Autumn is winding down, and winter is beginning to breathe its frosty air down our necks. For many people, portable space heaters are an easy method to stay warm while attempting to lower utility costs. Unfortunately, many electric space heaters pose a burn risk or fire hazard. According to the  United States Fire Administration (USFA), approximately 900 portable heater fires occur annually in the United States. Portable heater fires comprise only two percent of residential fires, but they are particularly deadly, accounting for one quarter of fatal residential fires.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the agency charged with monitoring the safety of the products we purchase and with issuing consumer warnings and recalls of dangerous and defective products. While thousands of portable electric heaters have been recalled by their manufacturers this year, As Seen On TV heaters including the iHeater, Heat Surge Amish Electric Fireplace, and Seasonaire Heater and Air Purification System have not been subject to recall.  These portable heaters include safety features which may reduce the risk of burns. For example, all three heaters are designed to generate heat while remaining cool to the touch. Heat Surge uses Hybrid-Thermic heat technology and features a patent-pending Cool Touch Heat Vent. The iHeater and Seasonaire both use infrared technology to evenly distribute heat while remaining safe to the touch.

Regardless of which portable heater you use to stay warm while reducing your energy costs, reduce your risk of injury by following these CPSC heater safety tips:

• Never operate a heater you suspect may be damaged.
• Visit the CPSC website to check for recall information before operating your heater.
• Never leave a heater unattended.
• Never operate a portable heater while sleeping.
• Keep flammable and combustible materia;–including paper, clothing, sheets and bedding, curtains, and sofas–at least three feet from the heater’s front, rear, and sides.
• Be sure the heater’s plug fits tightly and securely in the wall outlet.
• Do not use a heater with a power strip or an extension cord.
• Only use a heater on a flat, stable surface to reduce the risk of tipping over.
• When purchasing a heater, check for an OSHA safety certification mark.
• Keep electric heaters away from water, and never touch a heater when you are wet.

To find an energy-efficient, cool-touch portable heater for your home or office, click here to browse our catalog of As Seen On TV products.

It has been a while since the SeenOnTV Express blog looked at some of the famous faces of infomercial products.  Ron Popeil may have been the biggest name in infomercials for the previous generation, but more recently, Billy Mays was the name most people associated with As Seen On TV marketing.  However, Mays’s death in 2009 left DRTV marketing looking for a new spokesman, and Mays’s friend and colleague Anthony Sullivan quickly became a household name by selling As Seen On TV household products.

Born in 1969 in Devon, England, Anthony “Sully” Sullivan perfected his pitch on the streets of London, modeling his techniques after the street vendors of that famed city.  When he came to the United States in the 1990′s, he became a product demonstrator and pitchman for the product that would come to be known as the Smart Mop.  When Home Shopping Network (HSN) executives spied Sully, they quickly hired him and launched the Smart Mop into a top-selling As Seen On TV cleaning product.

Before long, Sully was so successful that HSN promoted him to prime time.  After he fulfilled his one-year contract as network show host, Sully realized that he was destined for greater things.  He left HSN to launch his own business, Sullivan Productions.  Sullivan Productions is the creator of commercials for some of the hottest selling infomercial products:

• Swivel Sweeper
• Kaboom
• OxiClean
• Aluma Wallet
• Jupiter Jack
• Heeltastic
• One Second Needle
• H20 Mop
• and more

In 2009, Sully co-starred in the Discovery Channel series Pitchmen, for which he was an Executive Producer, along with fellow infomercial star Billy Mays.  After Mays’s death, Sully continued the series alone in 2010 and 2011.  The series is now available on DVD.

Though Mays’s death left a void, Sully was quickly able to fill his friend’s shoes, becoming the new face of OxiClean, and in fact, the most recognizable face of infomercial products today.  Sully is the main spokesman for A.J. Khubani’s Telebrands, leader in direct response television marketing and creator of the “As Seen On TV” logo.

