Marketing is essential for the success of a product or service. There is nothing new in this statement. However, one has to be sure about quality before the complete rollout of a product or service. This applies to even the most well-known brands worldwide, such as Adidas. They feel it is important to do a pilot test to see if the users like it or not. In this article, we will learn more about Adidas product testing.
What is Adidas Product Testing?
Adidas is one of the world’s largest and most famous sporting goods firms. They produce shoes for various sports such as football, running, and tennis. Each product goes through a lot of testing to ensure the users get a premium experience. Moreover, it aligns with the founder Adi Dassler’s “Listen, Test, Modify” principles.
All of Adidas’s products undergo extensive testing in labs and real-world settings. These products go through a series of tests in varying temperature and humidity conditions in the labs. Also, stress tests are performed so that the products can withstand the wear and tear of everyday use.
The firm also sends out its products to professional athletes worldwide. Adidas later incorporates its feedback into the product lifecycle. Apart from this, the products are also tested by many laypeople.
In this way, the company ensures that it gets a large enough sample size and feedback to get the most accurate feedback. For this purpose, the company started its testing program.
Also, the testing process ensures that people’s safety concerns are adequately addressed. We also know Adidas for its wide range of apparel.
The Adidas product testing program started in 2015 and has a dedicated page. It gives the company a chance to receive direct feedback from its customers. Also, this improves product quality and enhances customer engagement.
How to Become a Product Tester With Adidas?
Adidas product testing
Now you know about Adidas product testing and want to sign up. Okay, great. Firstly, you will need to fill out an application. Currently, only people living in the US or Europe can apply to become an Adidas product tester.
Next, you will have to provide information such as your shoe size, body measurements, fitness routine, athletic habits, etc.
There are also some criteria such as:
- You will have to be 18 years of age or older.
- You must have internet access along with a valid email address.
- The ability to read and write in English is mandatory.
- You must furnish complete information about your physical activity during the testing period.
- Also, you must not have received an invite or applied to this or any other Adidas programs in the last 12 months.
- Further, you cannot test any competitor products.
- Lastly, you cannot share any information about the products you are testing through social media or other means of communication.
How to Get Selected for the Program?
Merely signing up for Adidas product testing does not guarantee an invite. However, if you meet the requirements, you must complete a survey.
Parts of the survey: Type of product and measurements
This survey has questions such as type of item, gender, size, and interests. You have the option of choosing either footwear or apparel.
If you select footwear, you must specify your foot size and width. If you choose apparel, you must share your top, chest, bottoms, hip, waist, and thigh. Female participants will also have to choose a bra under the bust size.
Interests
When it comes to interests, you can select up to 5 different kinds of interests. These include sports and physical activities such as baseball, basketball, golf, wrestling, skateboarding, and soccer.
If Adidas has no match for your chosen interests, in that case, the survey ends there. You will receive a notification saying that there are no existing testing programs for your qualifications.
However, if the survey continues, you are still in the running (pun intended) to be an Adidas product tester.
The survey starts to get extremely particular about details now. For example, if you say you play basketball, you will have to specify positions such as point guard, center, etc.
Also, there are questions on the level of play (recreational, college, professional), the type of court, and the number of sessions you play each week. You will also have to answer about the shoes you currently wear in certain situations. However, this information will not be required for all activities.
Let us say you choose mountain biking; then you only have to fill in information about the level and number of hours you engage in that activity every week.
After this, you will also be required to fill in personal information such as your name, email, address, phone number, height and weight, and lastly, your birth month and year.
Also, you have to confirm whether you are an Adidas employee or not. This is because the product testing program is not open to Adidas employees.
Finally, you need to agree to the Wearer Tester Agreement and check the box saying you want to be a contributor.
How Does Adidas Product Testing Work?
You have now filled in the initial survey with the demographic information required for Adidas product testing. Let us look at what the rest of the process involves.
Waiting for the invitation
You will receive an invite in your inbox when you want to participate in the Adidas product testing program. You must confirm whether you are ready to start testing the products.
After you do that, you will get another email. This will contain information about the products you will try.
Receiving the products
Adidas will send over the product or products. These will be based on your answers in the earlier surveys. For instance, if you are a hiker, you will receive shoes and other footwear designed especially for hikers.
Also, you will receive instructions on how to use the product during the testing period. Adidas will also share information on how to write product testing reviews.
Testing the products
Then you will have to wear them for 2–4 weeks. Also, you will need to maintain a log of the activities you engage in during the testing period. This is along with how long you wear the shoes.
Also, as mentioned earlier, the shoes sent over will be for a specific purpose, such as running, hiking, etc. So, you will also have to take notes on time spent in the chosen activity.
