Sampling increases sales

Arbitron and Edison Media Research found that in-store sampling increases sales of the product sampled (this is in line with the study mentioned immediately below).

Over a third (35%) of consumers who tried a sample purchased the product during the same shopping trip. This effect spanned across all customers – regardless of whether this was their first introduction to the product or a repeat purchase.

About half of those who sampled also expressed an intent to buy in the future, including 85% of those who had never bought the product before. In addition, 24% said they would switch from the brand they had previously planned to buy.