According to his website, Sully has “launched over twenty products, sold hundreds of millions of millions of dollars worth of merchandise and has been recognized a record breaking three times for making the best commercial of the year by the Electronic Retailing Association.”   He has appeared on The Late Show with Conan O’Brien, and he has been featured on NBC’s 20-20, ABC’s Nightline , CBS, USA Network , BBC, Fox News, Rachel Ray, and Access Hollywood.

In an industry that has recently been rocked by scandal (Vince Offer’s legal troubles and Don Lapre’s federal fraud charges and suicide, for example), Anthony “Sully” Sullivan offers a sense of trust and security.  Along with his reputation and charm, Sully’s personable quips have the audience loving him.  It seems like he’ll continue as one of the industry’s leading pitchmen for years to come.

After all, as Sully says, “Life’s a pitch, and then you buy.”

With both AccuWeather and the 2012 Farmer’s Almanac predicting another cold, brutal, stormy winter, it is best to get prepared while things are still relatively pleasant outside.  Having a longstanding reputation for being The Biggest Cold Weather Wimp Ever, I am personally quite excited by all of the As Seen On TV products designed to keep me snug and cozy all winter long–without wrecking my utility bills.  Whether you are looking warm yourself, your house, or even . . .yes . . . your dog, SeenOnTV Express has the top selling infomercial products to make for a cozy winter despite the bleak forecast.

As Seen On TV Blankets and More

Wrap up in comfort to keep yourself, your kids, and your pets snug as a bug.

• Snuggie:  choose from the original Snuggie, Designer Snuggie, Snuggie Varsity, or even Custom Snuggie
• Snuggie for Kids:  especially designed in a smaller size for children
• Snuggie for Dogs:  fits much more easily than tight pet sweaters and still allows freedom of movement
• Forever Lazy:  more than a blanket with sleeves, Forever Lazy is like a blanket with sleeve and legs–one piece for warm comfort no matter what you’re doing  . . . or not doing.

As Seen On TV Heaters

The exquisite look of Amish craftmanship paired with safe, radiant heat make As Seen On TV Heaters a popular way to cut utility costs while staying cozy even on the coldest of days.

• Heat Surge Hand Crafted Amish Electric Fireplace:  puts out 4606 BTUs of heat through a realistic, flickering flame, giving the ambience of a real fireplace
• iHeater:  uses infrared heat to safely heat up to 1,000 square feet while remaining cool to the touch, saving you up to 50% on your utility bills.

Other As Seen On TV Products for Winter:

• Twin Draft Guard:  blocks drafts around windows and doors, keeping warm air in and cold air out, cutting energy costs by up to 30%
• Pet ZZZ Pad:  if a Snuggie for Dogs isn’t enough, try this unique warming pad designed for your pet’s bed

Even though there are so many products available to help keep your temperature up and your heating costs down, I’m still hoping that the predictions of another Snowpocalypse prove false.  In the meantime, bundle up.  Baby, it’s cold outside.

As the SeenOnTV Express blogger, I’m constantly being made aware of the newest, hottest As Seen On TV products.  While some of the products don’t necessarily appeal to me, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t frequently stumble across a product that I just have to have.  As Seen On TV beauty products, kitchen products, exercise equipment, fitness videos, and comfort items all make my list.  With the holidays just around the corner, I thought it would be a perfect time to share some of my favorite products–the ones I hope show up under my Christmas tree.  After all, Santa knows I’ve been very good this year.  Well–at least he knows I tried.

