| There are several threads on the forums from | | | | from your store? |
| sellers wondering "what's the best sample/promo | | | | *Packaging is just as important as the sample, |
| for my store?"As Spring turns into Summer, | | | | too. Make sure your contact info is attached to |
| more and more of us will be selling at craft | | | | your sample--or perhaps you could have hangtags |
| shows, contributing our sample items to other | | | | made up with your shop info on it if handing out, |
| sellers to distribute, putting together packets to | | | | say, earrings. Package everything individually--don't |
| promote our shops locally, perhaps donating to or | | | | rely on the person receiving your stack of |
| So many sellers (and customers!) who have | | | | promos to do it for you. If you're sending yarn |
| received my promos to hand out have | | | | samples--package them so that one yard of yarn |
| commented on them, and I wanted to pass along | | | | doesn't get tangled up with another. Again, use |
| my advice and my opinions on what you can do | | | | clean packaging, well-designed labels, and include a |
| to get your samples in the hands of | | | | stack of business cards. Don't write your url in |
| customers--KEEP them in the hands of | | | | pencil on a piece of scrap paper attached to a |
| customers, and ultimately draw them to your | | | | hurridly thrown together sample...yup, I've |
| store to find out more about the items you offer. | | | | received those too. Again, it's all in wanting to give |
| *Figure out what it is that best represents your | | | | the best overall impression. |
| store. Forget the candies and coupons--those are | | | | *Make sure you think about yourself, too. |
| yummy and great, but forgettable. No one's going | | | | Obviously, you'll want to keep this cost effective. |
| to remember 5 minutes after popping the candy | | | | Especially if you plan on sending out a lot. I |
| in their mouth who's business card was attached | | | | normally send out 10-12 packages a week filled |
| to it. Most likely, they won't even care...because | | | | with my samples to various places for distribution. |
| the candy's already eaten..the item's already been | | | | If you can, and if there's no deadline you have to |
| used..and it's had no lasting effect. | | | | meet, try to send your items First Class, NOT |
| *It's ALWAYS better to sample an item that's | | | | Priority. It's much cheaper. Also, before you delve |
| currently carried in your store, or develop a | | | | into making 50, 100, or 1,000 samples, ask |
| mini-version of it. Here are a few ideas: | | | | yourself if it's smart for you to do so, or perhaps |
| -Bath & Beauty sellers can sample mini soaps, or | | | | instead you can make something else that's easy |
| lotions. | | | | (and not too time-consuming to duplicate)..before I |
| -Jewelry artists can attach small earrings or | | | | settled on my current sample products, I wasted |
| pendants to their business cards | | | | so much energy on starting promo packages that |
| -Glass artists can include a small hand-blown glass | | | | I obviously couldn't finish due to time, resources, |
| bead they've created. | | | | and cost of materials. |
| -Crocheters and Knitters can do up small knitted | | | | *Last but not least..send them effectively. Think |
| brooches or finger puppets. | | | | about the target audience you are trying to |
| -Clothing artists can make mini doll-dresses or | | | | reach, especially when collaborating with other |
| shirts for teddy bears. | | | | Etsy sellers for promo swaps. We've all seen the |
| -Work with copper? Make spiral bookmarks. | | | | forum threads asking for promos to give out with |
| -Card and paper makers can create note sets or | | | | orders...I've written a few of them myself, and |
| tags | | | | answered even more of them. What I always do, |
| -Photographers can send out bookmarks or small | | | | is take a look at the shop of the seller who's |
| prints showcasing their work. | | | | requesting them. Not to judge the quality of their |
| The best sample in hand is one that gives the | | | | items, or the honesty in their request, but rather |
| holder an overall idea of what they can find in | | | | to see WHERE they are located (remember, |
| your shop, and an impression of how they should | | | | international shipping will cost you more, especially |
| view your business overall. | | | | if your samples are heavy), and what TYPE of |
| *Keep it professional, keep it clean. Whatever | | | | items they sell to see if my items would fit in |
| sample you hand out, or give to other sellers to | | | | with the target audience they appear to sell to. |
| distribute for you, you had better believe that | | | | Put it this way..Bath and Beauty items go with |
| you only get one shot at that first impression--so | | | | practically almost any other shop in terms of a |
| make it count. I've received samples that gave | | | | customer base...Sending out samples of |
| me the impression that the artist could care less | | | | religious-oriented items might not pair so well with, |
| what thoughts I'm left with about their store. The | | | | say, a shop filled with polymer-clay demons. You |
| samples were in dirty packaging, the labels | | | | get my drift :) On the other hand...I once sent |
| obviously reused and half peeling off, or the | | | | soap samples in the shape and coloring of black |
| sample itself was faulty in a way (ie. a pair of | | | | widow spiders to an event that dealt with Gothic |
| earrings where one earring hook used was | | | | clothing and accessories. If you can change up |
| different than the other, etc.). All this will do is | | | | your offering to make it fit the event you are |
| make a buyer think that all of the items in your | | | | sending in items for, or create something |
| store must be this way as well. And that your | | | | especially for that, by all means go for it! |
| work itself is sloppy..or that if they order from | | | | Promotional items and samples go much much |
| you, they'll get their items in dirty packaging, etc. | | | | further with a potential customer than just |
| A sample is one of the best ways to reach | | | | sending business cards or coupons. If a customer |
| potential customers who like to try before they | | | | can see, feel, smell, and admire an example of |
| commit to buying..why ruin your chances of | | | | your work up close, the more chance you have |
| snagging them into your shop by passing them a | | | | of their interest being taken one step further and |
| less-than-acceptable sample that will turn them off | | | | them wanting to peruse your shop. |