New Name: Perfect Clasp
Original Hit Year: 2007 (No. 20 on the JW Annual)
Original Marketer: IdeaVillage
Website: www.PerfectClasp.com
Prediction: On the fence
I recall Clever Clasp being a modest hit, not a blockbuster. But it does solve a real problem for an aging population that has only gotten older since 2007. Six years is also within the range of possibility for a Phoenix to rise again, so this one has a decent shot.
I'm on the fence because this is my 17th "Old Gold" post and, insofar as this has been a record of attempts, the results are pretty mediocre. Here's a recap:
- Moving Men: Bomb. But a similar item, EZ Moves, became a hit.
- Sifteroo/Quicksand: Bomb. But a similar item, Sift 'N Toss (see No. 8 in this Weekly Round-Up) became a hit.
- Turbie Twist: Bomb. But just on TV. It is still selling in select retailers.
- DiDi Seven: Bomb.
- Shelf Master: Bomb.
- White Light: Bomb.
- Insta Bulb/Stick Up Bulb: Hit! Appeared on my True Top Spenders of 2012.
- Caulk Fast/Pro Seal: Bomb.
- Bacon Wave: Hit! This one barely missed my True Top Spenders of 2013.
- Rocket Tops: Bomb. Site is down.
- Citrus Express: Site is still live, but it's not looking good.
- Tornado Can Opener/One Touch Can Opener: Site is still live, but it's not looking good.
- Fresh Mex Express/Smart Chopper: Site is still live, but I'm pretty sure it was a bomb.
- Pastafina/Pasta Express: TBD
- Scratch 911/Lens Doctor: TBD
- Repeat Potty Pad/Potty Patch: TBD
So there you have it: Two hits out of the bunch. When all results are in, I think this will probably shake out to be a 1 in 10 hit rate for Old Gold items. That's decent but nothing to get excited about, and I think the strength of the hits also needs to be considered. I don't recall either item being really big at retail.
That said, I probably missed a few examples that deserve to be included in this analysis. One (two, really) that immediately springs to mind is Perfect Pancake. The fact that the item was a revival of a 10-year-old hit got lost in the duel with Telebrands' Flip Jack. But it made my 2013 mid-year list, and Telebrands' version (which was actually closer to the original) made both the mid-year and final lists.
Can you think of any other projects, successful or not, that should be included in this analysis? If so, post a comment.
