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. (And it works! I've purchased food items at Costco after trying free samples and I've seen many other people do it.)

If you ever see an item in a grocery store, hardware store, or home store-- any food, over-the-counter drug, dietary supplement, cosmetics and make-up, personal hygiene products, chemical cleaner, solution, powder, paste, glue, etc. (anything that comes in a bottle, can, bucket or wrapped individually)-- that you think you might be interested in, but you're not sure about it. Then don't buy it.

Instead, 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 my3cents.com.

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. As long as you are professional, you may get a free sample sent to you in the mail. The most this will cost is the price of a stamp and paper or a phone call to make the request.

For tips on writing a professional letter get the Instant Letter Writing Kit

(If you know of a good, free website that educates people on writing letters, submit it here)

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 evelopes it actually cost a little over $50). According to his website, he received nearly $273 dollars worth of food and merchandise.

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 Coke or a sports team, then it never hurts to 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").

Tips:

• Places where you can get tons of free samples, gifts and memorabilia are trade shows, conferences, festivals, grand openings, and political campaigns.
• Read John Chow's article, How To Get Free Stuff From Trade Shows
• See Scott's Fan Pack Success for a complete list of available fan packs from sports teams all over the globe.
  

Other Free Sample Websties:

totallyfreestuff.com

Free Samples at Walmart

See the complete Directory of Free Sample Websites

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