As Seen On TV Christmas List

• Forever Lazy – I’m not gonna lie.  This looks super cozy and comfortable.  For someone who works from home, this would be the perfect gift.  I may never wear actual clothes again.  At least until spring.
• Instyler – If I’m not mistaken, this made my list last year, but I didn’t find it in my stocking.  I think if I’m going to be spending my days in a giant, adult sized onesie, at least my hair should look good.
• Flex Seal – I know–household products shouldn’t really be on a Christmas list.  Next thing you know I’ll be asking for a blender.  But I really, really want to make a boat out of a screen door.
• Ninja Kitchen Blender – Yep.  I told you I’d be asking for a blender next.  I have a blender already.  It even has a food processing bowl.  But it is not this cool.  Not. At. All.
• Flex Mini – Seriously.  I can tone my butt without ever doing a single squat?  Sign me up.
• Any of the Beachbody videos - I don’t really like to work out, but I do really like to eat.  If I’m going to work out, I want it to be worth my time and energy.  I want it to feel like a workout, and I want results.  Beachbody workouts like P90x, Insantity, TurboFire, and Chalean Extreme are effective workouts for people who aren’t afraid to work hard to get results fast.

If I’ve been good enough this year, expect to see me in January, recovering from my Insanity workout by mixing up a healthy detox smoothie in my Ninja Kitchen Blender while wearing Forever Lazy and getting a workout boost from my Flex Mini.  And, gurrrl, my hair will look goooood.

I’m intrigued by the Flex Seal commercial.  You know, the one where the guy makes a boat out of a screen door by sealing it with the  liquid rubber sealant?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCKbowib9I4

I’m amazed.  Awestruck.  I totally want to get a screen door and see if I can make it float.

That’s one of the things I love about infomercial product demonstrations.  Not only do they point out the difficulties in every day tasks (“Why, now that you mention it, my blanket IS complicated.”), but they show you how effective a product is by using it for a purpose no one will ever need.  Like making a boat out of a screen door–which, now that I think of it, might be a good idea in case of flooding.  I wonder how Hurricane Irene would stand up to Flex Seal?

Intentional misuse of As Seen on TV products for demonstration purposes has been around as long as infomercials themselves.  The original Ginsu knife infomercial from 1978 shows the knife being abused in all sorts of ways.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abLB7aTmnE4

Let’s see . . . I can use my Ginsu knife to:

1. Cut an aluminum can, because you never know when you might need slices of aluminum.
2. Slice bread so thin you can see through it, because who really wants bread interfering with their sandwich?
3. Chop wood, because using a knife is totally easier than using an ax.

You can even hammer your Ginsu knife.  What better way to take out kitchen aggression than hammering the handle of your utensils?

Ginsu may have started the Product Abuse as Demonstration, but they sure aren’t the only ones to effectively utilize this technique.

Krazy Glue takes job site safety to new . . . heights.

• Mighty Putty can pull an 80,000 pound tractor trailer.
• Miracle Blade III can slice a pineapple.  In mid-air.
• The Blendtec blender can pulverize your cell phone.
• The Oreck and Dyson vacuums can pick up a bowling ball.
• Speaking of bowling balls, you can drop one on a Simmons Beautyrest mattress without knocking over the pins.

And just watch the first few seconds of this Billy Mays OxiClean commercial:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jkwQV_5Kb0

You can remove stains from a bowl of water.  A BOWL.  OF WATER.

Amazing.

You have to admit that these crazy testing methods are certainly attention-getting.  I mean, if I have to run over the same piece of popcorn fifteen times with my vacuum (before picking it up, inspecting it, and throwing it back on the floor for another couple of vacuum passes), then maybe I’d be more satisfied with a vacuum that could suction up a bowling ball.  And if my blender can puree my wireless communication device, just imagine what it could do for my smoothies.

It’s important to think of all these contingent uses for your As Seen on TV products.  After all, you wouldn’t want to get stuck up a creek without a screen door.

Last week I wrote a little about the unbearable heat–more 40 days of 100+ temperatures in our area this summer, with no end in sight.  We are actually having roads closed as they buckle in the combined heat and drought, damaging cars and causing accidents until the roads are repaired.  With the ridiculous heat combined with an unrelenting drought, damage to surfaces and structures becomes inevitable.  Although it may seem like it will never rain again, now is a perfect time to patch cracks and leaks around the house.  The evidence of how temperature extremes can warp even concrete, asphalt, and steel demonstrates how important it is to repair your cracks with a flexible material that can withstand movement.

