How To Drive Holiday Sales With Product Samples
Make the most of your winter with Spring!
Puns aside, the holiday season is for real. It’s a time of year when creators can make 300%-more-sales-than-the-rest-of-the-year…For real.
Maybe you’ve spent all year pouring your heart and soul into creating killer designs and products (read here if you think you may have missed a step). Or maybe you haven’t been giving it your all and now you’re ready to make a big holiday push.
In either case, here comes the real challenge: Making sales and getting the word out there to make it happen. The answer to that challenge is showcasing product samples.
Here us out: Using samples of your products in your content is the easiest way to spread the word about your holiday products.
Why is this so effective?
First, it lets people see the product IRL. It’s one thing to see a static picture of a T-shirt, it’s another to see how that shirt looks on a human being (you).
Second, it sends a subliminal message to your fans that you are also a fan of your product. Your fans (and potential customers) are thinking, “They must really believe in their product if they’re showcasing it in their video.” A fan is your fan already because they like your style, trust you, and want to follow your lead. And to a potential buyer it’s a lot more credible than a stock image of your merch.
So, with that and Black Friday in mind, let’s triple your sales and more!
Step 1: Order Your Sample
This is the “duh” step. You can’t show off products in your content if you haven’t ordered them, so don’t delay—the sooner you order, the sooner your content gets made, the sooner you can promote and get sales in before shipping deadlines!
To order samples, watch this video or follow the steps below:
- Sign into Spring
- Click “Listings” on the left-hand menu
- Click “Order a sample” of the product you want to order
- Fill out your shipping and payment information
- Click “Place your order”
You can also click here to go directly to your listings page.
Samples need to ship, so make sure you order them at least a week before you want to start posting content about your products!
Step 2: Create content using your samples
Ok. The samples have arrived. Now what? Maybe you already know what you’re doing, great. But maybe you feel lost. You have no idea how to create content with samples.
Here are a few tips to get started:
- Un”Wrapping” Videos
Your first video may end up starting before you’ve even opened your sample! This is the time to really spread the hype! The excitement of watching you open your products for the first time in an unboxing video is contagious. And since the holidays are all about the excitement of opening gifts, treat your sample as a gift you just received in the mail. Show how special it is to open. Heck, wrap it up like a present and dig in! Then your fans will want to spread that experience to others, or even gift themselves your merch!
- Holiday Photo Shoot
Get into the Holiday spirit, literally! Make your merch look like it belongs under the tree! Top it with a bow! Get creative.
It’s not terribly expensive to light a photo shoot well, but you should read up on lighting basics if you’re not familiar. The goal is to shoot your products in different styles and settings.
Whether it’s a DIY photoshoot at home or a professional one, showcase your products and how they can be incorporated into either special occasions or everyday life.
Experiment with different lighting techniques, backgrounds, and accessories to create content that is visually appealing.
- Livestream a Try-On Party
Doing a livestream infuses spontaneity into your merch. Why not host a try-on sesh to demo your products in real-time?
When you’re LIVE, you can take questions from your audience, they can provide you with instant feedback, and even vote on their favorite designs and styles.
The interactive approach helps you build community, invites your fans to help you make future product design decisions, and of course showcases your current products!
- Product Comparison Reviews
Ever wonder why so many advertisers use before-and-after pics? People naturally want to improve things, no matter what they are. It’s the same concept when comparing one product to another.
Pick any item in your house to compare to your product. Let’s say your product is a tank top. Hang it side-by-side to an average tank that pales compared to yours.
Or maybe your product is a coffee mug with a killer design on it. Put yours next to a plain white mug that really makes yours pop!
- Showcase Styling Ideas
Let’s say you have multiple product samples that are either accessories or apparel. Show your fans how you can mix and match them with other pieces to complete a cohesive outfit. Example: You throw on some jeans, a blazer and some shoes with your branded tee that will make the whole outfit pop.
Or if you have a summer tote bag, try on a cute summer ensemble that goes great with your bag.
- Influencer Holiday Collaborations
There’s no validation like 3rd-party validation. Another legit influencer or creator who endorses your merch is gold. But remember: You need to return the favor and do the same for them.
Join forces for epic collabs like videos, giveaways, or photo shoots that showcase both your brands. Make it a Holiday brand party! It’s a win-win that’ll help you boost your street cred and reach new audiences at the same time.
- Storytelling and Brand Narratives
Are you a natural storyteller? If not, can you spin narratives? Or at the very least, share the heart and soul of your brand, whether it be customer testimonials, the inspiration behind your merch, or personal anecdotes. We just did a blog on telling your story! Check it out here.
The holidays are rapidly approaching!
There’s no time to wait! You need to start promoting now to get those sales rolling by Black Friday.
Whether it’s through user-generated content campaigns, styled photo shoots, or unboxing videos, each method offers a unique opportunity to connect on a deeper level with your fans, which of course drives them to making the purchase.
Oh, and by the way…Doing all of the above automatically checks off one of your Holiday Bingo Squares!
Remember, there are real cash prizes to be won! So start taking those steps—they will help you have a profitable holiday season!