Free sample
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This article relies largely or entirely upon a single source. Please help improve this article by introducing appropriate citations of additional sources. (June 2008) |
A free sample or freebie is a portion of food or other product which is given out in shopping malls, grocery stores, and other venues.[1] Sometimes samples of non-perishable items are included in direct marketing mailings. The purpose of a free sample is to acquaint the consumer with a new product, and is similar to the concept of a test drive, in that a customer is able to try out a product before purchasing it.
Soap manufacturer Benjamin T. Babbitt in the 19th century was one of the first known, though almost certainly not the first ever, people to offer free samples of his products.[2]
Many consumer product companies now offer free samples through their websites, in the hope that the applicant will become a regular consumer of the project,[1] and in order to gather data for a mailing list of potentially interested customers.
[edit] References
- ^ a b De Bower, Herbert Francis (1919). Advertising principles. Original from the University of California: Alexander Hamilton Institute (U.S.). p. 156. http://books.google.com/books?id=YcxHAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA156&dq=%22Free+sample%22&as_brr=1&client=firefox-a#PPA156,M1.
- ^ "Find a Grave". Benjamin T. Babbitt. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6933515. Retrieved on September 7 2008.
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