What can Sample U do for you?
Sample U has just launched in San Diego. The first location is in Scripps Ranch where they have partnered with Alliant International University. While at Sample U consumers (trysumers as they are known at Sample U) can see between 15 and 18 products and generally have time to test 5-6 products at a time depending on their interests and qualifications. Generally, up to 200 trysumers may participate per product depending on the sampling population required by the manufacturer. Client companies send products for which they want feedback and enough samples to give away based on the number of testers they require. If the product is not something that can be given away, Sample U requires the client company to provide another product or gift card. The benefit of opening in San Diego is its diverse population, that it is a vacation destination, and a main corridor to Mexico.
Market research and sampling have been around for decades, and this is a powerful new opportunity for product manufacturers to go face to face with consumers to better understand what they’re thinking. Sample U is an innovative research center where trysumers use and experience products and provide timely, valuable and cost effective insight. Our members answer research surveys on the tested products’ specific attributes, performance and value based on their experience. Ideally they then take the identical products home to use and share, providing a second research wave of feedback and insight. This allows companies the opportunity to compare consumer responses between their out-of-home and in-home experience.
Sample U anticipates expanding into other U.S. and international locations, including the other campuses of Alliant. The benefit to San Diego citizens is the opportunity to come in whenever you like, bring some friends, see the latest and greatest, give opinions that count, and leave with free products. For Alliant and their marketing students it’s a real opportunity to bridge the gap between theory and practice and for some to even earn internship hours done with projects from the center. Alliant’s research and student involvement also creates additional opportunities for product and consumer insight managers.
Linda Neumann declares, “At Sample U we see the power of free and what people are doing all the time. What we are doing now is providing a vehicle for people to take advantage of the free - a place to go to get free - but we ask them in return to give us product feedback. So now we put a value added on the company to give away free stuff - improve their products and learn what the market thinks.”
Sample U is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday.
Kudos to the folks running Sample U on their innovative approach to market research.
For more info: Visit www.alspaughlaw.com or email ericalspaugh@cox.net.
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