To
get Started with Test Market Network -- Fill out the Product Information
Questionnaire
Q.
What sort of products do well on television?
A. All kinds, but more specifically, products that:
• Solve a common problem or make life easier
• Have a broad appeal
• Have unique features and benefits
• Demonstrate well
• Have a limited distribution or are new to the market
• Are topical or timely
• Represent a good value, even after shipping and handling
costs
Exceptions
- The following products are not accepted: subscriptions, personalized
items, 900 phone programs, fur-related products, gun-related products,
service-related products, products with bounce-backs, and products
that utilize child labor. Products for weight-loss, those that
are health-related, and those that are result-oriented need certified
independent clinical testing, including before-and-after photos
and testimonials to back up any claims. top
Q.
How does Test Market Network differ from a Focus Group?
A. The main difference between TMN and a focus group is that with
a focus group the participants are paid to critique and say whether
they would buy your product or not, opposed to someone actually
ordering your product after watching it on TMN, the true test
of a product. top
Q.
How do I get my product on Test Market Network?
A. To have your product evaluated for possible airing on TMN,
you must submit the completed Product Information Questionnaire
(below) and send a sample of your product to:
TMN Product
Submissions
DRTV Productions, Inc.
3270 Suntree Blvd. Suite 119
Melbourne, Florida 32940
TMN accepts
no responsibility for the safe arrival, handling or return of
any submitted products or materials. top
Q.
How long does the product evaluation take?
A. Once received, our product specialist team will evaluate your
product for quality and sales feasibility. Within 48 hours, you
will be notified whether your product fits our criteria and is
of interest to TMN. top
Q.
Once my product is accepted, what is the next step?
A. Once accepted and you choose to proceed, a deposit will be
required along with three samples of your product (samples will
not be returned) to be used for production, and a signed TMN Representation
Agreement (you will receive a copy with your acceptance notification).
At this point, your product will be assigned a product-order number.
A TMN producer will work with you to create a sales strategy for
your product and carry you through the entire process. top
Q.
What does the package include?
• Pre-production development of a sales strategy and pitch
• Product training and familiarization with our hosts
• Acquisition of B-roll footage for any demonstrations needed
in settings outside the studio
• Production of a 12-minute segment
• Copies of your segment and raw footage for your own use,
perfect for your Website
• Distribution in the Orlando, Florida, market, with at
least two airings per night for 30 days
• Use of inbound call center
• Order processing
• Daily sales report
• Campaign evaluation report
• HSN, QVC or retail chain presentation if sales meet quota
established below. top
Q.
What experience do your on-camera hosts have?
A. Most of our on-air talent are former hosts from QVC and HSN
and have hundreds of hours of experience with these top two shopping
networks. Our hosts are certified to appear on QVC and HSN as
product specialists. So if your product makes it to the shopping
networks and requires a product specialist, one of our hosts will
already be familiar with your product. top
Q
How long does it take to get my product on the air with TMN?
A. We can get a product on the air as quickly as 14 days from
the initial contract signing. top
Q.
What station will air my segment?
A. Your segment will air on WRDQ TV 27, a full-power broadcast
station reaching nine counties in Central Florida for a total
broadcast range of 1.2 million households, including more than
1.1 million cable subscribers. top
Q.
How many sales do I need to call my test a success?
A. As few as 50 orders are needed. Use the following chart as
an example. Actual calculations may vary based upon product. top
Product
sales price |
Units
sold |
|
$15 - $29 |
150 |
| $30
- $49 |
100 |
| $50
- $99 |
75 |
| $100
- $299 |
50 |
Q.
Why would selling just 50 units impress anyone?
A. Any buyer, whether from a TV shopping network or a retail giant
would see that selling 50 units on Test Market Network could easily
equate to 5,000, 50,000 or 500,000 units in their arena. They
definitely will look favorably on a product with a track record.
top
Q.
Is that all it takes to get on the shopping networks or in the
retail giants?
