2-3 oz Rub Samples at Competitions

Heath Hall · Dec 27, 2012

Any of you guys ever put your rub in 2-3 ounce sample bags to hand out at competitions as a way to promote your rubs? We're thinking about doing it this season and looking for a place that we can send some rub to and have bag, seal and label some sample rub bags for us to hand out. Any suggestions? Thanks!

hogzgonewild · Dec 27, 2012

The rub company I use, they were looking into getting the company that makes the individual grated parmesan cheese and red pepper packs, that you get with Pizza take out, to make some of those with an ounce or so of rub in them.

I think I've seen Butt Rub in those too.

scm1226 · Dec 27, 2012

Put it over popcorn for those to taste it while they are walking by.

Teamfour · Dec 27, 2012

We never did rub samples, but in our soap business we handed out hand lotion samples. The easiest and cheapest way was to buy the heat seal-able foil pouches in bulk, squirt some lotion in each one, seal them with a cheap bag sealer and print labels on the inkjet.

By doing this we were always assured of the product being fresh and allowed us to vary the product by season or event.

Jacked UP BBQ · Dec 27, 2012

Heath, I did it before. I actually used small rub bottles. My thought was if there is not enough rub to cook with, whats the point. I believe I used 6oz bottles. To be honest I never really followed up with selling my rub so I can say whether it worked or not. I can tell you that pretty much any organizer you call would be happy to get extra items for the team bags if they have them. Good Luck

Slamdunkpro · Dec 27, 2012

I don't bother with the sample rubs in the little mustard / ketchup sized pouches, I just toss em since there isn't enough in them do even do 1 pork chop. Like Matt said if there isn't enough to cook with and evaluate why bother.

Teamfour · Dec 27, 2012

Slamdunkpro said:
I don't bother with the sample rubs in the little mustard / ketchup sized pouches, I just toss em since there isn't enough in them do even do 1 pork chop. Like Matt said if there isn't enough to cook with and evaluate why bother.

Agree on comments about little packets. Our foil pouches were 3 oz. that much rub may do a couple of slabs of ribs.

Dan - 3eyzbbq · Dec 27, 2012

The cost is prohibitive. It takes just as much time to pack and label those as it does a 1lb bag. That said if you get a place that does it cheap, please let me know.

Not sure I agree with the reasoning behind NOT doing the small sample packs. 1 or 2 oz of liquor isn't enough to get me drunk but I'll still drink those mini bottles......

rexbbq · Dec 27, 2012

Couldn't agree more.

Dan - 3eyzbbq said:
The cost is prohibitive. It takes just as much time to pack and label those as it does a 1lb bag. That said if you get a place that does it cheap, please let me know.

Not sure I agree with the reasoning behind NOT doing the small sample packs. 1 or 2 oz of liquor isn't enough to get me drunk but I'll still drink those mini bottles......

Hot Wachulas · Dec 27, 2012

Just get some small ziploc bags from uline. print out some inkjet labels on label paper from staples and your good to go. Make sure your mailing address and ph# are on the labels and and something like sample only, not for resale.
Otherwise you have to do serious volume for it to be cost effective.

Heath Hall · Dec 27, 2012

Dan - 3eyzbbq said:
The cost is prohibitive. It takes just as much time to pack and label those as it does a 1lb bag. That said if you get a place that does it cheap, please let me know.

Not sure I agree with the reasoning behind NOT doing the small sample packs. 1 or 2 oz of liquor isn't enough to get me drunk but I'll still drink those mini bottles......

Dan - I love your justification here! Couldn't agree more!! I'll let you know if I find someone that can do it at an affordable rate!

Heath Hall · Dec 27, 2012

I'm looking for something more professional than a ziplock bag. We get asked all the time for product for gift bags, donations, at food shows, etc... and I want something that would also work for these times.

dmprantz · Dec 28, 2012

Talk to Jimmy from Everglades Seasoning. They (ES not Jimmy) used to have small samples of their seasonings to hand out. Not sure if any of them would help "competition" but it wouldn't hurt to ask

dmp

bdodd444 · Dec 28, 2012

Dan - 3eyzbbq said:
The cost is prohibitive. It takes just as much time to pack and label those as it does a 1lb bag. That said if you get a place that does it cheap, please let me know.