Flex Seal is an As Seen On TV product designed to seal cracks and leaks with a flexible rubber seal.  A liquid rubber sealant, Flex Seal sprays onto virtually any surface, drying quickly to a firm yet flexible seal.  It conforms to the crack to eliminate leaks, and it can be painted any color.  An easy to use aerosol spray, Flex Seal can be used to patch cracks and stop leaks on roofs, gutters, pipes, skylights, and more.  If past weather patterns are any indication, it would be wise to take care of leak repairs now, before the drought is ended by rains of epic proportions.

As I was considering Flex Seal as an As Seen On TV home repair solution, I couldn’t help but notice just how important “flexibility” is in marketing infomercial products–especially when it comes to As Seen On TV exercise equipment.

Note the following:

• Flex Belt – An electronic ab belt that uses Electronic Muscle Stimulation (EMS) to flex and contract the abdominal muscles
• Flex Mini – An EMS shaper designed to tone the butt, hips, and thighs
• Solar Flex – An infrared heated yoga mat designed to improve flexibility
• UltraFlex – An easy to use fitness tool to sculpt lean muscle through flexible resistance
• Flex Shaper – Combines resistance and aerobic training for total body fitness
• Bowflex - From one of the leaders in home fitness, Bowflex gyms feature flexible Power Rod technology for an effective workout

So go ahead and flex your purchasing muscles by checking out one of the many “flexible” As Seen On TV products available through SeenOnTVExpress.com.

And fix those leaks before it’s too late.

I love summer.  The golden sun, the long days, the lazy schedule . . . . This summer, though, most of our nation has been gripped by a heat wave that belies last winter’s “Snowpocalypse.”  Even a true summer-phile like me can get a little tired of the unbearable heat when a seemingly endless string of 100+ degree days is unbroken by a good ol’ gully washer.  At SeenOnTV Express, our neck of the woods is crippled by the worst drought since the Dust Bowl, and our lakes, one of the only respites from the heat, have been deemed off-limits due to toxic blue-green algae flourishing in the blistering, dry heat.

The only good thing about this summer’s heat and drought is that it has put the kibosh on mosquitoes, the bane of my existence.  Unfortunately, that is not true of all bugs, pests, no-see-ums, and menacing, prolific flies.  Our hatred of flies in the house has become so extreme that our 2-year-old son has taken to the belief that anything that must be closed must be done in an effort to “keep the flies out.”

I’d better shut the garage door to keep the flies out.

I’d better close the refrigerator to keep the flies out.

I’d better shut the drawer to keep the flies out.

I’m thinking this must be a common refrain in our household, since our toddler has so thoroughly ingrained it into his little heart.

As always, though, there is an As Seen On TV product to solve the problem.  One of my favorite infomercial pest control products is the Magic Mesh magnetic screen door.   My husband and I installed a regular screen door once, and the fact that we remain married after the ordeal is a testament to pure stubbornness.  Magic Mesh, though, is easily installed on most door frames, including those on campers and RV’s.  At the end of the season, when it’s no longer needed, Magic Mesh is just as easily removed and stored.

With Magic Mesh, you can avoid the loud banging of a screen door as busy kids run in and out.  With 18 magnets pulling the screen closed, Magic Mesh closes quickly and quietly, keeping bugs out without making you bug out.

Another key feature of Magic Mesh is its ability to be used hands free.  If you are carrying plates of food to your backyard barbecue, or if you are frequently balancing meat, vegetables, and grill tools for outdoor cooking, Magic Mesh lets you easily exit and enter hands-free–and it closes automatically behind you.

