Can the winner(s) contractually negotiate to not have
Billy Mays do the product’s infomercial?

Yeah

Ha. Good one.
But give the guy credit. He could sell cookies TO Girl Scouts.

Billy Mays can do mine, I don’t care who gets my product sold! Although my innovation is probably more similar in nature to the ones that Tony Little is the ‘mouth piece’ for. He can do it too, I don’t care I just want it out there helping people! [and making me a little money as well] Oh yeah…I also want “World Peace”

                  
“Yeah Baby…Me, a bag of chips and World Peace!”

Can I enter a patented product that is already in small quantity production? (I own the patent)

I posted this on another thread but better suited here.

Did As Seen on TV change their tune??.
I approached them 2-3 years ago. They didn’t even talk to me because my product was not manufactured already and sitting in a warehouse. Their other “requirement” was that you must have been patented, which I was.
Has anyone else had this experience? I will say, I was not pleased at the treatment I received from them. I have a great product for them but I’m not sure I want to waste my $25 on this one.

1) I want Billy Mays to pitch my products! I love that guy!

2) Mark, I’m still unclear whether the product has to be sitting in a warehouse already, or if ideas/prototypes will be considered.

Tim,

Yes, you can submit a patented product already in production.

Jerry,

“As Seen On TV” is not the sponsor of this search. In fact, there is not a single company called “As Seen On TV”. Many different informercial companies use the tagline “As Seen On TV”. In this search, Edison Nation is the sponsor. We have multiple partners that are well regarded and have years of successful experience in the DRTV world. The products listed in the search description are, in fact, products brought to market by these partners. Mark had a pretty good description of how DR products are tested and launched. Look for the upcoming article to further explain the industry.

Tim,
We should also mention, though, that it doesn’t have to be in production. It can be in any stage of development – just like our other searches.

Brett,

Ideas, prototypes and fully developed products are all appropriate for this search.

Hi John,

Is QVC one of the companies?

No, QVC is not one of the companies.

But Wait. There's more!

How to Hit Informercial Gold

By Ashley Tilley

Editor's Note: Edison Nation just announced a live product search for hit 2009 "As Seen on TV" products. The following offers insight to the infomercial industry. A version of this sneak-peek article will run in Inventors Digest. - Mike Drummond, Editor

When I was young, Ron "Ronco" Popeil's ingenious Pocket Fisherman mesmerized me. Its double-flex rod and mini tackle box contained in the handle had me hook, line and sinker.

Popeil was the first inventor, marketer and pitchman to bypass the traditional brick-and-mortar distribution channels by introducing the world to Direct Response Television (DRTV) - a way of selling products to a mass audience through televised infomercials.

He possessed the personality and smarts for televised success. He realized his door-to-door salesmen couldn't carry the vegetables required to effectively demonstrate the Veg-o-Matic. So he filmed and broadcast the demonstration on a 30-second advertising spot, essentially defining the infomercial. Popeil has since sold more than $1 billion in product through DRTV.

Today, more than 63 percent of the U.S. viewing public watches infomercials. DRTV viewers are more likely to trust infomercials than Congress, used car salesman and corporate executives.

George Foreman's grill; Suzanne Somers' ThighMaster; Jessica Simpson and P. Diddy's Proactiv Solutions; the Glamour and Allure magazine award-winning Bare Escentuals line of bareminerals skin care and make-up. And we can't forget Chuck Norris' Total Gym. They all got their start with an infomercial.

In traditional marketing campaigns, advertising is pure expense. In DRTV campaigns, the media buys are factored into the price of the product and in the end pays for itself, while generating a profit.

Successful DRTV campaigns should generate at least a 5:1 profit margin. If it costs $10 to manufacture, ship and deliver the product, then the product should have a $50 value (sale price) to cover all of the expenses. This cost includes media buys, shipping and handling, Web site creation and call centers.

Sounds easy enough - find a great product, get a crew, create a short demo video, slap it up on the networks and wait for the Benjamins to begin rolling in.

Not so fast. There are more than 500 infomercials produced every year and probably 35 to 40 that roll out with any significant success - a success rate close to 1:15. What happens to the rest? They were simply put through a test run and didn't perform as successfully as anticipated - perhaps they didn't actually meet the 5:1 ratio and achieve sufficient profitability

Here are some tricks to the trade.

How to get an infomercial on air:

• You can take your idea to a DRTV marketer or distributor, like a Guthy-Renker, that can put up the capital for the inventory, marketing, and execution of the campaign. This set up is similar to a licensing deal. This company will have an exclusive window and typically will give you a gross royalty.
• You can set up a distribution deal where you do it all (manufacturing, maintaining inventory, etc.) and the DRTV marketer may assist you in testing the infomercial. If it is successful, the company will put up the money to completely roll out the DRTV campaign.
• Do it yourself. You can cover all of the costs and hire industry experts to execute the campaign.

How much does it cost?

