The OPRAH…effect!
While home this weekend recovering from dental surgery, I watched an interesting segment on MSNBC about the Oprah effect..
The hour program was about what it meant for your product to get onto Oprah’s most liked product list. If you ever doubted that getting on Oprah could help you become an overnight success….. you are dead wrong!
The stories they shared were testament of how we as a business need to stick in there, even when we feel like throwing it in, and we doubt our success. It just proved to me that no matter how I want to give up trying to get on the Oprah Show with my message of how small companies can get their products into mass retailers; I am gonna stick to it man! Even though I do not have a product for her list, her audience is my target of whom I can help teach how to bring their products from their kitchen table, to Wal-Mart. I visualize myself on her set all the time. You have to hang in there folks! Be patient and keep trying.
One of the products that caught my attention the most was a fragrance company called LAFCO. This company’s tenacity and perseverance on never giving up, was phenomenal and very inspiring. LAFCO kept trying year after year to get on her list with their various products. They submitted many product packages, with many different product variations, for SEVEN years. Yes, you heard right, SEVEN.
Finally, after all those years of relentless efforts, and being turned down, they got the call! The call from Harpo Productions saying that their product has made it into the “O” list! WOW, what a day for them, they were so excited that they kicked into high gear to fill all the orders that were to follow. They actually sold $1 Million dollars of product in a month as a result of Oprah’s exposure. Now, again, if that does not satisfy your hesitation, I do not know what is wrong with you man. If that is not motivation to getting that one idea or product that you have always dreamed about to Oprah, I do not know what is….
I know many great product developers that sometimes have a tendency to hit a wall right out the gate, then give up. I want to just say that most of the defeated products that never make it to the market, were just steps away from breaking it big…..before the developer gave in! We all experience the agony of defeat, several, if not many, times in our careers. I am here to tell you, based on LAFCO’s luck, you need to be a little less willing to throw in the towel after not getting what you want the first, even the sixth time.
After the Oprah show, LAFCO experienced an outrageous amount of business, that still comes in today. It is a dream of all of us to get our products on Oprah. She only chooses 20 a year for her “O” best of list, and if your lucky enough to have what she likes, your life and business could change forever!
Visit http://www.lafcony.com/ for more information on this company.
Good luck, and remember never give up!
Always DREAM BIG!
Kim Babjak
September 8th, 2009 at 12:05 am
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September 8th, 2009 at 2:51 am
Hi Kim,
I just wanted to let you know what an inspiration you are to me. I only became aware of you recently, after spending time on startupnation.com. What really struck me is that I own the Zip-A-Ruffle bedskirt, which I purchased from QVC about 5 yrs ago. By the way, I just love, love, love it.
Anyway, I thought I would let you know that I look forward to reading and hearing anything else that I run across from you.
Thank you for your input. I hope to be able to shake hands with you someday.
Regards,
Natalie
September 8th, 2009 at 11:58 am
This is so true what you say about the Oprah effect. Oprah even helped to make a product by the name of Butt Paste, a household name….lol
September 8th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Hey, Kim. Thanks for the insightful post.
In my own perspective, I think that what makes the Oprah Effect so true is the way Oprah Winfrey herself is a connoisseur for quality and efficiency.
If you can prove to her that your product can make the cut, then you, my friend, is one lucky entrepreneur.
September 9th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Very interesting and so true, anything that’s associated with Oprah is bound to have huge success, but remembering that you still have to put in the same effort as before is the key! Very inspirational, thanks for posting this!
September 10th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Great article, Kim. While Oprah can help launch products and businesses from the obscure to the mainstream, not every product is a fit for her, of course. Once a business targets their ideal exposure, they can go for it. But targeting is key. If Oprah’s not it, targeting her will make for wasted time and frustration. You’re right though… whomever one targets, never give up!
September 11th, 2009 at 12:09 am
I guess no matter what, you still have to pay your dues and work longer and harder to make your business a success. I’m sure Oprah did not just get in front of the camera and “Bam” Superstar. I’m sure she went through the same things (like days when you just want to give up or question your success and such)
So, I would think that getting on “Oprah” is not really the key to your success…I think hard work is what might help you get there (and maybe on Oprah, too someday)
December 26th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Love all your great info… thanks so much.
I make a great selling product. It is a 3D cupcake shirt for little ones. I do well with it, but would love to go bigger with it. Can I get your opinion on it? http://www.pettiskirtstyle.com/birthday.htm
I am in process of a patent.
Thanks much
Julie
January 27th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
We’ll see. I hope the O effect works! We met an editor at an event we went to twice called Product n press ( http://www.product-n-press.com/ ) and she just put us in Oprah’s list of “100 things that are going right”. We’re number 83! there’s not a link to our product (Buzzy, a “gizmo that makes shots not hurt”) which is probably good based on what you’re saying; we couldn’t handle 1,000,000 volume. I totally signed up again for product-n-press, though.
May 3rd, 2010 at 10:58 pm
The Oprah effect has really made many a millionaires I am sure. With Oprah’s upcoming retirement, I wonder who will be filling those big shoes?