Have you ever heard the phrase “people eat with their eyes”? It’s a term I only learned recently, but I can definitely validate it. Did you also know that research indicates that people are less likely to eat or sometimes even drink blue-colored things, as it seems to be the most unnatural color to eat? Strange isn’t it?
But if you think about it, it actually doesn’t look that strange. When it comes to great cuisine, we generally want it to appeal to all of our senses. For example, have you ever come home when your husband was cooking dinner and the smell permeated the whole house? You could feel your mouth starting to water as you followed your nose into the kitchen, right?
Knowing these things can be a great key to unlocking your customer base if you are in the food retail industry. This means that it is no longer just about the packaging – not only should your logo be beautiful and your tagline catchy, but the food item itself should be visually appealing.
One way to attract potential customers without having to cook a full meal that’s still great is to create and offer samples of your product. This is a very non-threatening, no-risk way for shoppers to literally know what your product is all about – not to mention what it tastes and/or smells like!
If you realize that your product is unattractive on its own – on a small paper plate or cup – you might want to consider making some adjustments if at all possible, especially if it comes to color. Color in food products is one of the easiest things to change, so keep in mind what I said earlier about people who are repulsed by blue-colored food products. If people aren’t attracted to your samples, that might be the reason!
Offering samples at grocery stores, pharmacies, specialty food stores, or wholesale warehouses can be challenging, especially since it can be expensive on your part. But just give it a try for a day or two over the weekend, and maybe try it out at some community event like the farmer’s market. If you notice an increase in your sales, continuing this practice during times of high traffic may be worth it!
In my personal opinion, you should avoid handing out prints of your product or using salespeople to run a sample counter. This undoubtedly drives people away.
Make sure the display is also pretty – whether you’re selling cold or hot food, it can be just as attractive. But if your product smells particularly good, make sure those smells drop in from time to time, too. good luck!