• $100,000-$300,000 for infomercial production
• $25,000-$75,000 for short-form spot production
• $50,000 to run a media test, which includes the call center, fulfillment, set-up, orders, merchant accounts, etc.

To create a groundbreaking, mega-selling infomercial, you should consider the following prerequisites:

• Demonstrable product
• Mass appeal
• Profit margins (5 to 1)
• Strong price-value relationship
• Unique product not readily available in retail

You may just see yourself on television or maybe the cover of a long-running magazine dedicated to innovation and business…you never know.

Hey John,

Would food items (baked goods) be appropriate for this search?

I opted in my online casting call inventions, but they aren’t there? They aren’t anywhere.

I’ve emailed the EN team, but no response.

I see these products all over the place. Congrats on landing this as a LPS.

Two of my submissions are G3.

I predict they are going to have a ton of entries to sort thru on this one. I’m sure we can all picture our babies on TV :)

I agree Holly. Isn’t it fun though. ;)

Well I feel like everyone….at this point I would love to have either guy do mine and if Mickey Mouse was available shoot I’ll take him also lol…I just want my product out to our millions of children.I also agree Holly ..they will have a ton of entries and who’s to say if I would be even considered. OH Well!!

Lisa, you are worthy of winning as any of us. :)

Lisa, I say you will be considered, if you enter!
That’s the start of Everyday Edison’s process. If your idea makes it to G3, it means they think it has at least some merit. It also means they think it could be patentable. Of course those are both low levels of confidence. The more detailed checks come later. If they decide to back your idea they also offer one of the sweetest licensing deals available.
So give it a shot! It only costs $25.

Wow..thanks so much Toni and Mark you guys really have made my day I guess I will take that chance . Can someone guide me to where I am suppose to go to fill out the forum. Sorry guys I have only been here a week and I don’t know much…but I do know this MY PRODUCT IS AWESOME!!! take a look at my site you will see my product will help so many people and that is why I must get it out. I have worked on my product for over 5 years and now I feel it’s time to get it out there. Thanks again gentlemen. Knowledge is Power and Sharing is Priceless…Thanks for sharing!!!

What is the profit margin , if our product is picked for the search? Do we get to work along the company ? Can we be apart of the development of the infomercial ?

That is a very good question Matthew….can’t wait to see the answer.

Thanks ; )

Lisa, I just checked out your website. I love
your time pieces – perfect for the kids and
older folks. Maybe the ASOTV would be okay – I’m
not sure – depending on what you would have to
sell them for. Maybe other inventors on here
could check your site out and give you some
feedback. It is certainly worth a shot for $25.00
and if they pick your item they do manufacturer
the product.

Toni…you are the man..lol lol Wow Thanks so much for checking out my website and my product glad you love it they also come with jingles. Now you see why I have to get some help there are millions of kids and adults who need them.Do you think i have a chance with getting any help!
What is the ASOTV… again this is my first time here. I hope others will take sometime to view my website but I don’t want to be a bother to anyone being that I am so new here.

Thank you Toni!!

Lisa, I am the lady :) You can join As Seen On TV Contest (ASOTV) for a mere $25.00. Then they
will upgrade you to a Gold Member which is a
$9.25 a month charge. You must be a Gold Member
to join in on the contests. Click on the ad
on your home page and read what the contest is
about. Your watches might be a good fit. You
never know what they are looking for and your
products are certainly new and exciting. The
only reason I wasn’t sure that your products
would be a good fit is because they are limited
to medical needs and I don’t know if (ASOTV) would think there wouldn’t be millions wanting to
by your product. But the good thing is once you
pay the $25.00 and another contest opens up -
say jewelry – you can then enter your watches at
no extra cost over and over if the fit is right
for your product. I hope this helps. :D

Toni, please accept my apology my friend spells his name that way so forgive me….but you are the Lady. :) I will check into it.Thanks so much Toni I really value your opinion.

Does anyone know the timeframe on this search? Like when it ends, maybe I just didn’t read enough. Thanks….Trent

The deadline for this search is Monday, December 15, 2008.

Lisa,
I checked out your product and it looks great! No bull. I think you are limiting your market too much by targeting a small medical demographic. Those watches are attractive and being able to set multiple alarms is something almost anybody could use. These could be the next Swatch. Shoot for the teen and pre-teen girl market!

John, I had some trouble uploading my drtv submission but I did get it uploaded a few minutes ago. This is an edited version of my previous post.

Danny

I have this fear of signing the rights to my invention away when there’s no performance guarantee that protects me if the entity manufacturing and selling the product decides to backburner it. Who else shares this fear?

Susan, This thread is about an Edison Nation search, and EN has a 5 year “they use it or they loose it” clause.

Kurt & Becky,

Sorry for the delay. Food items would not be considered one of the hot product categories for DRTV, but it may be worth a shot if you can make the case that for success by answering all the “key questions” as described in the search details.

