How to Send a Sample

So you’ve received your first sample request on RangeMe and after doing some quick research, you’ve decided to move forward with the opportunity. We know sending samples to buyers is a big (but necessary) investment for your business, so we want to equip you with the insights on how to best send those samples to buyers.

We surveyed buyers using RangeMe to better understand their sample preferences. Read on to learn what to include with your sample and how to package and label the box it’s shipped in. 

The Inside

When putting your sample box together, think about the first impression it will have on the buyer. A disorganized box with missing information or improperly packaged items will indicate to the buyer you’re either not taking the opportunity seriously or your business is not at the readiness level needed to work with established retailers.  

When asked about the number of units of the sample that should be included, a majority of buyers want two units of each sample. If you have similar items or better selling items than the product that was originally sampled, most buyers are okay with you including them too. But sending additional products should be done within reason — the products should fit the same nutritional criteria (sugar-free or gluten-free) or purpose (if the buyer requests a pet product, don’t send them a baby product from your other product line) that the buyer originally sought. Do know that if you do send products outside the one requested, you might not get feedback on that product until the category is under review.

To accompany the product samples you send, include information on your product offering, the brand, your business and your distribution. Specifically, buyers want you to include the following items:

• Marketing brochure
• Pricing sheet
• Distributor information
• MOQ (minimum order quantity; smaller retailers are interested in this)
• Business card

To aid buyers in providing feedback on your sample, we’ve created an instruction sheet for you to include with your samples.

These instructions will guide buyers in finding your product or message again on the RangeMe platform. The RangeMe Feedback Instructions are on the RangeMe Sample Shipping Instructions — attached to this article for download! Read through the instructions carefully and add information about your brand and products.

The Outside

Now that you’ve put all the necessary items in your sample box, you need to think about packaging. Are any of your items breakable or glass? Make sure they are properly wrapped or packaged so they are not broken upon arrival. (This happens more often than you think!) Do your items need to be refrigerated or frozen? It is crucial these items are packaged with proper cooling, otherwise they will spoil and will be tossed the moment it arrives at the buyer’s desk.

Clear, obvious labeling on the outside of the box is extremely important because it will help the retailer route the sample to the correct department and buyer. At a minimum, put the attention to the buyer’s name, and clearly write the department and address on the box. Additionally, label the outside of the box with "refrigerated product" or "breakable" to alert the package handlers.

To help your sample stand out from the pile of boxes on the buyer’s desk, we created a RangeMe Sample Label to help buyers recognize the products they personally requested off of RangeMe and prioritize which samples they open first. Download the RangeMe Sample Shipping Instructions and cut out and tape the RangeMe Sample Label to the box.

Package has been shipped!

Once you’ve packaged and sent your sample, don’t forget to share your tracking number with the buyer so you both can monitor the delivery status. If you grow antsy waiting for feedback on your sample, read the best practices on how and when to follow up in the third section of the Product Samples Guide.

Click here to continue to Section 3: Following up on Your Sample. 

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This article is part of the Product Samples Guide.