3 Takeaways for Product Sampling with University Students
August 2025
Freshers week is the perfect time to attract students to your brand or product – they’re actively looking for exciting experiences and shared opportunities with new people, and whilst they will likely be enjoying a new sense of independence, the comfort of connecting with a ready-made community can lead to life-long brand loyalty.
Product sampling at University and College Campuses can be game-changing, and according to Native’s 2024/25 Student Life Report, 81% of students leave a campus-fair with purchase intent – so what are you waiting for? Let’s work together to unlock the power of student product sampling.
3 Key Takeaways for Student Product Sampling
Students buy what they’ve tried and loved
Everyone knows that Gen Z shoppers are heavily influenced by what they’ve seen on social media, as well as Insta-worthy content that they can capture and reshare.
Freshers are highly receptive to trying new products, particularly those that offer an ‘Instagrammable moment’ or the opportunity to become a part of your brand’s digital story, and by tasting, smelling and touching a product themselves, it triggers a memorable and positive association with your brand.
The strong emotional connections that brands build with university students during freshers week will have a lasting impact, and are more likely to influence future purchasing decisions.
The opportunity to reduce risk also plays an important role in the success of free product sampling for students, with the benefit of trying a product before they commit to spending any money on it, helping to build connections and create trust.
Purity targeted university students to launch the Absolut’s Mixt ready-to-drink range.
The team visited Roehampton and Sheffield University Summer Balls, and designed and refurbished a classic horsebox into a pink mobile Absolut bar, alongside a simple data mechanic app to collect student insights on the Mixt cans.
The campaign saw 11,500 cans sampled and over 200 insights captured.
Happy students become brand champions
University campuses with a captive audience of students, particularly during freshers week, offer a unique environment for product sampling.
The strategic value of campus campaigns can therefore be huge, with opportunities for instant, qualitative feedback from a diverse, open and academic audience.
Word-of-mouth marketing is a powerful tool, too, and student product sampling is a great way to harness it.
Think of every student that samples your brand as an influencer, with the ability to amplify your reach in a matter of minutes.
Students place high value on authenticity and transparency, so ensuring you have engaging and relatable people delivering your product sampling campaign will be crucial to successfully turning first-time consumers into brand influencers.
Purity People supplies experienced sampling teams who go beyond simple distribution. They spark conversations with students, spread the word about your brand’s story and drive trial at scale.
Trial experiences create lasting memories
When students receive something for free, a psychological sense of reciprocity is triggered.
This reciprocal relationship strengthens the bond between university students and your brand, helping to drive your ongoing engagement.
Traditional marketing is often passive, students see an ad, but it doesn’t spark engagement.
Product sampling however creates a richer and more memorable experience, with studies consistently showing that the more senses an experience engages the more likely it is to be remembered.
The impact of free product sampling is likely to be greatest when it’s unexpected.
A student seeing your product unexpectedly at freshers week and being given the opportunity to trial it makes the gesture all the more impactful, and as a result is more likely to create a cycle of loyalty.
Partnering with Initials, Purity helped snack giant Fridge Raiders reintroduce themselves with sampling activity to support its “Get the Day Done” campaign, empowering people to conquer their day.
We delivered 45,000 samples over 4 live days in London and Leeds.
Ready to meet your brand activation team?
We’ve got you! We know where it’s at and we know how to reach the students that love it there.
Share your story with us and we’ll help you connect with this ready-made community.
