Skip to content
Have you heard about the power of creating sales samples for your maker business, but aren't sure where to begin? This article will help!
What's Inside:
- Why Product Samples Lead to More Sales
- 5 Tips for Making the Most of Sales Samples
- Final Thoughts
- More Resources For You
Why Product Samples Lead to More Sales
Whether you're speaking to businesses in your neighborhood or buyers at a craft fair, samples are the best way to show the value of your products to potential customers.
You can make more in-person sales with them, plus, in my experience, they've served as a conversation starter to show businesses how I can partner with them as a maker.
I like to allow clients to hold the product in their hands and see everything up close. This way, they can understand the quality, packaging, and accessories included. No website, picture, or social media account can beat that.
5 Tips for Making the Most of Sales Samples
#1 - Create Them With Care
Put genuine time and effort into your samples. This may be the reason you land a huge sale!
You want to show businesses that you care about them, so I even recommend making personalized or ready-to-sell samples for an important potential customer.
See our full product line-up for all the products you can customize from MakerFlo. We create each product with care and even include gift-ready packaging so your samples look good without any extra prep.
Some ideas:
- Create ready-to-sell designs that appeal to a certain type of customer
- Take a business logo and make a sample for an important B2B customer
- Use personalized samples for a location, like palm trees or beaches for Florida-based clients
Photo Tumblers for B2B
Why it matters: This can serve as the client's first taste of your product and customer service. Show them why they should work with you! Plus, you want the quality of your sample to be just as good as the rest of your stock of items.
#2 - Update As Needed
This is especially important if you're re-using samples (which is fine as long as it makes sense!).
Make sure that whatever product you're showcasing is up-to-date with what you actually sell. And streamline that across your social channels and website.
No matter what you make, put thought into your customization skills and technique. This can set you apart from the competition.
Some tips:
- Use colors that pop
- Consider who you're selling to and what they might want most
- Think of upcoming holidays to create for
Why it matters: Give them an idea of what you can offer them and why they should work with you! By having the most up-to-date designs, they'll know exactly what your inventory consists of and how it can apply to them.
#3 - Carry Extras to Give Away
I don't think you should distribute ALL your samples because you can use them over and over again. They're great for pictures on social media, your website, or your portfolio.
However, when meeting with businesses or clients, you can carry extra samples to give away. Everyone loves free things!
Along with carrying extra samples, I recommend making and giving out a unique and creative business card. One of my favorite ideas is cutting and engraving TruFlat with your contact information. It makes a great impression and helps them remember you after the meeting.
Why it matters: They'll have a physical sample that you created, even if they don't end up working with you. And if they're impressed, they may contact you in the future or pass the word along to other businesses for sales down the line.
#4 - Show Variety
Show clients that they don't need to work with another business because you can do it all by making various sizes and styles of tumblers.
If you specialize in laser engraving, show up with multiple samples of engraved items like custom-cut TruFlat, tumblers, charcuterie boards, and utility blanks.
If you only sell tumblers, have samples of different colors with a variety of sizes, types, and materials. Black and white is always classic, but if that doesn't fit their brand, you want to show them that you can cater to their needs.
Check out our Build-a-Bundle Offers for 10% off a mix-and-match order of tumblers or blanks, or get started small with our Powder-Coated Tumbler 10-Pack!
If you're in a pinch, you can take the samples you have plus a sell sheet, which shows everything you sell on one page.
Why it matters: Having a variety of samples is another selling point for working with you. Show them why you're the best person for the job. Regardless of the holiday, season, or need, you should be the person they go to.
#5 - Keep Them Looking Nice
Treat your samples like gold. Think of it like constantly posting and updating your social media and website—these are platforms that your customers will look at to get a feel for what you can offer, and your product samples serve the same purpose for in-person meetings.
Put time into each one and retire them if they get beat up or no longer represent your skills.
As a bonus tip, keep one or two samples in your car. That way they're ready to go whenever you need them.
Why it matters: If you have a last-minute meeting or the opportunity to show off your samples, you want them to be ready to go and looking nice!
Final Thoughts
Product samples can really help your business, but even if you don't have any meetings scheduled in the immediate future, thinking of and creating samples is a great exercise for your business. This will get you thinking about your target customer and flexing your muscles as a creative professional.
There's a big mental shift that happens when you go from a hobbyist or casual crafter to a full-blown business owner. Making sales samples, preparing to present your business to new customers, and thinking of ways to scale your business are all steps in the right direction.
✨ Share your samples with us by tagging @makerflo_ on Instagram or @makerflo.com on TikTok!
More Resources For You
- The Essential Makers Business Guide
- 10 Things Successful Makers Do
- Sales & Marketing Checklist for Makers
Make sure you join the Official MakerFlo Community to connect with other makers, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube!
