People eat first with their eyes
Have you ever heard the expression “People eat with their eyes”? It’s an idiom I recently learned, but I can certainly verify that it’s true. Did you also know that research suggests that people are less likely to eat or sometimes even drink things that are blue, since it seems like the least natural color to ingest? Strange, isn’t it?
But if you think about it, it actually doesn’t seem that strange. When it comes to fine cuisine, we generally want it to appeal to all of our senses. For example, have you ever come home when your spouse was cooking dinner and the aroma filled the entire house? You could feel your mouth watering as you followed your nose into the kitchen, right?
Knowing these things can be a huge key to unlocking your customer base if you’re in the food retail industry. This means it’s not just about the packaging anymore; Not only should your logo be pretty and your tagline catchy, but the food itself should be visually appealing.
One way to attract potential customers without having to prepare an entire gourmet meal that is still delicious is to create and give out samples of your product. This is a very calm and risk-free way for buyers to literally see what your product is all about, not to mention how it tastes and/or smells!
If you find that your product isn’t attractive on its own (on a plate or in a paper cup), you might want to think about making some adjustments if possible, especially if it has to do with color. The color in food products is one of the easiest things to change, so keep in mind what I said earlier about people being repulsed by food products that are blue. If people aren’t even attracted to your samples, that could be the reason!
Providing samples at grocery stores, pharmacies, specialty food stores, or wholesale warehouses can be difficult, especially since it can be a bit expensive on your part. But try it for a day or two on a weekend, and maybe try it at a community event like a farmers market. If you notice an increase in your sales, it may be worth continuing the practice at certain high traffic times!
In my personal opinion, you should avoid handing out literature about your product or using salespeople to run the sample counter. This undoubtedly scares people away.
Make sure the display is beautiful too; Whether you are selling hot or cold food, it can be equally attractive. But if your product also smells especially good, make sure those scents seep in from time to time, too. Good luck!