A. There is no guarantee any of the shopping networks or retailers
will be interested in your product, even if it exceeds the sales
quota. It will, however, offer valuable information to assist
in a buyers decision on whether to carry your product. The major
shopping networks and retailers have a finite amount of airtime
and shelf space, thus they are very choosy about what products
they pick. They reject thousands of products every month. Your
product will stand out with a track record from Test Market Network!
top
Q.
How will success on TMN help get my product on the shelves at
retail giants?
A. Retail chains will give preferential treatment to products
with a proven track record. Being able to designate a product
as an “As Seen On TV” product with good results is
a perfect lead-in to any retail chain. Our retail product placement
specialists have direct established contacts with buyers at; Walmart,
K-Mart, Albertsons, Kroger, Publix, and Home Depot, among others.
top
Q.
Can I use results from TMN to help me secure funding or venture
capital for production of my product?
A. TMN is an excellent way to prove the potential of your product
to your investors. TMN could use your prototype (providing it
works and looks like the final product) for the on-air presentation,
then go into mass production once it proves to be a viable product.
top
Q.
What happens if my product shows some promise but doesn’t
quite meet the projected quota?
A. Throughout your month-long campaign, your product’s sales
results will be monitored and analyzed. We believe if your product
is selling some units but is not meeting your quota, your product
may still have a great potential. Therefore, we will try to determine
the reason for the slow sales. It might be positioning, price
point, or even product name. Once that reason is determined, we
will revise or re-shoot your segment with the appropriate changes
and re-air for a full month. Due to airtime limitations, however,
this can only be done once. top
Q.
How will you represent my product to the Shopping Networks or
Retailers?
A. If your product does reach its quota, TMN will act as a broker
representing your product. A small percentage of gross profit
will be negotiated and retained by TMN as a fee for its services.
top
Q.
What are my chances if I took my product directly to one of the
shopping networks?
A. According to QVC (the largest shopping network) only about
2% of products submitted ever get approved for air. A track record
from TMN can dramatically help get your product approved. A buyer
could not ignore the fact that your product has been selling on
TV. top
Q.
Would it make sense to submit to QVC or HSN first and see if my
product is
accepted, then if not, contact you to perform a test and re-submit?
A. It's up to you to take the chance, though once a product has
been rejected we cannot re-submit. top
Q
Can I use my TMN segment or raw footage for other uses.
A. You will own all the footage shot for your segment, so you
can use it at your will. All footage is broadcast-ready. That
means you could create a 60-second spot with the raw footage,
use your segment at tadeshows, or use the b-roll for demonstrating
your product on-air on the shopping networks -- saving you thousands
of dollars in production costs. top
Q.
What is the value of TMN?
A. It is a long road
to take a product nationally on-air or on-shelves. Many thousands
of products per year are rejected for one reason or another.
Our
representatives have direct relationships with buyers at QVC,
HSN, Walmart, K-Mart, Albertsons, Kroger, Publix, and Home Depot,
among others. They know the ins and outs of presenting products.
Coupled with a favorable track record from Test Market Network,
and you have the formula for success! top
Q.
How can I get more information without submitting an application?
A. Call 321-255-9670 and ask to speak with a product specialist
who will be glad to answer any questions you may have. Or click
here to e-mail for further assistance. top
Q.
Will TMN sign a non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement to
protect my
product or idea before I submit my product?
A. No. Your idea, no matter how original it may seem, may in fact
not be a new idea. Other submissions may simultaneously, prior
or subsequence to your submission, disclose a similar or same
idea. Therefore we cannot enter into a non-disclosure agreement
without restricting our business. This policy is standard with
all major shopping networks and infomercial companies. Beware
of a company that agrees to sign a non-disclosure or confidentiality
agreement. This could be a red flag. You should consider protecting
your idea through patents or copywrights before disclosing it.
Please submit your information to us only after you have obtained
the protection that you need to feel comfortable. top
