| It all started with Jane Fonda. She started | | | | have just given birth, women who are thinking |
| an industry with a simple video tape that | | | | about getting pregnant, kids, seniors and |
| included a 30 minute beginners program | | | | thats only a small fraction of what is |
| followed by a 60 minute full workout. For | | | | available. Right now there are over 700 |
| Jane it formed the nucleus of an empire that | | | | titles currently available and at one time or |
| included books, audio recordings and fitness | | | | another all of them were presented to the |
| salons that are still in existence today. | | | | public as an infomercial. |
| More importantly, capitalizing on Janes | | | | |
| success, her workout tapes were followed | | | | Some exercise infomercials utilized a new |
| quickly by everybody with a cut chiseled | | | | form of advertising called the hybrid |
| physique or a machine to help you work off | | | | infomercial. In the hybrid infomercial the |
| those extra pounds and bring out those abs | | | | product is available immediately as a direct |
| which quite unbelievably is bigger today than | | | | response item and at the same time the item |
| it was yesterday but not as big as it will be | | | | is available in retail stores. Here the |
| tomorrow. | | | | infomercial is serving a dual purpose to |
| | | | make a profit for the manufacturer |
| Like they say in the record biz, the hits | | | | immediately with credit card phone orders and |
| just keep on coming. Everybody has jumped | | | | by creating a brand name identity for the |
| into the market through the years: Chuck | | | | product available in the retail marketplace. |
| Norris, Lou Ferrigno aka The Hulk from the TV | | | | With so much product available in todays |
| show, even Governor Arnold tried his hand at | | | | infomercial exercise tape market, its |
| it. Models, celebrities and just plain folks | | | | difficult for any one tape or exercise |
| with a machine have created exercise | | | | machine to make a profit for its |
| infomercials and you can count on one thing | | | | manufacturer. By utilizing the incredible |
| more are coming soon to a TV channel in your | | | | power of infomercials to reach a wide public |
| house. | | | | base and selling them as a direct response |
| | | | item and a retail item simultaneously, |
| Theres Pilates, aerobics, toning, step | | | | manufacturers have learned how to profit from |
| dynamics, yoga, stretch, even specialty | | | | infomercials even though the market may be |
| exercise tapes for pregnant women, women who | | | | oversaturated. |