Not sure I agree with the reasoning behind NOT doing the small sample packs. 1 or 2 oz of liquor isn't enough to get me drunk but I'll still drink those mini bottles......

I'm no marketing wiz, but I imagine a dozen or so GC's in a season leads to a pretty decent boost in rub sales...:-D

big brother smoke · Dec 28, 2012

I have done three batches of 2oz samples whilst getting started for approximately $1.25 per. The cost adds up fast, and I am not sure folks at comps feel that a sample is enough to make a decision.
However, I did see a return on my investment, when I would put samples in the mail orders for new customers when they bought our rubs. I would place samples of not purchased rubs in the shipment.

sdbbq1234 · Dec 28, 2012

A couple of years ago, I purchased a Sampler pack from Dizzy Pig team while at the New Holland BBQ fest. There were about 10 small zip-lock baggies with seasonings.

While it seemed like a good idea at the time, when we got home, there really wasn't enough in the small baggies to do much with.

For me, I would be willing to spend more for "sampler packs" if there was enough to coat a rack of ribs. That being said, I never really measured how much I use on a rack of ribs (I do know that of the 2 comps we have been in, it seems I am always short on some ingredient :doh: ).

I did purchase a bag from the 3Eyz team while at another competition and I did go thru that pretty quick. I think it was the 1lb bag; paid like $10.00 for it. (Good stuff!!)

wallace

Muzzlebrake · Dec 28, 2012

The Slabs used to have samples that came in a small ziplock, maybe 2"x3". I believe they had to hand fill them and then stuck a small label on each.

I found that people other than BBQ competitors liked them. While I agree that they usually don't contain enough to cook a brisket or butt, they do offer enough for the average person to use on something to give them an idea of the flavors. In talking to folks at contests, I have found that not everyone goes home and cooks a couple of butts and 3-4 racks but they will often cook a rack or 2, a few pieces of chicken and maybe a steak or something like that and the samples offered plenty of product to do that.

I think you are going to find that you have to make them yourself, it will get expensive pretty quickly if you have someone else make them up for you.

Ryan Chester · Dec 28, 2012

big brother smoke said:
I have done three batches of 2oz samples whilst getting started for approximately $1.25 per. The cost adds up fast, and I am not sure folks at comps feel that a sample is enough to make a decision.
However, I did see a return on my investment, when I would put samples in the mail orders for new customers when they bought our rubs. I would place samples of not purchased rubs in the shipment.

Steph is right - He actually thew my samples in his orders which resulted in increased sales of my product on his site. I can't remember if I got them done through my old or current co-packer. Shoot me an email and I will give you both names. Can't remember the cost but might be worth a call.

Ryan Chester · Dec 28, 2012

big brother smoke said:
I have done three batches of 2oz samples whilst getting started for approximately $1.25 per. The cost adds up fast, and I am not sure folks at comps feel that a sample is enough to make a decision.
However, I did see a return on my investment, when I would put samples in the mail orders for new customers when they bought our rubs. I would place samples of not purchased rubs in the shipment.

Steph is right - He actually thew my samples in his orders which resulted in increased sales of my product on his site. I can't remember if I got them done through my old or current co-packer. Shoot me an email and I will give you both names. Can't remember the cost but might be worth a call.

Jacked UP BBQ · Dec 28, 2012

Dan - 3eyzbbq said:
The cost is prohibitive. It takes just as much time to pack and label those as it does a 1lb bag. That said if you get a place that does it cheap, please let me know.

Not sure I agree with the reasoning behind NOT doing the small sample packs. 1 or 2 oz of liquor isn't enough to get me drunk but I'll still drink those mini bottles......

Actually now that you mention it, I have used the small bags. I used a pouch of stephy style on my chicken once.. So maybe they do better than my thought process. Any publicity is good publicity. I dont think they are a bad idea, that was just my thought process. I get hammered off an airplane bottle, dont make fun of me!:becky:

2-3 oz Rub Samples at Competitions

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