Brand experience agency Sense has partnered with Crisp, the company behind the SKUtrak retail analytics platform, to directly connect live sampling activations to real-time EPOS sales data from the UK’s leading grocery retailers.
For FMCG brands, it means out-of-home sampling in supermarkets and high footfall hubs can be measured by actual sales uplift, not just intent or voucher redemptions. The firms noted that the system is a step forward in aligning experiential marketing with retail ROI and accountability.
“Out-of-home sampling has always been a powerful way to get products into people’s hands, but without credible sales measurement, it’s been underutilised and undervalued,” said Nick Adams, CEO at Sense.
“We’ve spent 20 years building experiential campaigns that move people, and now we can prove they move product too. This partnership with Crisp – and their SKUtrak platform – finally closes the loop, offering live, independent, verifiable sales data that brands can easily plug into their reporting. No more claimed intent or skewed feedback, just hard, actionable data to inform strategy. It sets a much-needed new benchmark for the category.”
Guy Cuthbert, founder of Atheon (original developers of SKUtrak) and now General Manager & SVP at Crisp, added: “Sampling has always had strategic value, but without clear evidence of its impact, it’s struggled to earn its place at the top table. This changes that. By tying sampling activity directly to verified in-store sales, we’re helping brands turn great real-world experiences into measurable commercial results.”
Sense is hosting a short webinar on the 10th July to show how the system works.
NAM Implications:
- Product sampling has always felt right.
- This new way of connecting to EPOS sales resulting, looks like it could prove it.
- Watch this space.
- Meanwhile, why not try…
