Free sample
Encyclopedia
A product sample is a sample
of a consumer product
that is given to the consumer
so that he or she may try a product before committing to a purchase.
or other product (for example, beauty products) given to consumer
s in shopping mall
s, supermarket
s, retail stores, or other venues. Sometimes samples of non-perishable items are included in direct marketing
mailings. The purpose of a free sample is to acquaint the consumer with a new product, and is similar to the concept of a test drive
, in that a customer
is able to try out a product before purchasing it.
Many consumer product companies now offer free samples through their website
s, to encourage consumers to regularly use the products, and to gather data for mailing list
s of potentially interested customers. Paint chips are samples of paint colors that are sometimes offered as free samples.
Companies
such as Costco
, Sams Club, and Grocery Stores give out free samples to customers in order to persuade a customer to buy the product.
The expansion of online marketing with regards to promotional give aways has facilitated the rise of "Freebie sites" that seek to aggregate all promotional free sample offers in one place. This has also led to a new kind of consumer that often seeks out free samples of any item irrespective of any need or desire for such items. Some freebies offers may require consumers to complete a survey or refer a friend in order to qualify for the freebies. When all requirements are fulfilled, the freebies will be shipped directly to the consumer at no extra cost.
manufacturer Benjamin T. Babbitt
in the 19th century was one of the first known, though almost certainly not the first ever, people to offer free samples of his products.
, which are useful for vacation
s or other travel
, where large bottle
s or other containers would be impractical (or more recently, not permitted for air travel
). These are also often provided in hotel
and motel
rooms for the guests. Samples may also be loan
ed to the customer if they are too valuable to be given for free, such as samples of a countertop
or of carpet
to be used for remodeling, or tasting samples as in Scream Sorbet stand at a farmers market offering free samples of any flavor. These samples are also used in stores themselves.
Sample (material)
In general, a sample is a limited quantity of something which is intended to be similar to and represent a larger amount of that thing. The things could be countable objects such as individual items available as units for sale, or a material not countable as individual items. Samples of countable...
of a consumer product
Consumer product
A consumer product is generally any tangible personal property for sale and that is used for personal, family, or household for non-business purposes. The determination whether a good is a consumer product requires a factual finding, on a case-by-case basis...
that is given to the consumer
Consumer
Consumer is a broad label for any individuals or households that use goods generated within the economy. The concept of a consumer occurs in different contexts, so that the usage and significance of the term may vary.-Economics and marketing:...
so that he or she may try a product before committing to a purchase.
Free samples
A free sample or "freebie" is a portion of foodFood
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
or other product (for example, beauty products) given to consumer
Consumer
Consumer is a broad label for any individuals or households that use goods generated within the economy. The concept of a consumer occurs in different contexts, so that the usage and significance of the term may vary.-Economics and marketing:...
s in shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
s, supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
s, retail stores, or other venues. Sometimes samples of non-perishable items are included in direct marketing
Direct marketing
Direct marketing is a channel-agnostic form of advertising that allows businesses and nonprofits to communicate straight to the customer, with advertising techniques such as mobile messaging, email, interactive consumer websites, online display ads, fliers, catalog distribution, promotional...
mailings. The purpose of a free sample is to acquaint the consumer with a new product, and is similar to the concept of a test drive
Test drive
A test drive is the driving of an automobile to assess its drivability, or roadworthiness, and general operating state. A person who tests vehicles for a living, either for an automobile company or a motorsports team, is called a test driver....
, in that a customer
Customer
A customer is usually used to refer to a current or potential buyer or user of the products of an individual or organization, called the supplier, seller, or vendor. This is typically through purchasing or renting goods or services...
is able to try out a product before purchasing it.
Many consumer product companies now offer free samples through their website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
s, to encourage consumers to regularly use the products, and to gather data for mailing list
Mailing list
A mailing list is a collection of names and addresses used by an individual or an organization to send material to multiple recipients. The term is often extended to include the people subscribed to such a list, so the group of subscribers is referred to as "the mailing list", or simply "the...
s of potentially interested customers. Paint chips are samples of paint colors that are sometimes offered as free samples.
Companies
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
such as Costco
Costco
Costco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world...
, Sams Club, and Grocery Stores give out free samples to customers in order to persuade a customer to buy the product.
The expansion of online marketing with regards to promotional give aways has facilitated the rise of "Freebie sites" that seek to aggregate all promotional free sample offers in one place. This has also led to a new kind of consumer that often seeks out free samples of any item irrespective of any need or desire for such items. Some freebies offers may require consumers to complete a survey or refer a friend in order to qualify for the freebies. When all requirements are fulfilled, the freebies will be shipped directly to the consumer at no extra cost.
History
SoapSoap
In chemistry, soap is a salt of a fatty acid.IUPAC. "" Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. . Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford . XML on-line corrected version: created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN...
manufacturer Benjamin T. Babbitt
Benjamin T. Babbitt
Benjamin Talbot Babbitt was a self-made American businessman and inventor who amassed a fortune in the soap industry, manufacturing Babbitt's Best Soap.-Early life:...
in the 19th century was one of the first known, though almost certainly not the first ever, people to offer free samples of his products.
Other samples
It is also possible to purchase products in small "trial size" containers. This is common with toiletries such as shampooShampoo
Shampoo is a hair care product used for the removal of oils, dirt, skin particles, dandruff, environmental pollutants and other contaminant particles that gradually build up in hair...
, which are useful for vacation
Vacation
A vacation or holiday is a specific trip or journey, usually for the purpose of recreation or tourism. People often take a vacation during specific holiday observances, or for specific festivals or celebrations...
s or other travel
Travel
Travel is the movement of people or objects between relatively distant geographical locations. 'Travel' can also include relatively short stays between successive movements.-Etymology:...
, where large bottle
Bottle
A bottle is a rigid container with a neck that is narrower than the body and a "mouth". By contrast, a jar has a relatively large mouth or opening. Bottles are often made of glass, clay, plastic, aluminum or other impervious materials, and typically used to store liquids such as water, milk, soft...
s or other containers would be impractical (or more recently, not permitted for air travel
Air travel
Air travel is a form of travel in vehicles such as airplanes, helicopters, hot air balloons, blimps, gliders, hang gliding, parachuting or anything else that can sustain flight.-Domestic and international flights:...
). These are also often provided in hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
and motel
Motel
A motor hotel, or motel for short, is a hotel designed for motorists, and usually has a parking area for motor vehicles...
rooms for the guests. Samples may also be loan
Borrow
Borrow or borrowing can mean: to receive from somebody temporarily, expecting to return it.*In finance, monetary debt*In language, the use of loanwords...
ed to the customer if they are too valuable to be given for free, such as samples of a countertop
Countertop
Countertop usually refers to a horizontal worksurface in kitchens or other food preparation areas, bathrooms or lavatories, and workrooms in general. It is frequently installed upon and supported by cabinets...
or of carpet
Carpet
A carpet is a textile floor covering consisting of an upper layer of "pile" attached to a backing. The pile is generally either made from wool or a manmade fibre such as polypropylene,nylon or polyester and usually consists of twisted tufts which are often heat-treated to maintain their...
to be used for remodeling, or tasting samples as in Scream Sorbet stand at a farmers market offering free samples of any flavor. These samples are also used in stores themselves.