September 06, 2012

Dueling Knives

Review: Yoshi Glide

Description: A combination steel/ceramic knife
Main Pitch: "The sharpness of steel with the non-stick ease of ceramic"
Main Offer: $19.99 for one
Bonus: Free pairing knife, four steak knives (just pay S&H)
Marketer: IdeaVillage
Producer: Blue Moon
Website: www.GetYoshiGlide.com
Prediction: On the fence

Review: Kijo Knife


Description: A ceramic, serrated knife
Main Pitch: "Sharper than steel with superior edge retention"
Main Offer: $19.99 for one with peeler, cutting board
Bonus: Bread knife & pairing knife(just pay P&H)
Marketer: Tempo 3000
Producer: Hutton-Miller
Website: www.KijoKnife.com
Prediction: Unlikely to succeed

This duel suprised me for two reasons. First, it pits two halves of a great team (the same team that gave us Yoshi Blade) against one another, seemingly for no good reason.

Second, though less creative in its approach, the Yoshi spot is more captivating. The difference-maker is the anonymous "knife worker" featured in the commercial. Whoever he is, he's at the top of his game and mesmerizing to watch in action. Check him out for yourself to see what I mean.

That said, both projects are a long shot. Yoshi Blade was the first ceramic knife sold for a mass-market price, a rare example of a value play carrying a DRTV campaign. Now, inexpensive ceramic knives abound. So I'm pretty sure the moment has passed.