Sunday, January 2, 2011

Sampling As A Strategic Freebie For Customers.

By Dmitry Vasenyov


Strategic freebie is a type of promotion called the sampling. The workers of companies that produce food, drinks and spirits have another term - "degustation". Without reference to the name we are speaking about the same method of marketing, which is based on a trivial law of psychology: people believe their own feelings more than other person's stories.

According to any other kind of branding, providing free samples has two strongly marked peculiarities. On the one hand, it is much more expensive. Distributing of costly sample products freely, certainly, demands the expenditure of a different order than, for example, issue of flyers. Sampling in the store considering the requirements of a particular client costs from 100 to 200 dollars. The accurate amount depends on the complication, varying labour value, payment of authorization to conduct, the expenses for training, delivery of goods, materials and equipment. Multiply this by the number of days during which the sampling takes place and the number of consumers, and then it becomes clear that the distribution of free goods can make a significant share of the budget promotion.

Manufacturers usually make free sample of products that have the following properties:

a) Focus on general consumers;

b) A big potential market volume;

c) A low cost value;

d) The possibility of multiple sales to the same individuals.

This category includes almost everything that you may eat, drink or something just to apply for a short while and buy again, for example, detergents, perfumery, hygiene items. On the other hand, the result of free distribution of samples can be quite large. However, after termination of campaigns this result can smoothly come to naught in several months, and even weeks.

Costs for sampling consist of two main items. The first one - is the value of the samples of the products that the advertiser wants to distribute for free. To save on these costs, sometimes producers release their goods in very small packs especially for sampling. Among customers there is even belief that quality of the products that are made specifically for sampling is different from usual - of course, the better one. But the manufacturers deny it.

The second item - is services of sending products to consumers (online sampling) or payment to employees that conduct promotions (if sampling is carried out in the shops).

It is very important to ensure a sufficient supply of goods in the warehouse for sampling and for sale. There is nothing worse than to announce sampling campaign and not having enough samples to distribute or lose future sales because of the fact that the stock of goods in the storeroom came to an end at once after sampling.

However, providing customers with free samples is very favourable for both sides: both for customers, and for sellers. It is a great way for consumers to get acquainted with goods, because each one likes freebies.




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