Brands Are Handing Out Freebies at Walmart as Online Ads Lose Appeal
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Online ads are delivering less bang for the click these days, so brands are turning to an old brick-and-mortar marketing gimmick: handing out free samples at the local supermarket.
In stores across the US, companies are doling out everything from small-batch nut butter and sanitary wipes to Halloween-themed Oreos. While warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's have been offering freebies for years, more retailers are discovering that samples provide something digital marketing can't: a chance for shoppers to try products before buying them.
After conducting a successful trial, Walmart Inc. recently announced plans to expand samples to more than 1,000 locations. In May, grocery giant Wakefern Food Corp. said it would put freebie vending machines in 95 ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer s...