 |
The Sampler is a monthly mailing featuring works from indie crafters, record labels and zines. It's also a wicked website where people can find links and go shopping!
Contributions can be just about anything you feel represents the kind and quality of your work. It is preferable that they be light-weight, yet still super fun to receive. Our boxes are 11.75" X 10.75" X 2.25" If you're having trouble imagining what sorts of things would make good samples, please see our Gallery for a look at what has previously been contributed. For information on the difference between a sample and a promo, please visit the FAQ page!
In exchange for their samples, Contributors receive:
- a free Sampler for the month of their contribution.
- distribution of samples and promo materials to other indie businesses, Sampler subscribers & members of the media -- magazine editors & writers. For more info on the sorts of media outlets that receive the Sampler, please see our Media Contacts Page!
- promotion through the Sampler website with the display of URLS, blurbs, and the very important Gallery!
- discounts on Advertising and the Media-Only sample program.
The benefits of contributing to the Sampler vary according to the number of samples you contribute. The breakdown of samples to benefits is given below.
- Free Sampler subscription for that month
- Promo materials included in that month's promo packs
- Product images posted to the Sampler Gallery
- Mention on the Contributors' Page along with your logo and a bio/blurb about yourself/company. Please provide ASAP. See below for details.
- Discounted rate on banner ads on the site! (see: Advertising)
- Free Sampler subscription for that month
- Promo materials included in promo packs for two months (the month in which you contribute plus one), even if you don't contribute again! The # of subscribers grows and grows, so please provide as many as you can!
- Product images posted to the Sampler Gallery
- Mention on the Contributors' Page along with your logo and a bio/blurb about yourself/company. Please provide both ASAP; see below for details!
- Discounted rate on banner ads on the site! (see: Advertising)
- Free Sampler subscription for that month
- Promo materials in promo packs for three months, (the month in which you contribute plus two) even if you don't contribute again! The # of subscribers grows and grows, so please provide as many as you can!
- Product images posted to the Sampler Gallery
- Mention on the Contributors' Page along with your logo and a bio/blurb about yourself/company. Please provide both ASAP; see below for details!
- Greatly discounted rate on banner ads on the site! (see: Advertising)
- Free Sampler subscription for that month
- Promo materials in promo packs for three months, (the month in which you contribute plus two) even if you don't contribute again! The # of subscribers grows and grows, so please provide as many as you can!
- Product images posted to the Sampler Gallery
- Mention on the Contributors' Page along with your logo and a bio/blurb about yourself/company. Please provide both ASAP; see below for details!
- Greatly discounted rate on banner ads on the site! (see: Advertising)
- No fee and unlimited contributions to the Media Sampler Program!
- Your product image will absolutely make it to the Sampler homepage!
Sometimes Contributors get really fired up and send in tons of quality samples, and for this we are incredibly grateful! So, we've created a brand new category for these Contributors, with special benefits!
There is, of course, the regular stuff:
- Free Sampler subscription for that month
- Promo materials in promo packs for three months, (the month in which you contribute plus two) even if you don't contribute again! The # of subscribers grows and grows, so please provide as many as you can!
- Product images posted to the Sampler Gallery
- Mention on the Contributors' Page with your logo and a bio/blurb about yourself/company. Please provide both ASAP; see below for details!
- No fee and unlimited contributions to the Media Sampler Program!
- Your product image will be posted alone on the Sampler Homepage, along with your bio, logo, and a link to your site.
- You'll get a free ad for a month on the Sampler site (see: Advertising)
- Your product image will be featured in the Sampler Zine along with your logo and blurb!
The Sampler is now offering another option for promoting your business to members of the media, Media-Only Samples. If there's something extra-special you're working on, some new products you're about to launch or certain items you feel to be too costly to make multiples of, the Media-Only Samples option may be right for you. For more info, Click Here.
To Contribute to the Sampler, you'll need to send us a little email so we can approve your samples and send you the information you'll need to contribute.
Contribution inquiries can be directed to wonderful Alison at contribute@homeofthesampler.com. Please include the following in your email:
- pictures (these can be links!) and a brief description of your proposed contribution
- the number of items you'd like to send
- the month(s) for which you'd like to contribute
- a link to your website or online shop
After you Send Us an Email and your submission is approved, you will be directed to the sign-up form containing the Sampler's mailing address. The sign-up form also asks for some very important information needed for the site, so please do not forget your form!
If you have questions about how many promos to send, what items are elligilble, whether scented items are allowed, how paper goods (like postcards w/o envelopes) should be handled or other questions regarding content and packaging, please see our FAQ. There's also a page with some very useful info if you'd like some Tips on Contributing.
Contributions to the Sampler are due by the 20th of the month preceding the month in which you wish to participate, unless otherwise noted on the Sampler Schedule.
Wanna see a general outline of when things ship? Check out the full schedule here.
When you're filling out the Contributor form to send in along with your samples, you'll notice a little paragraph with a check box at the bottom of the page. This section is completely optional. By checking the box you can opt not to receive the Sampler you would have gotten for your contribution -- allowing more samples to go to subscribers and members of the media, and also helping the Sampler financially! I know that I would be eternally grateful for the consideration and even just one or two Contributors opting out each month would help the Sampler stay alive!
This just in: Contributors who opt out of their Samplers will also have at least one of their samples included in a media Sampler as a little thank you from me.
Any item that contains a logo, URL or business name as an integral feature of its design will be considered a PROMO and not a SAMPLE. Promos are items sent in addition to samples.
Identifying marks, such as URL's, logos and business names, are absolutely fine if they function solely as identifying marks on the samples. Packaging, for instance, is a perfectly fine place for such identifying marks -- the side of a button, the back of a piece of jewelry or the tag inside a bag, scarf or other item would work, too.
Examples of promos would be: buttons, stickers, cards with your business name on the front, or URL or logo as the main image. It is preferred that promos be around the size of a 4"x6" postcard or smaller, but if you have special needs, please contact us!
If the difference between a sample and a promo is still unclear to you, please send in either an image or detailed description of your item via email and we can give you our honest opinion!
Generally, samples should be something that represents the kind and quality of work you do; something that represents your style/outlook etc. The advantage to contributing samples as opposed to just promos is that the recipient immediately gets a sense of your work and has something that he or she can wear or display, thus promoting you to anyone who sees it. BUT, this doesn't mean you shouldn't include your promos, too. That way people can find your site and order more!
The due date for submission of logos and blurbs is the same as the sample due date!
Please send in a version of your logo that is optimized for the web - gif, jpg, or png to logosandblurbs@homeofthesampler.com. Logos should be no greater than 300 pixels in width and 250 pixels in height. When sending your logo, please name it as such: yourbusinessname.jpg (or .gif)PLEASE NOTE: I reserve the right to reject any contributions to the Sampler, especially contributions with content that might be offensive to Sampler subscribers (i.e., items of racist or pornographic content, or items promoting violence). Please remember that the Sampler reaches a variety of people from different backgrounds, of different ages and in different countries. The Sampler will not be held accountable for any backlash your items may receive.
The Sampler often sends samples to members of the media for editorial consideration. If you do not wish your items to be included in media Samplers, please make a note of this when filling out your Contributor form.
Please be sure that all items you submit to the Sampler are your own (physical/intellectual) property! Stealing makes us sad! Items submitted to the Sampler do not HAVE to be handmade (for instance, CDs, Printed Matter, etc.), but we do ask that your submissions be your ORIGINAL work. Items like collage or featuring clip art are just fine, so long as the design of the item in which they are used is your own. Remember, your samples are meant to be representative of YOUR work.
