stores are tempting shoppers with samples
Dee D’Amico, 70, paid her bill, picked up her bag, proceeded to the exit, halted and eyed the food samples as if she were on a mission.
She bypassed the rosemary-infused extra virgin olive oil and crackers in favor of a cube of Bavarian smoked cheese on the tip of a toothpick.
But she did not eat it.
“It’s for my little dog, Sassy. I shop here often and always on my way out I check the sample table to see if there’s something for Sassy,” said D’Amico, whose 8-year-old miniature American Eskimo always waits in the car while she makes her weekly visit to Lotsa Pasta in St. Matthews.
“She’ll be very disappointed if she doesn’t have something for the drive home.”
Customers, too, would be disappointed if Lotsa Pasta, Whole Foods Market, Heitzman Bakery, Baskin-Robbins and other places noted for their modest-to-lavish complimentary offerings folded up their sample tables.
During these recessionary times, a free nibble is a nice touch, designed to put shoppers in a good mood and inspire them to purchase the sampled item if they like it.
On that recent day, Sassy missed out on other Lotsa Pasta samples, including salsa, sun-dried tomato-cheddar spread, tortilla chips and Breton mini crackers.
For an edible treasure hunt, just walk through the aisles of Whole Foods on Shelbyville Road. The produce section entices with crudités (including broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery and white asparagus) waiting to be dipped in a Dijon wasabi sauce.
At the seafood counter, hunger pangs can be assuaged from succulent samples of lobster chowder, seafood gumbo and Maryland-style crab soup.
As you continue grazing, er, shopping, you’ll encounter smoked salmon spread, New York flat bread with pepper jack cream cheese, New Zealand cheddar and smoked mozzarella pasta salad.
Shopper/sampler Sarah Gray, a real-estate agent from Crescent Hill, is a big fan of Whole Foods’ samples.
“I think samples work. They generate business. If I try something and like it, I’ll generally buy it — particularly because I would feel guilty trying all these samples and not buying at least one,” said Gray, 44, who frequents Whole Foods every other week.
Whole Foods marketing specialist Tim Roethgen acknowledged that “These are challenging times for everyone and samples in our store are more important than ever … sampling is part of our culture, and our team members love to share delicious food and customers enjoy the fun interaction.”
At Liquor Barn’s Springhurst location people ages 21 and older can sip free wine samples from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturdays in the new Tasting Bar.
Recently, those of age could try Cape Diamond merlot, Graham Beck sauvignon blanc and Jim Beam Black Label (straight or on the rocks with Coke) while customers of all ages filled up on Mountain Gorgonzola from Italy, guacamole dip and slices of Blue Dog Bakery baguettes.
The store’s olive bar is always equipped with toothpicks, encouraging customers to try green olives with Sicilian herbs, Lombardo peppers with garlic cloves, onion-stuffed jumbo green olives and a Greek olive mix.
“For many customers, this is their place to stop by for an appetizer on their way home,” said manager Kim Strange.
Scott Buckingham, a general contractor from Prospect, shops at Liquor Barn twice a week and said he enjoys hanging out for a while at the Tasting Bar.
“You really learn a lot through this adventure of tasting. Yes, there’s the money-saving factor (free samples) but it’s exciting for me to try different items from around the world that I would otherwise not taste,” said Buckingham, 56, who had high praise for the Port Salut semi-soft cheese sample from France.
Valu Market at Iroquois Manor Shopping Center, located in an ethnically diverse neighborhood in south Louisville, sells a variety of foods with an accent on Cuban, Bosnian, African, Jamaican and Asian cultures.
“It’s important to offer samples to get our customers open to new flavors and experiences when it comes to food,” said grocery manager Bill Boberg, who added that the store’s Cuban sandwich (marinated roast pork, Swiss cheese and ham) is the most sampled item.
Fried plantains, potato balls and ham croquettes also are popular, he said.
Simple sample strategies
Even if sample tables aren’t set up during your grocery shopping excursion store personnel are generally amenable to offer a sample upon request. For example, if you’re curious about the mesquite-smoked turkey breast in the Kroger deli just ask for a slice.
Dozens of other places in Kentuckiana routinely tempt shoppers with free food morsels.
Among them are Costco, Sam’s Club, ice cream parlors (including Graeter’s, Baskin-Robbins, Cold Stone Creamery and Bruster’s), most bakeries, Paul’s Fruit Markets, Williams-Sonoma and all the major grocery chains.
This article originally appeared in The Courier-Journal and was written by Ken Neuhauser.
SO WHAT'S THE POINT??? LOL THE SAMPLE BAG IS ALL ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS SAMPLES, BUSINESS SERVICES, ETC.! IF PEOPLE GET TO TRY THEM, USE THEM, TASTE THEM, SMELL THEM, ETC. THEY WILL EVENTUALLY BUY THEM IF THEY LIKE THEM! THIS IS WHAT TSB IS ALL ABOUT. SAMPLES DO MAKE SALES! IT'S BEEN PROVEN AND TRIED BY MILLIONS! EVEN IF THIS ARTICLE IS ONLY ABOUT FOOD PRODUCTS, HOW MANY OTHER COMPANIES DO THIS TYPE OF THING? THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS IS YOUR ANSWER IF NOT IN THE MILLIONS...IT WORKS! OTHERWISE IT WOULDN'T BE DONE...LOGICAL EH?
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ONWARDS AND UPWARDS WE GO!