Providing product samples is a key marketing strategy for many cosmetic companies. Consumers adore freebies and the chance to fall in love with the next best cosmetic product.
We’ve put together this guide to sample packaging to help you create the perfect samples for your products.
What is Sample Packaging?
Sample packaging is the way in which a sample, a smaller version of a product with a limited amount, is presented to a potential customer. The packaging likely differs according to the product it houses, with certain packaging suiting certain samples across gels, creams, and liquids.
Some companies choose to make the sample packaging simply a mini version of the full-size product, replicating the shape, colour and details. This can be an effective way to spread brand awareness and make the full-size product stand out on the shelves. However, sample packaging may also be incredibly simple and refined, with minimal information, perhaps for cost-effectiveness or simplicity.
However, you choose to package your samples, be sure it reflects your brand and is consistent with your design and company look. Being savvy with the cost is smart; samples usually only have enough product to last one or two uses, so the lifetime is very short.
Why are Samples Good for Business?
No one can deny the gravity-like pull of a sample stand in a store, or the joy of opening a magazine and watching a freebie fall out. Give people this pleasure and they will, in turn, support your brand. Potential consumers can be using your product without even realising its part of a marketing tactic to earn their allegiance.
Whether a brand is new, there is a product launch, or a company simply wants more customers, samples are a perfect way to get a brand or product in front of an audience which may have otherwise not picked it up. In such a saturated market as cosmetics, products can get lost in a sea of others. Combine a vast array of competitor products with customers’ loyalty to brands, and you get a constant struggle to attract customers.
Although samples may seem initially costly or deemed unnecessary, they can be incredibly cost effective and have great long-term benefits. It costs far more to attract new customers than to keep them, so make wise choices with sample packaging and dispersion then watch the newfound customer base grow.
Sample Packaging Ideas
Before ordering thousands of product minis, there are many things to consider, most notably packaging for your samples. Each product sample suits different packaging, so be sure to evaluate many sample packaging options. Additional sample considerations include how they will reach consumers, design, brand partnerships, and keeping the product safe.
Vials
Popular for perfume, vials are suited to liquid samples for multi-use. The smaller size makes them useful to pop into a bag or pocket and use when desired. Possible to fit with differing closures, such as a rollerball or spray, vials can be adjusted to suit how a company wants their product to be dispensed and used. Due to the multi-use nature of vials as sample packaging, companies may charge a small fee to purchase the sample to cover the costs of product.
Bottles
Samples housed in bottle packaging are popular with holiday makers and frequent airport users, as they provide enough product to last a few days without being too large to get through security. Bottles are, however, usually one of the larger sample packaging solutions, and can therefore be more costly to transport and store.
Mini Jars
Suited to most products and textures, mini jars as packaging allow consumers to use the sample multiple times. There is slightly more chance that the product can oxidise or spoil due to human error or transporting incidents such as lid misplacement. Jars made from glass are more likely to be recyclable, especially compared with plastic bottles, which may attract or appease environmentally conscious consumers.
Sachets
Sachets are lightweight, easily customisable and small, making them an extremely cost-effective sample packaging solution to transport and store. Samples held in sachet packaging are likely to be one use, so they are a great way to provide product testers without using too many resources. As they are securely sealed, sachets make effective sample packaging, protecting the product from spoiling and maintaining its quality.
Find out more about the benefits of sachet packaging here.
Sample packaging with fillcon
As experts cosmetic sampling solutions, Fillcon are a one stop shop for cosmetic samples. Whatever sampling packaging you choose, we can fill it. We pride ourselves on our ability to provide quality service suited to each and every client.
Contact us today to promote your brand and attract long-term customers.