Fill out a detailed questionnaire
Maintaining a log book with a description of all the activities in the testing period is highly essential. This is because Adidas will send over another questionnaire that needs to be completed once the testing period is over.
This survey will have questions about your experience with the product. Usually, you will receive the link to this survey in an email.
Return the product
Once the testing period of 2–4 weeks is over, you will have to return the product. Don’t worry! Adidas sends a return label along with the product. So, this process is entirely free.
The Adidas Product Testing Process
A general framework and method for product testing and product management exist across the spectrum of different products. This method involves steps, and these are:
- Design and Development of Products
- Fabrication/Manufacturing
- Material and Component Testing
- Production Quality Control
- Product Evaluation
- Labeling and Packaging
The item is then made available for sale.
Under the Adidas Global Recall Program, items are recalled if they fail quality checks. Customers can return purchases by the established Adidas policies. Adidas covers all fees for purchase cancellation and return.
A product is tested thoroughly to ensure its quality before making it available. This involves ensuring that the production materials adhere to certain norms and regulations.
To make sure they function as planned by the designer, the texture of the fabric and other components are also tested. The product is sent for production once it has been developed and planned.
Partnership With Adidas Quality Control
The Adidas quality control team ensures that all the products are manufactured per the correct specifications and approved design. Additionally, they go the extra mile to ensure flaws in the product.
However, if there are issues with the product, they are reported to the product development team. Adidas halts the production if required. Then they focus on resolving the problem. Also, Adidas takes complete responsibility for any necessary replacements or refunds.
Is Adidas Product Testing Legit?
Now, if you have a love for sports and are passionate about the Adidas brand, you might be wondering if everything we have described above is true. Well, we have good news for you. Yes! It is true. Adidas is one company whose product testing methods comply with the highest standards.
Does the Adidas Product Testing Program Pay?
Many of you might be wondering if there are any monetary benefits in becoming a part of the Adidas product testing program. Well, unfortunately, the answer to that question is no. The only perks to being an Adidas product tester are testing some of the best sports products beforehand.
However, if you are a full-time tester with Adidas, you can earn around $92,000 yearly.
Also, you are supposed to return the products once the testing is complete. This is because the firm has to assess the condition of products after you are done testing with them.
But there might be some situations where a few products do not require additional testing. So, you might be asked to keep these products.
How Is It Like to Be an Adidas Product Tester?
Being an Adidas product tester may be fun and exciting, but it can occasionally be stressful. You’ll have anxiety and self-doubt the first few times you test out a product since you don’t know what to anticipate.
You will, however, get more accustomed to the situation as time passes and you get familiar with the work and the merchandise.
The business does not require its staff to test each new product they create. Instead, they will pick a few items from their line to try and then distribute them to their staff members.
The Pros of Adidas Product Testing
Even though there are no monetary benefits to joining the Adidas product testing program, there are still a few undeniable perks. We shall look at them in this section.
You get a sneak peek at the latest Adidas products
Yes, you get an exclusive to look, feel and test some of the best sports gear in the world for 2–4 weeks. If you are a sports fan or big-time into fitness, nothing can beat this feeling. Also, you would not want to miss this chance for anything.
You can choose the product
Adidas will send the products based on the survey answers and you get to fill out the survey. Now, it is not that hard to connect the dots. You can basically choose the product. If you are looking to try out hiking shoes or the latest apparel, tailor the answers accordingly.
You can sometimes get to keep the product
As mentioned earlier, the firm will allow you to keep the product if you get lucky. This may also happen as you might have written some detailed reviews. The company might want you to keep testing their products and write more reviews.
The Cons of Adidas Product Testing
Despite the positives, there are a few downsides to being in the Adidas testing program as well.
Too many restrictions
This program has a vast list of things you are not supposed to do while testing the product. These include not testing any competitor products or sharing any information on social media.
Non-compliance with any clause of the non-disclosure agreement or breach of any confidentiality clause can have serious legal consequences.
Takes a lot of time
Adidas takes forever to approve and shortlist the applications that it receives. There are reasonably high chances that the company will reject your application. Also, even if Adidas does select your application, it takes a really long time to send over any sporting gear to test.
In Conclusion
The Adidas testing program is an excellent opportunity to test some world-class sporting gear. Also, it can be your foray into becoming a shoe expert and moving on to bigger things.
Not only that, Adidas gets a chance to say that real people test their products. This is wonderful publicity from a marketing standpoint. Also, this allows them to connect to their audience in a better manner. This is because their target segment can feel the joy of wearing the same sporting gear as some of their idols.
