My Dream Sample Box's Website:
YVONNE: Holly, please explain to our readers exactly what is "My Dream Sample Box"HOLLY: My Dream Sample Box is a company designed to bring consumers and businesses together through our fabulous sampler boxes. We search the internet for the best etailers and invite them to join us as sponsors. Sponsors send in samples of their products for us to package into our beautiful boxes. Consumers purchase our boxes and when they fall in love with a sponsor’s product, they buy directly from the sponsor. Not only is it great for the sponsors to gain more exposure, but our consumers get to try before they buy full size products that they might not like. They also enjoy a beautiful gift that will definitely make their day! Some of our consumers even purchase the boxes to give as gifts.
YVONNE: How can a small business owner benefit by becoming a sample box sponsor?
HOLLY: Our sponsors enjoy a ton of benefits that they may not receive with other boxes. We make promoting our sponsors a priority because without them, where would we be? Once a sponsor signs up, we immediately link up to them through Facebook, Etsy, Twitter, and Blogs in order to stay connected. We also sign them up to receive our special sponsor’s only newsletter. Then on the first of the month the sponsors have signed up for their buttons go up on our website and blog. They are also added to the appropriate Facebook Album approximately 15 days before the month begins. We the promote them on our Facebook, Twitter, Etsy, Zibbet, Blog, Website, Other Blogs, Giveaways, and more throughout the month. On average we have gained our sponsors over 100 new Facebook Fans each! You don’t have to take our word for it though, visit our facebook page and read our reviews!
YVONNE: How did you become begin this fascinating business? What goals do you have for it?
HOLLY: I took over My Dream Sample Box in July 2010 because I saw the potential in sample box business and believe I can take it to new heights. Originally, our goals were to gain over 5,000 Facebook fans by Christmas, 800 Twitter Followers, and 500 blog followers by the first of the new year. We would also like to increase our box sales by at least 50% in order to ensure we are getting all of your samples out to consumers every month. We have already accomplished our Facebook goal smashing it by over 300 fans! We are nearing our other goals rapidly and are very excited to help our sponsors reach their goals as well!
YVONNE: What type of "boxes" do you offer?
HOLLY: We have two types of monthly boxes: the handcrafted which includes the Mega, Mighty, and Mini; and the direct sales which include the Masters and Mini Masters. We also offer Specialty Boxes including Happy Birthday Boxes, Kiddos Only Boxes, and Mini Kiddos Only Boxes. The major difference is where we get the samples. Our sponsors who hand make their products go in the handcrafted boxes and those business owners who are Independent Representatives of corporate companies are included in the direct sales boxes. Both types of samples are in the specialty boxes.
YVONNE: What type of samples can consumers expect in a box?
HOLLY: We invite consumers to take a look at our facebook page to see the sneak peeks album for each month where we post pictures of the samples that were sent in for that month. Our consumers enjoy soaps, lotions, makeup, hair accessories, crafts, scrapbooking items, food treats, bath and body products and more!
YVONNE: What upcoming themes do you have for the boxes?
HOLLY: 2012 Monthly Box Themes are as follows:
January – Baby It’s Cold Outside
February – Leap Year Love
March – Spring Break Get-Away in a Box
April – Egg-cellent Celebration
May – We Heart Mom!
June – Wedding Bliss
July – All American Dream
August – School Daze
September – Pink-a-licious (Breast Cancer Awareness)
October – Boo-tiful Bounty
November – Heartfelt Thanks
December – Holiday Wishes
YVONNE: How does one become a sponsor? Are there any requirements?
HOLLY: Sponsors sign up on our website and once their application is reviewed they are requested to email in their logo and send their samples by the 5th of the month they are participating in. We have a 20 sample minimum, but are very flexible and invite all who are interested to apply. We do sell top sponsorships to direct sales representatives that guarantee they are our only sponsor representing their company for a six month period. You will be notified immediately if we cannot accept you as a sponsor because the spot is already filled. Currently, we have top sponsors from Scentsy, At Home America, Celebrating Home, Mary Kay, Mia Bella, and Gold Canyon Candles.
YVONNE: How do you promote the boxes? Where do you advertise?
HOLLY: We promote our boxes all over the internet. We participate in many blog giveaways and link ups. We advertise on Facebook, Zibbet, Etsy, and more. We work with all of our sponsors to cross promote as well. We are also members of many social sites like Dreamers into Doers, CafeMom, and more.
YVONNE: Well Holly, it looks like you leave no stone unturned! What future plans do you have for My Dream Sample Box?
HOLLY: We are always looking for new and exciting sponsors to grow our boxes and will continue to do so in the future. We also plan on expanding our marketing program in order to reach our goals.
I thank Holly Miller so much for joining us during this busy tie of the year to share her business with us! You can see some of our Candy Bar Boutique candy bar favor samples in a few of the upcoming box themes starting with February! As a sponsor, I can personally speak to how content I have been with the work Holly has done in helping to promote Yvonne's Invitations & Favors! Holly's passion for results certainly shines through in everything she does and we wish her continued success in 2012!
Read more about Holly Miller Here
