Method for measuring effectiveness of sampling activity and providing pre-market product feedback

Abstract

Methods, systems and devices for evaluating a product sampling event. The disclosed methods, systems and devices receive from a user a user identification specific to the user and compare the user identification to a user data set stored on a computer-readable medium. A sample is then delivered based on a predetermined condition, and a product value is changed after the step of causing delivery of the sample of the product. It can then be determined whether the user purchased the product after delivery of the sample of the product and, based on that determination, a sampling event value can be assigned. The user's preferences can also be used to provide a more custom sample with a user's order for example, with online or home delivery shopping.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a location that holds samples of a product in a product sample storage container and/or distributes samples with a product sample dispenser;   one or more processors, in communication with the location, that, collectively or independently:
 obtain customer preferences of a customer; 
 compare the customer preferences to sample data associated with the samples; 
 determine one or more samples that most closely match the customer preferences; 
 communicate with the location to deliver a sample of the product to the customer; 
 determine whether the customer purchased the product associated with the sample after delivery of the sample; and 
 assign a sampling event value based on the step of determining whether the customer purchased the product. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors determine, based on the sampling event value, whether to provide further marketing communications to the customer relating to the product. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the customer preferences are determined based on online shopping performed by the customer. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the customer preferences are represented by a customer preferences alphanumeric value, the samples include multiple different samples corresponding to different products and having sample alphanumeric values, and the step of comparing the customer preferences to data associated with the samples includes comparing the customer alphanumeric values with the sample alphanumeric values. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the customer preferences includes a past purchase history of products purchased by the customer. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the customer preferences include data relating to customer behavior at past sampling events. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining a probability of the customer purchasing the product. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 providing a location that holds samples of a product in a product sample storage container and/or distributes samples with a product sample dispenser;   obtaining customer preferences of a customer;   comparing the customer preferences to sample data associated with the samples;   determining one or more samples that most closely match the customer preferences;   providing a sample of the product to the customer based on the customer preferences;   determining whether the customer purchased the product associated with the sample after providing the sample; and   assigning a sampling event value based on the step of determining whether the customer purchased the product.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining, based on the sampling event value, whether to provide further marketing communications to the customer relating to the product. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the customer preferences are determined based on online shopping performed by the customer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the customer preferences are represented by a customer preferences alphanumeric value, the samples include multiple different samples corresponding to different products and having sample alphanumeric values, and the step of comparing the customer preferences to data associated with the samples includes comparing the customer alphanumeric values with the sample alphanumeric values. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the customer preferences includes a past purchase history of products purchased by the customer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the customer preferences includes data relating to customer behavior at past sampling events. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of determining a probability of the customer purchasing the product.