experience give businesses a more complete view of how they are truly being experienced.

In addition to providing mystery shopping services, I have been teaching others how to become mystery shoppers for over 10 years. I started by offering my Learn to Mystery Shop Guide and have since expanded to in-person training in Delaware, as well as remote training for aspiring mystery shoppers across the country. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and helping others get hired by marketing firms while building confidence and real-world skills in this exciting field.

Bringing your customer experience into focus,

Marge

One Expert with One Clear Perspective

At Local Lens Mystery Shopping, I personally assist businesses in evaluating their customer experience through fresh eyes. With over 25 years of experience in business evaluation, I assess service, atmosphere, and brand consistency from the most important perspective, your customer’s perspective.

Every mystery shopping experience is conducted by me, ensuring thoughtful, detailed insights delivered with a quick turnaround and easy-to-read reports. This professional, observation-based approach helps identify what’s working well and where small adjustments can make a meaningful difference.

To complement this insight, I also offer the Local Lens Experience, a simple, in-store tap-to-feedback display that allows real customers to share quick, anonymous feedback right after their visit. This provides businesses with immediate, authentic input directly from the people they serve, without pressure or disruption to the customer experience.

Together, Local Lens Mystery Shopping and the Local Lens Experience create a well-rounded view of your customer journey, combining professional evaluation with real-time customer voice. The goal is never to judge, but to bring your customer experience into focus so you can make informed improvements that build trust, foster loyalty, and support long-term growth.

Gain a clear understanding of your customer experience, whether on-site or remotely, through professional mystery shopping services. At Local Lens Mystery Shopping, I embarked on a mission to assist businesses in effectively connecting with their customers by collecting genuine, actionable feedback at an affordable price.

If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. That’s why conducting a thorough business evaluation to understand how well your service meets customer expectations is crucial for your success. I provide objective, honest feedback that enables you to fine-tune processes, enhance the overall customer experience, and drive growth.