Taking Sampling from the Streets to the Internet
Responding to the needs of retailers having difficulty reaching potential customers interested in sampling products, Luke 19 created Sample Hyakkaten.
In Japan, product samples are often handed out near large terminal stations or in crowded streets. Sample Hyakkaten takes this process online and makes it convenient for companies to deliver product samples and collect survey results from potential customers.
The site currently has one hundred thousand registered members and its most popular sections include sampling cosmetic and health products. By responding to surveys and sending comments on product samples, users collect points in order to receive more samples. Currently, its users are mostly women but there is great potential for products targeting male, elderly, and teenage audiences. The site is considering adding a function where companies can sell products that are popular among registered members.
B.A. in International Affairs from the University of Puget Sound in Washington.