How to Get Free Products from Companies and Manufacturers

11 min read

For small business owners, scoring free products from companies and manufacturers can be a game-changer. Not only does it save money, but it also allows them to try out new products and build valuable partnerships.

However, many small business owners struggle with acquiring free products and often miss out on these opportunities. Imagine slashing costs and expanding your product line — all without any financial risk.
But fear not because we are here to explain how to get free products for small business owners.

In this blog post, you will learn how to receive free products and samples for your business, why companies are willing to provide free products, and how to establish mutually beneficial partnerships.

Benefits of Getting Free Products for Your Business

For small businesses, acquiring products for free can reduce overhead costs and enable more flexible pricing strategies because you are not bound to a large inventory.

Here are some of the benefits of receiving free items for your business when looking for products to sell:

Cost savings: As a small business owner, you know that every penny counts. By getting free products, you can save money on inventory and allocate those funds to other areas of your business.
Product testing: Trying out new products can be expensive for small businesses. However, by receiving samples or promotional items for free, you can test them and determine which ones work best for your business without any financial risk.
Elevate your business profile: When companies provide free products to your business, it shows that they trust and value your opinion. This trust and endorsement can elevate your business’s profile for future partnerships.

Why Do Companies Provide Free Products?

Companies often give out free products for several reasons:

Product promotion: Free products help increase brand awareness, ultimately leading to more sales in the future.
Market research: Companies often offer free product trials to gather feedback from consumers before officially launching new products.
Partnerships: Collaborations with small businesses allow companies to reach new markets and expand their customer base, making it a mutually beneficial partnership.

How to Get Free Products From Companies

Without a solid relationship with a manufacturer, figuring out how to get free products can be tricky. So, how do you go about requesting samples from companies?

There are a few different approaches, and they might vary from one company to another.

Check the Company’s Website

The easiest method for companies to offer free products is by allowing consumers to fill out a form on their website. Some companies publicly display their free sample programs and aim to make the process as simple as possible.

If you find a company whose products you’d like to test, it’s always worth checking. Take a look around their website to see if they have a link to a form for free products. Alternatively, you can click on individual items on the manufacturer’s website to see if those products are offered for free.

This process usually requires no effort on your part. You might need to confirm your identity or business so that the company can determine whether it’s worth it to send you products. However, apart from filling out a form, no additional work is necessary.

Contact the Company Directly

If you can’t find a Free Sample form on a company’s website, don’t worry—you can usually find their contact information.

Most companies list at least a phone number and email address online. You might find a physical address or their social media accounts. Any of these options are great ways to reach out and ask about free samples.

Before reaching out to companies for free products, build your brand and credibility. Companies and manufacturers are more likely to team up with businesses they see as valuable partners.

Begin by polishing your brand’s image, emphasizing professionalism, reliability, and great customer engagement:

Ensure your website is up-to-date and user-friendly (If you don’t have a site yet, Ecwid is an excellent choice as it’s free and easy to use)
Maintain an active presence on social media, displaying your products and engaging with followers
Share customer reviews and testimonials that demonstrate your customer satisfaction.

When crafting a proposal to secure free products, highlight the mutual benefits of collaboration:

Present your business as a platform for promoting their products
Emphasize your reach in your niche market by sharing metrics like website traffic, social media following, and customer demographics.

Attend Trade Shows or Networking Events

Trade shows and networking events are great opportunities to connect with different businesses and showcase your own products. Make sure to bring plenty of business cards and be prepared to share information about your brand.

At these events, companies may offer free samples or promotional items as a way to attract potential buyers and partners. Take advantage of these opportunities by networking with different businesses and introducing yourself to company representatives.

Sign Up for Free Product Sampling Programs

If you’re not going through manufacturers directly, some services offer free products from various companies. One of the most well-known programs of this variety is Amazon Vine, which sends free products to trusted Amazon reviewers.

The downside of these programs is that you might have less control over the products you receive. This option works if you haven’t settled on a specific product to sell yet and want to explore the market for ideas.

Examples of Companies That Send Free Products

The list of companies that will send you free products is longer than we can possibly share here. As mentioned, plenty of companies may be willing to send free products without advertising them.

That said, many notable companies have a reputation for sending free products. Here are just a few that are good to know about.

4Imprint

4Imprint is a company that specializes in manufacturing customized promotional materials for businesses. Companies can use 4Imprint to manufacture custom clothing, office supplies, electronics, and more.

4Imprint is also known for its exceptional customer service, which includes easy access to free samples on many of its products. This is perfect for companies who are looking to grow their brand image with promotional materials.

McCormick

The McCormick Consumer Testing allows individuals to sign up for free samples of McCormick flavoring and food products.

McCormick is one of America’s leading food and flavor manufacturers. McCormick spices, foods, and condiments can be found in most major grocery stores around the country. You can sign up to test their new products for free on their website.

The Republic of Tea

Whether you’re opening a cafe or food business, free samples from the Republic of Tea are a great idea. Republic of Tea offers an extremely wide selection of unique and premium tea flavors.

You can contact the Republic of Tea by phone or email to request free samples of their products.

Tom’s of Maine

Tom’s of Maine is a manufacturer of personal care and hygiene products. The company’s toothpaste, deodorants, and bath items can be found at many major retail stores throughout the country.

Tom’s of Maine is open to social media partnerships which might include free product samples. Make sure to prepare your social media kit when contacting them.

These are just a few well-known brands that might send you free products. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of other businesses eager to share free samples. Often, the best way to discover them is simply to reach out and ask.

Wrap Up

Free products give you a chance to try out goods and check their quality before committing to a big purchase. This way, you can make smart product choices and ensure you offer only the best to your customers.

Use the tips and resources shared in this guide to get free samples from companies. Then, work on building your brand and reaching out to potential partners. With a little effort and ingenuity, you can secure valuable partnerships and grow your business with free products.

Remember, never stop exploring different opportunities for collaboration. The more proactive you are in seeking out free product opportunities, the better your chances of finding great products that will benefit both your business and customers.

Sell online

With Ecwid Ecommerce, you can easily sell anywhere, to anyone — across the internet and around the world.

Get started

Preparing to Launch

Oct 10, 2024

About the author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.