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The Dawn of the As Seen On TV Store
Although As Seen On TV was founded in the 1980's by Shark Tank panel member Kevin Harrington, the public domain label is often used to refer to all infomercials that have aired to date ? ranging from the familiar Ron Popeil and his line of popular "o-matic" products, to Sir James Dyson and everyone in between. The infomercials all use direct marketing which allows customers to immediately understand the benefits of a product, and provides the seller with an easy way to track results and understand if a campaign will be profitable.
The Iconic Red Logo
The legendary red logo that you'll see on all of the products in our As Seen On TV shop is now recognizable Worldwide, and was originally designed by A.J. Khubani, CEO of Telebrands, a company that has sold hundreds of millions of ASTV products. The logo is actually unprotected, which turned out to be a good thing as it allowed the industry to explode. This means that anyone can use the AsSeenOnTV logo on packaging and in trade without the risk of infringing on someone else's trademark.
Aside from creating the logo, A.J Khubani actually played a huge role in the advent of the infomercial as we know it today, which started with his Amber Vision sunglasses in 1987. More recently, his company sold the PedEgg, another As Seen On TV product which has sold 50 million units (in addition to other successful products like the As Seen On TV mop and the As Seen On TV hose). Anyone looking for the same level of success with their own product can pitch their idea to both Telebrands and As Seen On TV, Inc. although they only accept a few submissions each year.
The Very First Infomercials
The infomercial industry is huge and is worth a staggering $250 billion as of 2015. It all started back in the late 40's and early 50's when major sponsors of serial television programs were soap manufacturers (i.e. Proctor & Gamble, Lever Brothers and Colgate-Palmolive), which is how "soap operas" got their name. There is some controversy although the first infomercial is thought to have been for a blender either made by VitaMix or Waring Blenders and aired in 1949 or 1950. Time limits for commercials were imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) not too long after this which halted the growth of infomercials until 1984 when those limits were removed.
Even so, the first infomercial of the same type we see on TV today, aired in 1982 and was for a hair growth supplement called "New Generation" which was marketed by entrepreneur Robert E. Murphy Jr. It was such a success that other companies quickly began following suit and purchasing program-length commercial air time. At this time infomercials used to commonly be shown during late night/early morning hours, although stations discovered success showing them at other times when they learned that the majority of purchases were made in the morning, during the day, and around primetime.
What Made As Seen On TV Products a Success?
In addition to strict acceptance to be sold by As Seen On TV Incorporated, Telebrands and other distributers, the most successful products have almost always served to provide a solution to a common problem - and this has inspired inventors worldwide to share their creations and push the industry. The industry leaders have always been smart when it comes to marketing, and have recently started making more of a transition towards ecommerce ? using micro websites to push their products, and making good use of affiliate programs. Infomercials now support awareness in addition to creating it.
A Look Back at the Most Charismatic As Seen On TV Personalities
What really made ASTV a powerhouse, and continues to drive the market, are the charismatic personalities who work tirelessly to demonstrate and pitch the best sellers ? from As Seen On TV toys and DIY tools to self-help products. See if you recognize some of these fabled individuals:
Chuck Norris and the Total Gym
World-famous action movie and television star Chuck Norris has stood behind the Total Gym exercise machine for more than 30 years. The Total Gym provides a complete exercise experience in one simple product. Because the product is able to fold out to become different machines, this gym allows a person to stay in peak physical condition without wasting a lot of money. Norris himself is world famous for his physique and has used the Total Gym for decades to maintain that condition.
Vince the Sham-Wow Guy
Vince Offer is a famous director, comedian, and commercial pitchman who made his name promoting the ShamWow. Using his natural charisma and his ability to add double entendres to his pitches, Vince turned the commercial into a major career move. The ShamWow itself is one of the most successful cleaning products on the market today, and Vince himself has gone on to pitch several other As Seen on TV products.
Billy Blanks and the Tae Bo Workout
Fitness guru Billy Blanks entered American homes across the country when he introduced his Tae Bo workout. The creator of the martial art known as Tae Bo, Blanks sought to teach people how they could get more physically fit, be more confident, and do so from the comfort of their own home. The Tae Bo workout has revolutionized the way people get their exercise and provided millions of people access to an easy and effective martial art that they can learn through instructional videos.
Billy Mays and OxiClean
When it comes to TV sales personalities, none are more famous and revered than the late Billy Mays. Mays ran commercials for dozens of different products, but perhaps the most popular of those products was OxiClean, which is an easy to use, non-toxic, and remarkably effective cleaning detergent that can take care of dishes, polish silver, and clean virtually anything else. Billy Mays put his trademark enthusiasm behind the product, and its quality is known worldwide.
Suzanne Somers and the Thighmaster
Suzanne Somers is a well-known actress and singer who remains fit and gorgeous well into her 60s. One of the big reasons for her physical fitness is the line of exercise equipment she has promoted, including such As Seen on TV products as the Thigh Master and the EZ Gym. The variety of different exercise equipment has since been adopted by many enthusiasts across the world, all with excellent results.
As Seen On TV FAQ's
Is the As Seen on TV logo a guarantee of quality?
The As Seen on TV logo is an unprotected image which can be used on any product. As such, you will get the most benefit from your product if you do your homework and check the reviews for the product before making a purchase. Going through the As Seen on TV Store on our website is a good way to make sure that you are examining only those products that have met the preferred quality standards.
What is the best way to make sure I find the As Seen on TV product I need?
While there are many As Seen On TV product vendors online, here at Carol Wright Gifts, we have taken extraordinary care to provide access to the widest range of products, and have categorized them in a way that makes it easy to find the item you need. Reviews are also available so you can read real comments from people who have tried the products.
What if I make a purchase I'm not satisfied with?
Many of the products offered through the As Seen on TV Store come with satisfaction guarantees. Make sure that you are familiar with these guarantees and with the manufacturer's refund and return policies before you decide to make a purchase.
If I'm satisfied with my product, how can I communicate this?
The best thing that a satisfied customer can do to help others know about how terrific their product was is to write a review or testimonial. Product reviews help influence customers, warn them of potential pitfalls, and guarantee that the product they are looking at will meet their needs.
It's easy to see how the As Seen On TV products have become so popular, with the industry helping inventors across the globe to turn their ideas into realities. Take a look around our ASTV store now to see if you can find a product that'll make your life much easier!
