What should I agree with a creator before sending free products?
Before a free parcel leaves your shelf, agree in writing on deliverables, timelines, disclosure and how the content may be reused, so both sides know what to expect.
Sending a free product to a creator feels simple until the parcel arrives and nothing happens, or a reel appears that you did not expect, or the creator asks why you reposted their video on your store. Most of these small disputes come from one thing: nobody wrote the plan down. A short written agreement, even a WhatsApp message, fixes this.
Why a written note matters
It does not need to be a legal contract for a small barter collaboration. It needs to be clear enough that you and the creator could read it six weeks later and agree on what was promised. Keep it in the same chat thread so it is easy to find.
The five things to agree
1. What you are sending. List the exact products, sizes, colours and count. Say whether it is a gift, a loan to be returned, or paid in addition to a fee. If you also pay money, state the amount and when it will be paid.
2. What they will create. Be specific. "One reel and two stories" is a deliverable. "Some posts" is not. Mention the platform, and whether they should tag your account or use a particular link or discount code.
3. The timeline. Give a realistic window, such as within three weeks of delivery, rather than a date you cannot control. Parcels get delayed. Tie the deadline to the day it is delivered, and be flexible if tracking shows a delay on your side.
4. Disclosure. Content made in exchange for free products or payment usually needs to be marked as a collaboration. Rules on how to do this differ and change, so check the current guidelines from the platform and the advertising authority in India, and ask the creator to follow them. Put "creator will mark the post as a collaboration as required" in your note. Do not tell a creator to hide the relationship.
5. Usage rights. Decide whether you may repost their content on your page, your store, in ads, or on packaging. The creator owns what they shot unless you agree otherwise. If you want to reuse it, ask clearly, say where and for how long, and get a yes in writing. If you plan to run it as an ad, mention that separately because creators may price that differently.
Other details worth a line
- Whether you get to review the content before it goes live, and how many small corrections are reasonable.
- What happens if the product arrives damaged. A replacement should be offered without making it their problem.
- Whether the creator is free to say honestly what they did not like. Asking for only positive words can backfire and may conflict with disclosure norms.
- Who pays for any return shipping if the product is a loan.
A simple closing message
"Just confirming: we are sending two soaps from the green range. You will post one reel and two stories within three weeks of delivery, marked as a collaboration. We may repost the reel on our Instagram with credit, and will ask before using it anywhere else. Does that work?"
Wait for a clear yes before dispatching. Then pack it carefully, send the tracking details, and treat the creator as a partner, not an ad slot.
If you have not yet reached out to anyone, start with what to write in a collaboration message. When the content goes live, how to track results from a creator collaboration shows a simple way to see what followed. And if you are weighing the cost of free stock, creator discount code and commission maths helps you set limits before you promise anything.