Why ‘Try Before You Buy’ is a Recipe for Success
May 2025
As a global experiential marketing agency, we’ve been responsible for handing out millions of cans of drinks, biscuits, snack bars, and countless other treats. We can confidently say that product sampling is always a winner!
With a staggering 81% of consumers who receive a sample ending up making a purchase from that brand, product sampling delivers a strong return on investment.
So, what is it about trying before you buy that gets customers so excited?
3 simple insights to product sampling psychology
- Building Trust
Free product samples give brands an opportunity to connect with potential customers, without the need for them to make any initial investment. This connection helps to create trust, and enables consumers to sample the product with an open mind, which often leads to long-term loyalty and brand advocacy.
It’s true, not just for food and beverage brands, but for a whole range of beauty and lifestyle products too. We sampled 11,500 consumers – providing SKYN Supreme Feel products to enthusiastic party-goers, festival attendees and concert lovers in Miami, with an overwhelmingly positive response.
2. Mutual Reciprocation
When consumers receive something for free, a psychological sense of reciprocation is triggered and they feel obligated to pay back that generosity, by making a purchase from the brand. This reciprocal relationship strengthens the connection and drives ongoing engagement with customers.
It’s not always just about creating a connection with the end-user, it includes building mutual relationships with commercial buyers and industry representatives too.
We supported renowned Asian sauce and condiment brand, Lee Kum Kee, to increase brand awareness and engagement with potential wholesalers and suppliers at the GroceryAid Barcode Festival 2024.
3. Emotional Connection
Product sampling engages multiple senses, creating a strong emotional response. When customers taste, smell and touch a product, it triggers a memorable and positive association with the brand.
These emotional connections have a lasting impact, influencing future purchasing decisions.
Greene King briefed Purity to craft a strategic on-trade program to support the launch of their new IPA, Hazy Day. This interactive approach effectively engaged pub-goers and created a memorable launch experience, resulting in 43 outlet visits, 2,020 samples and 190 free pints (part of a one-day-only 2-for-1 deal).
How can my brand benefit from product sampling?
Boost Sales – Conversion rates soar as high as 70% as a result of product sampling campaigns.
Raise Awareness – Creating a buzz about your brand, generates recommendations and amplifies your visibility.
Strong ROI – Product sampling is a powerful tool that directly influences consumer behaviour and drives sales.
Inspire Advocacy – Sampling has the ability to influence decision making, increasing the likelihood of future purchases.
Consumer Insights – Gather real-time customer feedback, which can be used to refine your product, influence your marketing strategy and better understand your audience.
How can Purity help?
As a leading product sampling agency, Purity has successfully reached over 3 million consumers worldwide, in the past 5 years. We understand the diversity of demographics, the expectations of consumers in different parts of the world and we keep on top of the latest trends influencing global markets.
We build strong relationships with the brands we work with, to identify and understand their unique qualities and core values, to build meaningful and memorable brand experiences that resonate with the right audience, and generate sales.
Our promotional staff, Purity People, includes top-tier talent from event managers, promotional staff and brand ambassadors, to hospitality specialists.
What truly sets us apart is our exclusive Customer Experience Programme, which provides our people with the knowledge and skills to meticulously plan and execute every detail of your customer’s journey.
Are you ready to make measurable moments?
Let Purity’s product sampling specialists help your brand achieve maximum impact.
