Giving it away – why freebies are good for your business

From a small sample to a regular subscription box, we look at a growing marketing trend – and most importantly – how to deliver it.

Why Samples work

Who doesn’t love a freebie? If you know you have an excellent product, what better marketing strategy is there than letting the customer try it risk free? A sample bridges the gap between the digital and physical worlds and gets your products directly into customer homes, particularly helpful at a time when so many of us are affected by coronavirus restrictions. Allowing them to try your product fully, to touch, taste and smell it, can set you apart from the rest.

Our top 5 reasons to try sample giveaways;

1. You can target a certain demographic – and include a money off voucher for the full-size purchase
2. Adding a sample to an existing customer order encourages the customer to try a new product
3. They build customer loyalty, gain trust and increase brand awareness
4. Samples can help you to trial new products (and request feedback)
5. They’re an easy way to reward and incentivise big spenders (for example, provide samples when you spend over a certain amount, particularly effective if you package them nicely)

It may feel daunting to consider sample distribution – ultimately, it’s not free for the business, you are paying for it. But according to research by Shopify, customers are more likely to follow through on a buying decision when they have experience of the product and samples can boost sales by up to 2000%.

Subscription Boxes

From recipes alongside ingredients to beauty samplers, kids craft kits and monthly dog treat boxes, subscription boxes are a growing trend. For the customer there’s the benefit of a regular supply without any hassle. For your business, subscription boxes bring a regular, predictable income stream and a loyal repeat customer base. Boxes can be fortnightly, monthly or quarterly, come in different sizes or be aimed at different demographics.

You can make the most of subscription boxes by;

• Regularly filming unboxing videos – popular on social media
• Including money off vouchers for bigger purchases
• Marketing them as gifts – something a loved one can receive all year
• Changing the theme of the boxes to tie in with seasonal events (Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day etc).

Getting your giveaways out

The (perceived) hardest part of offering subscriptions and sample boxes is the logistics. Packing, storing and distribution can be a headache for the non-expert. That’s where JEM come in. We are set up to label, kit and package on demand. Your products will have a dedicated order staging area and can be sent out in whatever combination you need, straight to the customer, fuss free. We may be a UK fulfilment house, but we ship worldwide and can advise you on international shipping and with a strong track record in sample distribution, working with companies such as Charles Worthington, Lego and Waitrose, we can help you target specific demographics, analyse the results of your campaign and plan for future distribution. JEM can also deliver goodie bags to be given out free at your events – and in the current situation we post direct to the recipient, since most events are happening over video calls.

Some of our sampling experience;

• Food – from biscuits to liquorice
• Beauty products – from lip sticks to hair conditioner
• Home – from fabric softeners to cleaning products
• Corporate brand items – from rucksacks to pens (the quintessential freebie!)

With over 35 years of experience, we are experts at handling fluctuations – from big sales to a rush on new product samples, we can handle all your fulfilment, so you can focus on growing your business. If you need a UK fulfilment house who can handle all your global ecommerce order fulfilment and want to know how we can benefit your business, please talk to us about your needs. You can call us on 01483 204444, email us at enquiries@j-e-m.com or fill out our simple form on our contact us page.