There have been a few questions about the terms of the agreement between you and Edison Nation when you submit an innovation to a Live Product Search. Please refer to the Edison Nation Innovator Agreement (I will add a link to the agreement tomorrow). In short, Matthew, if your product is licensed to a manufacturer, then you receives 50% of the licensing revenue. Susan, the agreement also states that the payments you receive from Edison Nation must total at least $100,000 over 5 years or you may have the intellectual property reassigned to you.

One other thing to add on the licensing option John is that we can typically negotiate 2x what an independent inventor can typically negotiate because we have a larger relationship with the retailer/manufacturer. We’re able to bring a lot of innovation to the table rather than one or a handful of ideas and they see the benefit in that to the point that we can achieve higher rates. So… that 50% may likely still end up being higher for the independent inventor should they seek a licensing deal on their own.

John, thanks for the answer. Our food product is probably not suited for an info-mercial, but I wanted to double check. I see it more likely for a QVC or Home Shopping segment.

Thanks for reiterating the agreement’s 5 year clause. That is quite a big guarantee on EN’s part and is part of the reason we get so tired of hearing members complain about the length of time EN takes to research our submissions. For an average of $20,000.00 a year, you can take all the time you need to make sure our submissions are viable!

To all our fellow EN members, maybe it’s time to stop thinking of these searches as “contests” and begin thinking of ourselves as business men and women, not just “inventors”. We’ve paid a measely $25.00 for a team of experts to do what we cannot or will not do….look at our idea, objectively, from every angle necessary to successfully market our product. I think we need to cut them some slack on the timing of the processes.

Wow….I guess I needed to vent a little :) I’ll step down from the soapbox, now.

That’s what I have been saying all along ;D
EN does a GREAT job and I certainly have no
complaints just PRAISE!

Good point K/B !

Hi John, I do have a few questions regarding this LPS. 1 – for those previously red-lighted ideas we opt into this search, can they be edited to fit the format of the search – ie: continuity and upsells. 2 – I currently work as a sales agent for a national teleservices company (with many sites across the country)that processes orders for all of those “can’t live without products” people see on tv. Would this in any way cause a conflict or cause me to be disqualified from submitting ideas (assuming of course that my company was/is the call center being used). I do have a few good ideas for this LPS. And believe me, it never ceases to amaze me what people will actually buy because they saw it on tv. I even have scripts, continuities programs and upsells bouncing around my brain! I really don’t think this will be a problem, but I just wanted to cover my bases before I get too involved in the process. Thanks

I am a little confused, and am not sure if you all, EN are working with one group of DRTV or with several… or if it is one company that does all of this. It seems I am reading that there are more than one group out there??

I am wondering because when I approached one they were not interested if my product was not in the product phase. I am not sure if that means made and ready for sale or just finding manufacturing or what?

So if that is the case, does EN marry two companies to whom would develop the idea to make it ready for the DRTV camp?

So Lucy can someone SPLAIN this to me?

Hi,Celeste,this is neither here not there,just wondering how it’s going with you.Last time you appeared you were in the middle-off.

Hi Adam,
Is that correct?
I am doing well with having several products in several companies having reviews of the submissions. My best at this point it seems is a green product idea I submitted to Duraflame who is now testing the idea out with their product development team. They said it would be slow going, but I do know they are working on it.
I have several items in Jakari with one no to a product that was green but not in their line of products, other than it is a gadget. I have another 4 to 5 with them and they are not reporting if any are a yea or nay? So maybe no news is good news. I keep thinking of new products that all have merit, but as Roger and others have mentioned that I think while companies are worried for the economy, they are somewhat shy. I keep plugging away though.
I have another project that might be promising but still waiting on the NDA to be signed. This is a big waiting game. I feel somewhat high when I have a positive phone meeting but then need to wait to hear back any news which brings me down som. But as Roger said I am studying the lines they companies seem to have a big target with and work on those areas.

we will see… No mailbox money, but I am moving forward in one direction or the next each day.
thanks for asking!
How are the rest of you all doing on submissions?

Yes,
You sound like you’re working up experience dealing with these companies and people,Celeste.

Are you geting a sense of how they operate?

Are they glad to get product ideas from inventors?

They must look at ideas with a particular awareness,like they are imagining how it might perform,and how it would sit with their other products.Do you get a sense of that?

I hope you dont mind me asking.It’s valuable info straight from the coal face.

They must be in the position where they dont think of their products that sell.That’s a done deal,an established product is an established product,it’s valuable commercial property,like a thorough-bred.It does the business,no problems.

I’m going to enter a product in my first-ever Live Product Search. (Hooray!) A couple questions:

1) If I need to make revisions to my submission (like I find a mistake after submitting), is that simple to do?

2) If I come up with an alternative embodiment of my product that is still very similar to the first, can I include that at a later date? Or will I need to pay an additional $25 and enter it as a separate invention?