If you’re bugged by insects when you are outside, consider trying Bug Bands insect repelling wristbands.  Chemical-free and odor-free, Bug Bands are a safe alternative to smelly citronella candles or noxious insect repellent sprays.

As Seen on TV Best Sellers

Infomercial products are designed to fill a need, solve a problem, minimize an annoyance.  The inventors of these As Seen on TV product innovations have an uncanny ability to find television viewers’ biggest pet peeves and market a solution.  Describing the invention of the Snuggie, one infomercial product review website noted,  “One day a guy put on his robe backwards and said, ‘I want a Porsche.’”  With over 20 million Snuggies sold in 2009 alone . . . well, that’s a lot of Porsches.

When an infomercial hits big, it REALLY hits big.  According to several sources, the television infomercial business, or Direct Response Television (DRTV) marketing, is a $300 billion dollar industry.  Forbes.com cites Remy Stern, author of But Wait . . . There’s More, in saying that the direct response marketing industry is “larger than the film, music and video game industries combined.”  So in an arena filled with failed ideas, which As Seen on TV products are generating the most revenue?

Top Ten Infomercial Products and As Seen on TV Products

A Forbes.com article released by ABC News reveals the ten most successful television infomercial products as determined by California-based research firm Jordan Whitney.  This list is based on sales figures from Nov. 2009 to Nov. 2010:

1. Bowflex Home Gym
2. Carleton Sheets Real Estate Tutorial
3. Proactiv Solution Acne Treatment
4. Ronco Showtime Rotisserie Pro Electric Rotisserie Oven
5. Sharper Image Ionic Breeze Air Purifier
6. The Firm Bodybuilding Fitness Videos
7. Walk Away the Pounds for Abs Weight Loss System
8. Gazelle Freestyle Home Exercise Equipment
9. Total Gym Challenge Home Gym
10. Foodsaver Food Vacuum Packaging Machine

Though this list provides the most successful products for last year, the As Seen on TV best sellers are constantly evolving.  In fact, infomercial researchers at Jordan Whitney also list weekly top sellers.  Last week’s best selling As Seen on TV products included mostly fitness and personal care products:

1. P90X
2. Insanity
3. No!No! Hair
4. Six Week Body Makeover
5. Turbo Fire
6. Zumba
7. Genie Bra
8. Wen Hair Care
9. Cindy Crawford’s Meaningful Beauty
10. Sensa Weight Loss System

Hm.  That list looks suspiciously like the As Seen on TV products in our Spring Fever Series.

Let’s face it.  All I had to do was put “Clap on!” in the title of this post and you now have the nearly 30-year-old jingle for The Clapper stuck in your head.

“Clap on!  Clap off!  Clap on, clap off–The Clapper!” the commercial proclaims with the precision of a military cadence.  And now, thanks to SeenOnTV Express and Way Back Wednesday, you too will be chanting this jingle.  All.  Day.  Long.

In case you were living in a cave or on a deserted island during the 1980′s and have no idea what I’m talking about, here’s the original Clapper commercial, as seen on TV during the era of big hair and Flock of Seagulls:

I find it hard to believe that we have been bringing you Way Back Wednesday’s retrospective look at infomercial products for nearly a year, and I have failed to discuss The Clapper, an icon of electronic innovation and extreme laziness.

After all . . . we had one.

My parents installed a Clapper in their bedroom–and by “installed,” I mean “plugged in.”   They plugged their television into the Clapper so that they could turn off the TV after the nightly news without getting out of bed.  As kids, we found it immensely entertaining to CLAP ON and CLAP OFF the television, and would even watch the 13-inch black and white TV in their room for the sheer elation of being the ones to get to clap twice and turn off the TV.  In fact, we would fight over the opportunity.

Which led to an interesting discovery.

You see, you don’t have to clap to turn a Clapper on and off.  Any loud noise will do.  In a household with four kids, any sibling brawl particularly heated argument could lead to the television flicking on and off repeatedly.

