Free samples - supermarkets

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I'd considering extending a trial retail period by making some free samples available in a supermarket, in order to generate some real world market research results (rather than current results from online sales).

Has anyone any experience in doing this at all? It's non-food consumable which won't be impacting any other product so the store won't lose out.

Any thoughts, (preferably based on prior experience!) please?

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Thankyou4calling said:

What do you intend to do with the feedback and why do you want it?

I've already proven that people are searching online for the product I offer and that they go on to purchase it.

I'd like to prove that people will pick the item up in store without looking for the product first - ie, they see the product and realise there's a solution to a problem, so they try it.

Then hopefully I can aggregate all of the stats to prove there is a demand in the real world as well as online, and give a convincing case for a buyer to take the product.

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matjk said:

My Mrs works in retail Sainsburys(merchandising at store level),
its not going to be easy to get the samples in, expect to have to pay, premium retail space like gondola ends is expensive, brands often pay to have their brands displayed in a premium location , the sellers have the power here. Big companies will always be thinking "whats in it for me" so there has to be interested. Smaller independents would be a much easier route

Thanks, I had seen some references to having to pay to put free samples in store, but this is the first, first hand experience I've been made aware of.

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matjk, Yipper - thanks for the suggestion regarding smaller indie supermarkets/retailers. I think a decent spec newsagent would be useful as well - good shout, ta!

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matjk said:

One other thing, I do quite a few trade shows and one thing i have learned is if you give something away no matter what, people will take , no mater how useless, embarrassing, or totally unsuited to that person they will grab it in handfuls.

That's a good point, I'd rather not have the majority of samples picked up just for the sake of it. I'll give some thought to a targeted outlet, or maybe some sort of insertion/tie in/mail out etc. Thanks.

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