March 03, 2008

New This Week: Toast-A-Meal and Fiji Foot Spa

I'm still on the road, but I took time to review another two items that caught my attention ...

1. TOAST-A-MEAL ($19.99) is a reusable sleeve that allows you to put a sandwich in a toaster without making a mess. The offer includes four sleeves. The first bonus is a cookbook, and then they throw in a toaster! www.ToastAMeal.com
Product (D7) Score: 5 out of 7*
Comments:
When a marketer feels the need to add a bonus that has a much higher perceived value than the product, he should take that as a sign the product isn't right for DRTV ... and move on.

2. FIJI FOOT SPA ($19.95) is a foot scrubber that attaches to your shower floor. You suction the scrubber to the floor, fill the dispenser with antibacterial foot lotion, and then rub your feet on it to eliminate dead skin and bacteria. It's "a spa experience at home." The offer includes the scrubber and lotion. There are also three additional bonuses: a pumice stone insert, a tube of Extreme Foot Repair Lotion, and a Body Buff (body scrubber) with EZ Reach Attachment. www.FijiFootScrubber.com
Product (D7) Score: 5 out of 7*
Commercial Score: OK**
Comments: This product follows on the heels (pun intended) of Telebrands' Ped Egg and Smart Inventions' One Step. So it won't come across as unique or as a problem-solver, since two solutions to the problem are already being promoted. Moreover, the offer gets confusing when the bonus items are introduced.

Source: “New Spots for Week Ending 2/27/08,” IMS

* See my July 24, 2007 post for a complete explanation of the D7 product score.
** See my October 22, 2007 post for a complete explanation of my commercial rating system.