Once we realized how the Clapper was noise activated, our laziness increased.  Now we no longer had to use our arms!  We could lie motionless and shout, “TURN!  OFF!”  and the screen would go black, except for the lingering dot of light in the center of the television screen that would take an inordinately long time to finally fade away.

By the time I left for college, the novelty of the Clapper, still in use in the master bedroom, had dimmed like the screen of the tiny black and white television.  Perhaps that is because I was older.  Wiser.  More jaded.

Or perhaps it was because I didn’t know that the Clapper had been upgraded.  That’s right, folks–1992 issued in the Smart Clapper.  “How smart can it be?”  Funny you should ask:

Mock if you will, but I say we bring back the Clapper.  Sure we have remotes for our televisions now . . . but can you ever find yours when you need it?   What about Christmas lights?  Floor lamps?  And how will the kids be amused as you shout at them to CLEAN YOUR ROOM NOW if your appliances aren’t sporadically powered on and off during your tirade?

Clap on, my friend.  Clap on.

Fight Arctic Chill and Your Heating Bill with Heat Surge

As I write this post, we are preparing for a winter storm predicted to dump approximately a foot of snow–for the second time in a week.  The current wind chill is -5 degrees, which will seem downright balmy tomorrow when the actual temp bottoms out at -3.   As someone who positively hates to be cold, I can hear the central heat blasting away, and I while I’m cozy now, I dread the utility bill coming my way next month.  So for today’s Way Back Wednesday, we’re going to take our inspiration from people who relish the past.  With superior craftsmanship, the Amish have added old world style to modern BTUs with the Heat Surge Hand Crafted Amish Electric Fireplace.

Heat Surge Flameless Electric Fireplace Provides Warmth, Beauty, and Safety

I love to curl up in front of a crackling fire.  In fact, I would love a roaring fire in the fireplace right now.  However, I’m always skeptical of building a fire late at night.  First of all, there’s the hassle of building the fire to start with.  By the time it reaches an appropriate level of warmth and flame, it will be time to go to bed.  Then I have to figure out how to smother the flame, and I spend the rest of the night restless and unable to sleep, fearful that some sneaky ember is going to escape and burn my house down.  Maybe I’m paranoid, but I don’t need that kind of stress when I’m trying to create a cozy atmosphere.  Kind of defeats the purpose, no?

The Heat Surge provides the ambience of a glowing fire without the hazards.  Even though the Heat Surge puts out over 4600 BTUs at its highest setting, it remains safe to the touch.  It flickers like a fire, but without the dangers of fire, and it is easily portable, allowing you to warm any room instantly without wasting money heating empty rooms.

Part of the appeal of the Heat Surge is the beautiful mantle, carefully constructed by Amish craftsmen.  The Heat Surge doesn’t look like an ordinary portable heater; rather, it has the decorative appearance of a real fireplace.

Heat Surge, iHeater, and Twin Draft Guard Combat Winter Utility Bills

The Heat Surge is not the only bill-busting infomercial heater.  If you want a portable heater that features safety and a high heat output, but don’t need the Amish craftsmanship or ambience of a real fireplace, the iHeater may be the best heating option for you.  The iHeater uses energy efficient quartz infrared technology  to heat up to 1,000 square feet for only pennies a day.  Maximize the warmth, energy efficiency, and money saving capabilities of either the Heat Surge Electric Fireplace or the iHeater by eliminating drafts around doors and windows with the Twin Draft Guard.  Use the easy-to-install Twin Draft Guard to keep cold winter air out (a must with our recent blizzard conditions) and keep the warm air generated by your Heat Surge or iHeater inside.

With most of the nation under a deep freeze, with skyrocketing utility costs, and with poor economic conditions, now is the perfect time to save money and conserve energy with a safe, effective portable heater.  You shouldn’t have to burn money to stay warm this winter, and with the Heat Surge Flamess Electric Fireplace and the iHeater, you don’t have to.