Does giving away free samples increase or decrease demand?

With the pandemic-pause on live events, how will new products, and marketers seeking to gain market share with sampling, replace that part of their marketing campaign? Marketers have known for decades the power of sampling to gain trial and overcome price resistance, to displace established brand-habits, and to accelerate trial.

Personal care, health care, and food or snack-food products are a natural for sampling because consumers already have their skin-care habit or snacking favorites that new product marketers must displace. And sampling by mail is even better than in-person for products that may be used in a personal way.

According to Cindy Johnson of Sampling Advisors, a decade ago “80 percent of all purchase decisions were made in store. People were out of the home more often, and brands had to reach people where they were—out having fun or at work, or wherever they may be. But now, because of the economy, 70 percent of purchase decisions are made at home.”

In the world of alternative and natural health and wellness products, the influencers are the yoga teachers, health care professionals, spiritual advisors, and avid happiness seekers who are the readers of Spirituality & Health. These professionals-of-caring invested in annual trainings, retreats, and conferences in the pre-pandemic times. Now S&H readers have adopted home-retreats and virtual conferences. We’re hearing from our advertisers that they are seeing higher attendance numbers at their online events than they ever had in person. Companies like Haden Institute and Omega Partners are seeing participants from far-flung places that never would have attended their mostly regional market.

To compliment those home-retreats Spirituality & Health launched a January-February sampling program. We’ll offer 50 sample boxes through a drawing, and sell 50 sample boxes with a “Buy Now” link. Advertisers will need only pay $1,000 and supply 100 samples for shipping, plus one for photography, to participate. Here is an example 4-color spread that will promote your products. The same copy and photography will appear in the web page promoting the sample drawing and buy-now opportunity.

Space in the sampling box is limited … contact your sales person quickly while slots are still available.

Ann Reed: [email protected]
Tabetha Reed: [email protected]
Peter Lymbertos: [email protected]