February 25, 2015

Colorama

Description: A coloring book ... for adults
Main Pitch: "Create something wonderful and relax"
Main Offer: $12.99 for one plus the Pocket Companion
Bonus: 51-piece color kit (just pay a separate fee)
Marketer: Telebrands
Watch it on iSpot.tv

File this one under: "What the heck were they thinking?!" I feel sorry for the producer: It can't be fun to be trapped between a rock (saying no to a valued client) and a hard place (trying to sell a coloring book to adults). But sometimes the only correct response is: "This cannot, and moreover should not, be done."

Doubt me? Here's a direct quote from a testimonial in the commercial: "I look forward to jumping into bed with the Colorama book and just melt[ing] away." The folks at SNL could not have done better. That's laugh-out-loud funny!

S7 Analysis: Needless to say, this will now be my No. 1 example of a project that fails the targeted criterion.