ABOUT THE SHOW
Two minutes or less of carefully-crafted commerce aimed solely at making you buy, and buy NOW! A 25-year-old industry whose sales are increasing, despite today's turbulent economy.
CNBC Emmy-nominated Sports Business Reporter Darren Rovell goes inside the big business of direct-response infomercials that's made the Snuggie, ShamWow! and the Ginsu Knife household names.
Rovell sits down with the industry heavyweights like inventor Ron Popeil, the late pitch man Billy Mays and Telebrands CEO AJ Khubani, tests which products are busts or buys, and uncovers the psychology behind why some sales pitches strikeout while others are hit out of the park.
But, WAIT! There's more...
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
"In Japan, the hand can be used like a knife. But this method doesn't work with a tomato." That was the opening line for the 1978 Ginsu Knives infomercial, one of the first, and most famous, 2-minute infomercials ever made. Ed Valenti, the man behind the marketing, coined the catchphrase, "But wait, there's more!"
The big business of infomercials. Scientific strategy and sales pitch combine to entice you to buy. An industry that made Ginsu, ShamWow! and Snuggie household names and also made stars out of inventors.
If you've ever seen a product and said, "Geez, I could have thought of that!" you must have seen the Snuggie. The Snuggie blanket-with-sleeves has sold millions and is a fixture in American popular culture.
Infomercials... products that promise the near impossible. But, do they deliver? Before you buy, watch the Popular Mechanics guy, Harry Sawyers, and Darren Rovell test some of today's top sellers. We won't charge you shipping and handling...
Inventor Ron Popeil and the late pitchman Billy Mays talk about their lives beyond the products they sell.
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