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Free Samples and Gifts
Free samples are an excellent opportunity for consumers since they can try a product before deciding if they want to buy it. They're also an excellent way for businesses to attract customers to a store. A great example of free sample marketing is when Costco gives out free food samples.
If you ever see an item in a grocery store, hardware store, or home store that you think you might be interested in, but you're not sure about it, then don't buy it. This includes any food product, over-the-counter drug, dietary supplement, cosmetics and make-up, personal hygiene products, chemical cleaner, solution, powder, paste, glue, or anything that comes in a bottle, can, bucket or wrapped individually.
Instead of buying the item, write down the company name and phone number or address. If the company address or phone number isn't on the product itself, then you can look up the company information on Hoovers.com or simply find them on Google.
Once you get their contact information then write them a letter telling them that you are interested in trying their product. Or you can try calling them. If you're professional and if you're lucky enough you might receive a free sample in the mail.
One guy even went to the extreme by sending letters and requesting free samples from 100 companies. He called it the $39 experiment since 100 stamps cost $39 at the time he performed the experiment. (With paper and envelopes it actually cost a little over $50). According to his website, he received nearly $273 dollars worth of food and merchandise.
Other methods of getting free samples might include coupons, mystery shopping, donating plasma, joining birthday clubs, becoming a human billboard, going to sports events, or having a House Party. When ActuallyFree.info discovers free samples, they will be listed in the Free Sample Directory or the Actually Free Blog.
Beyond free samples, some companies and non-profit organizations dedicate a portion of their budget to promotional items and gifts such as baseball caps, T-shirts, pins, buttons, stickers and other memorabilia that they will give away for free. By wearing these items you are promoting their business or organization. If there is a company that you like, such as Coca Cola (Coke) or a sports team, then write them a letter asking if they have any of these free items. Free items from a sports team usually come in a "fan pack". At trade shows, conferences, expos, and political campaigns the free samples and gifts are sometimes called "SWAG" (Stuff We All Get).
Free Samples and Gifts Directory
- Tons of Free Samples and Gifts by Category
- Retailers that are known to offer free samples
- Religious Gifts
- Political Campaigns
- Sports Teams that offer Fan Packs
- Resources to find conferences and trade shows
- Other Sites that list Free Samples
Other info related to this page:
Free Samples Directly from ActuallyFree.info
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