There’s nothing more off-putting than dwindling sales and fewer customer visits to your store.
But what if you could change that?
Research shows that 82% of customers like to “view and feel” a product before buying it.
As we’re almost ushering into the beginning of 2024, you must be aware that customers are super-conscious of their choices.
They’re curious; they want to see if the products offered are the real deal or a far cry from their convincing marketing.
This is where the “try before you buy” can instil confidence and make your customers purchase the products right away.
Let’s learn more about this technique, how you can adopt it as a clever marketing strategy and more.
Experience Sells More Than Words: Introduction to the Try Before Buy Method
One of the key factors in optimising retail is improving customer experience.
And while we try almost everything, customers don’t take our word for it until they try the product and see it for themselves.
Many customers are sceptical about buying things from a new or unfamiliar store. They may be concerned that the products will not appear exactly like the packaging, that the size will be different, or other reasons.
This is one of the biggest concerns buyers face in the case of online shopping and conventional purchasing (when they don’t have an idea how the product works.)
So, even if your wholesale products are in great demand, the inability to test them before purchasing can be frustrating for your customers.
However, by applying the “try before you buy” technique, you can overcome these concerns and increase your chances of selling the product.
Reasons to Let Your Customers Try the Products Before Purchasing Them
The try before you buy is not only one of the most convincing ways to close the deal. It is also about improving the customer experience at your significantly.
You see, trying a product can even evoke feedback from customers that you wouldn’t usually get from another offer. Feedback can help you improve the collection of products you have on hand and serve those customers who visit you next time.
Implementing a try-before-you-purchase strategy can increase consumer confidence and loyalty while also increasing the likelihood of customers referring others to your online store.
According to research, 90% of buyers are more likely to buy a product if a friend or family member suggests it.
If you want to expand, you should include this technique in your brand to provide a more personalised buying experience.
How To Implement “Try Before Buy” to Your Store
Implementing a “Try Before Buy” policy in your store can be an effective way to boost customer confidence and increase sales.
Here are steps to help you implement this sales technique.
1. Define the Terms and Conditions
Clearly outline the terms of your “Try Before Buy” policy.
Specify the duration of the trial period, what products are eligible, and any other relevant conditions. Make sure customers understand what they’re agreeing to.
Ambiguous terms can lead to confusion and prevent your customers from having an ideal trial experience.
2. Choose Eligible Products
The next thing you would want to do is offer the products for trial.
It could be a specific product category or certain items that you’re confident customers will want to try before making a purchase.
Items such as candy, energy drinks, cleaning products, and more can be an example.
3. Set a Trial Period
The “Try Before You Buy” is effective only when you decide on a reasonable trial period for the offer.
During this period, customers can try the products before committing to a purchase. Not only does it cause a FOMO (fear of missing out) effect on the buyers, but it also allows you to track the progress in real-time.
Usually, the common trial periods range from 7 to 30 days.
4. Collect Customer Information
For an effective offer for a trial, collect necessary customer information, including feedback, payment details and shipping addresses, so you can charge them if they choose to keep the products after the trial period.
5. Communicate the Policy
Display the “Try Before Buy” policy prominently on your website, including the specific products eligible and the trial period. Make sure customers are aware of this option before making a purchase.
6. Implement a Reminder System
A limited-period offer generates more responses from customers than perennial offers.
Implement a system to remind customers about the end of the trial period and their options to return or purchase the products.
You can also consider automated emails or notifications for this purpose.
7. Gather Feedback
Customer feedback is gold for your business, and you can thrive on it in many ways. Their input can be used to improve your trial policy and overall customer satisfaction.
8. Monitor Performance
Regularly review the performance of the “Try Before Buy” policy to see how it’s impacting your bottom line, customer satisfaction, and product returns. Adjust the policy as needed to optimise results.
9. Evaluate Financial Viability
Not many retailers have thought it out before offering the trial offer. The “Try Before Buy” policy is supposed to complement business goals and budget and not be a concern for them.
Consider factors such as potential increased sales, return rates, and associated costs.
Top 3 Creative Ideas To Apply the “Try Before Buy”
To assist your consumer in making a decision, there are four basic approaches of a try before you purchase model.
These techniques all use various technology and have varied implementation timelines.
The best strategy for your company is very dependent on the sort of goods you offer and the customer’s purchase experience.
1. Virtual Reality (VR)
Because there are no costs associated with physically shipping things, virtual reality and augmented reality try-before-you-purchase solutions have grown in popularity.
A store selling bulk beauty products or clothes can use virtual reality to show buyers exactly how the product would appear when they wear it.
Apps used by furniture businesses allow clients to construct a virtual representation of a space and then decorate it with their items.
IKEA, the Swedish furniture manufacturer, was among the first to adopt the try-before-you-buy method into their shopping experience.
While the technological obstacles are significant, this method has the potential to benefit your potential customers, who majorly influence your bottom line.
2. Free Trial
Offering a free trial is a smart method to attract people who might not otherwise buy from you.
If you sell food, for example, you may include a complimentary taste test kit. Include a little sample of your most popular flavours, for example.
If you sell health and beauty products, you can provide complimentary one-time-use samples.
Many of his products are distributed for free by third parties, such as subscription boxes or department shops.
Aveda is one business that is well-known for providing free samples to their clients in order to increase product sales.
Offering a free trial to a consumer can be incredibly helpful in assisting them in making a purchase choice. Still, the practice can quickly add considerable expenditures and cut into profits.
3. Virtual Store
Customers may “virtually” stroll through a conventional retail experience while they shop online. Some even allow customers to communicate with real people via chat or video.
This strategy combines the convenience of Internet purchasing with the atmosphere of a physical store. The buyer may visualise the object in its natural context, gaining a greater understanding of its size, shape, and textures.
During the worldwide pandemic lockdowns, World Market and Ralph Lauren both effectively adopted a variant of this virtual purchasing method.
Implementing a virtual shopping experience, like virtual reality, maybe an expensive endeavour.
The beautiful thing about virtual shopping is that the possibilities for your consumers’ experiences are limitless.
Will ‘Try Before You Buy’ Work For Your Business?
In the end, it all boils down to how the trial offer will work for your business.
Many brick-and-mortar stores get to make products fly off their shelves with this technique. If the customers instantly like the product, they will not hesitate to buy.
Plus, the ‘try before you buy’ helps you upsell or cross-sell among various categories if the customers are already shopping for a related product.
The best aspect of this technique is that it helps increase customer loyalty among your customers.
Sounds like a wonderful idea for your store? Get started on ‘Try before you buy’ and notice the difference!
