Outback Detergent

Subaru Outback Detergent Infomercial.  This ad is done in the classical Billy Mays pitchman style, but is, according to most of the comments on the YouTube page, intended to be humorous.  I must admit...I don't get it.  Although the demos are weak, the Detergent looks AWESOME!  No other detergent gets mud out of a white shirt that quickly.  At any rate, it's another compliment to the infomercial industry that a mainstream brand like Subaru would create an ad like this, even if it is in jest.  Also, it is pretty funny...check it out:


Email Readers Click HERE!

Perfect Fit Buttons. Any pants can be your fat pants.

Perfect Fit Buttons.  Thanksgiving was hard on my body this year.  The 4 week lead-up to Christmas and Kwanza is proving even tougher.  Luckily, I have sweat pants that match all of my holiday sweaters, as my sexy jeans have turned into my constipation jeans...that is, on the off-chance I can actually get them buttoned.  I refuse to buy new pants because I know I will beautifully fit into all my outfits in just a few short months...as soon as the cookies, brownies and festive fried chicken slow down. 

But wait, this year, I can have my cake and still fit into my sexy jeans!  The Perfect Fit Buttons essentially grow your pants size without actually growing your pants size.  Makes sense.  I'm pretty intrigued with the idea.  I would make fun of the product, but I've discovered that the more I make fun of an infomercial product, the bigger the hit it becomes.  So, for this one, I'm going to take early credit in saying that it will be a monster hit! 

Email Readers Click HERE!

OxiNeem - Brown Powder for Your Teeth!

OxiNeem.  Brought to you by the original inventor of OxiClean, Max Appel.  OxiNeem is a brown powder that you scoop on to your toothpaste every time you brush your teeth to boost the antioxidant levels in your mouth.  As Dr. Fleisher explains in the ad, "the health of your mouth is the gateway to the health of your whole body."  I get it.  But, couldn't I just eat the antioxidants?  Or doesn't my Crest toothpaste already fight gum disease in my mouth?...and Crest has spent over a billion dollars marketing the benefits of their product.  I'm a bit skiddish on this one.  We're all pulling for Max Appel to have another big success, but I don't think this will be the one.


Email Readers Click Here!


That's not Max's funniest product, though.  Check out his first product launched after selling OxiClean to Church & Dwight: Aaah Toilet Paper Foam.  I like Max.  Few people are as warm and friendly as Max, so I won't comment too much on the spot, but I'd love to hear what you think...


Email Readers Click Here!

Insta Gone...Say It Ain't So!

Insta-Gone.  It was a HUGE infomercial hit about a decade ago.  The demos can be truly amazing....instant obliteration of mold and mildew!  Unfortunately, this spot leaves much to be desired.  This is at least the second time Insta-Gone has been tested this year, and it doesn't look like it's going to make a comeback anytime soon.  Maybe if the marketers were to really wow us with the spot, we might be more apt to buy.

Here's where this spot falls apart:

• The cleanest surfaces in the entire spot appear in the "problem" intro!...it's all downhill from there.
• "Spray it on...stains are gone" - fantastic tagline!  Unfortunately, it accompanies low budget, unbelievable animation.  This is the opportunity to really pull the audience with a wow demo...by now, you've lost half of them.
• Wait...if the product "works like magic"...if it works instantly, why are 99% of the demos before/afters?  Again, you've lost me.  The product has no credibility, and we're only 40 seconds in.
• Dirty patio furniture?  Is it?  It doesn't look to bad to me.  A paper towel should do the trick.
• Testimonials.  Ahhh, the tried and true way of convincing consumers that a product really works.  The problem is that in a powerful cleaning product spot like this, the testimonials are meaningless until you show me the product working.  Wow me first, then build credibility.  By now, I'm yawning, but only because I'm too lazy to search out the remote control to change the channel.
• I do like the offer.  The value is great, but by this point, I've already given up.
  

I don't mean to be overly negative, but that's why you pay me, right?  Let me know what you think.  So much potential...just left on the table...


Email Readers Click Here!

Weezer Snuggie

Weezer Snuggie.  Funny.  Need I say more?

Email Readers Click Here!

OK, I'll say more.  A few weeks back, Weezer launched their new CD, Raditude, via a new Snuggie commercial.  Genius!  Weezer is known to be a bit qwerky, and they have been known to launch their CDs in the past in strange ways.  However, as a true As Seen On TV Fan, I see nothing strange about teaming up with the most exciting brand of the year.  I can't quite figure out the math to see how I'll get a "free" CD when I have to pay $29.99 for the Snuggie, but I don't think that's really the point.  Almost a million views of the spot on YouTube in less than a month?  I think their goal has been fully accomplished!

New Infomercial Format? - UnReel

UnReel, the "gardening hose management system."  Doesn't sound too exciting.  However, what this spot lacks, it makes up for in creativity.  The "Product Patrol" is on call to review the product in an infomercial format making it seem to be an objective review.  To the host's surprise, the UnReel works just as it promises!  Seems a bit shameless, but I like it.  One could criticize Vince "Shamwow" Offer for being over the top cheesy in selling his products, but it works.  Billy Mays was infamous for his yelling through the television.  But, these hosts are memorable because they are different.  I applaud the creativity of the UnReel team.  They are solving a real, everyday problem, and they are marketing in a new and unique way.  I suspect that viewers will easily see through the "shameless" approach, but it just might be enough to break through the clutter.

What do you think?

UnReel Spot:

Email Readers Click Here!

Telebrands CEO on "The View"

The View.  I hate the show, but you gotta love AJ Khubani, the CEO of Telebrands that has made millions of dollars for over 25 years selling products on TV.  Though he has never starred in his own infomercials, he reached recent stardom as a guest and sponsor of the hit show, Pitchmen.  AJ funded several of the hits that came out of Billy Mays' and Anthony Sullivan's show on Discovery channel earlier this year.

Here's a recent interview where AJ "objectively" reviews several of the top as seen on TV products with the cast of The View:


Email Readers CLICK HERE!

Happy Birthday Mr. Infomercial!

Celebrating the birth of the infomercial. 60 years ago today (December 3, 1949) VitaMix Machines were first sold on TV. We've come a long way since then in video quality, but you still see tenets from the original VitaMix founder that are present in today's infomercials.

Check out their original infomercial at: http://vitamix.cachefly.net/household/Videos/papa_repost/index.html

Infomercial tips

I've received dozens of emails requesting pointers on launching products on DRTV (i.e. infomercials).  My role is to poke fun at spots that are just plain funny, and also to share some of my favorite infomercials with all of you.  I'm not sure how helpful my posts are to budding entrepreneurs, but my friends at Harvest Group do a much better job explaining how to be successful on TV.

Harvest Group recently posted some instructional videos to help entrepreneurs considering using DRTV to launch their products.  Here are some examples (email readers, CLICK HERE):

What makes a successful infomercial product?


Market Research - Connect to the Consumer:


The Business Side of DRTV / How to Make Money:


Other videos can be found at the Harvest Group YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/HarvestGroupDRTV