May 27 2009
PitchMen! “Spinning Green” LiveBlog!
Make sure to tune in tonight for another PitchMen LiveBlog! as we dissect and analyze the newest PitchMen episode, “Spinning Green.” According to the Discovery Channel website, the featured product will be “Spin Gym,” by Forbes Riley.
And to mix it up a little, Billy and Sully go to Hollywood! Want to guess which one goes on The Tonight Show. Sparks could fly.
Here’s a Fox News Clip of Forbes Riley where she sneaks in a Spin Gym pitch:
PitchMen, “Spinning Green,” Episode facts:
Channel: Discovery
Original Air Date: 2009/05/27
Time: 10:00pm EDT and again at 1:00am EDT
Product: Spin Gym
Inventor: Forbes Riley
HERE WE GO
The final four products Billy n Sully had to choose from here is intriguing. Billy n Sully are off to Vegas to pick the product. Billy just wants to pick the best product and that’s it. This is they’re at ERA in Vegas and come across Forbes Riley. There are some giants at the show: TELEBrands, livemercial…
Riley is trying to get Billy n Sully turned on to Spin Gym. Sully looks excited. Billy seems on the fence. Forbes got her inspiration from her father - an abstract inventor who didn’t know how to get his products to market. Forbes Riley claims she sells about $2,000 a minute when on”Home Shopping.” Now she wants her name on a product and have the same effect. She didn’t’ invent Spin Gym, but she’s an inventor.
Billy and Sully will field test, but first Billy has a Kaboom shoot. 
…take 8, take… Sully n Billy are fighting about how to wipe glass scum. I guess it proves that details make all the difference. Billy is giving Sully the death look while Sully does an onscreen rant.
“Maybe you should use a ShamWOW,” said the production assistant whose sure not to have a job much longer (unless that was Billy Mays III). If Billy only had a ZorbEEZ in his back pocket at that point.
“Maybe I’ll give you a ShamPOW!”
Commercial break :11 after
The Cleaning lesson continues. “See, if you listen to me I’ll make you look good every time,” Sully. But now the schedule is behind. Billy wants to get the shoot on schedule - so long as he doesn’t have to listen to Sully.
“Billy may have actually done something in one take - because he listened to me.”
Field testing the Spin Gym on the boardwalk - “Welcome to the gun show.”
The question: Toy or workout device? They all tell Billy its a workout device but then tell the camera they think it’s a toy. That’s mean.
TELEBrands TIME! Forbes, Billy, and Sully meet with AJ Khubani. Riley is selling the idea to AJ - Grease Bullet in the background. (I bet Grease Bullet is about to relaunch right, about, now… )
AJ is concerned about Spin Gym’s credibility. Riley says it was the same thing with Ped Egg. AJ is testing the product. Now the learning curve is a concern.
Billy n Sully point out that it’s demonstrable, solves a problem…the ball is in AJ’s court.
Commercial break :20 after
AJ’s answer: he’s willing to give it a go.
In the meantime, Billy n Sully are interviewing other inventors. A guy is showing a wine stopper with an air bag that keeps the air away from the wine. Billy’s afraid to promote alcoholic beverage but doesn’t know if it’s an As Seen on TV material.
An inventor has a plant watering device (very Aqua Globes-ish but without the work of art). Billy and Sully like the product. The inventor is in his 70’s and his dad - all 99 years old of him - is the co-owner of the product. Life springs eternal.
Forbes Riley comes to Sullivan Studios to discuss the price point. She brings in a team of exercise geeks to do a Spin Gym workout. Forbes, you don’t have to preach to the converted. AJ Khubani thinks that with his Chinese manufacturing that they can get the product down to $19.99. The price point scares Riley. (Riley, most of the best infomercial products sell at $19.99!!!)
Uh-oh, Forbes Riley found out her Spin Gym trademark has been taken. She put in a call to the owner of the name and is waiting to hear it back. Now they’re doing product naming.
Commercial break :33 after
The name setback has her down.
Commercial shoot time. How do they keep doing shoots without trademark on product names. She’s frantically offering $10K for the naming rights…she got it. That’s called listening to Billy - “take it or leave it.”
Forbes Riley is doing the promo herself. Billy, Sully, and Riley in the same room. They could make the whole episode around them arguing how to say, “Here’s how to order…” Billy Mays name drop time!
Now they’re arguing price point reshoots. She earlier discussed how she didn’t get her MBA. If she had, she’d understand the value of price point instead of the prestige. She’s willing to walk away because she’s that afraid of the prestige of the price point.
Commercial break :43 after
“I don’t know what her problem is. I think she’s more concerned about a associating a Forbes Riley product for $10 bucks than she is selling the product. I mean, What the f###?” - Sully.
“This whole thing can go from a $10 Spin Gym to an $80,000 paperweight.” - Sully
She’s getting nauseous over the price points. It looks like her nerves are calming down after the shoot. Working out with the Spin Gym for 3 hours in front of the camera can do it to.
Billy n Sully are off to Burbank - NBC Studios. Billy’s going on “The Tonight Show.”
Sully got called, “his chauffeur,” by the NBC Security guard. NICE
Billy is doing an Orange Glo / Shakespeare spot on the episode. He’s getting ready to do a live take. Billy’s practicing. The’re enjoying the fact they have a signed script from Jay Leno. Sully’s pumped, being ubersupportive. They both understand the significance of this moment for the Direct Response industry.
Commercial Break :52 after
Billy claims The Tonight Show was “nerve-racking,” but according to Sully, Billy Mays killed it. He got to hang out with Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes and Jennifer Aniston. Billy wants to meet her again. Sully wont’ let him go alone
Media Test Buy for Spin Gym Results: the tested $19.99 against $29.99 both tested bad. The best it could do was a $196 CPO for $19.99 price point. Sully is coming back with saying the $10.00 price point could have worked. “Always go with the best offer,” Billy Mays. Have to agree with Billy n Sully.
AJ dropped the product. Billy n Sully suggest she drop the product.
Forbes Riley still won’t get over her fear of the $10.00 price point. She’s breaking down. “That’s why you’re driving the Bentley and I’m not.”
Sometimes the best lessons are the hardest to learn. Check back her next week for another LiveBlog! of PitchMen.
And if the episode got you in the mood to work out, check out As Seen on TV Network’s Health and Fitness products. Hopefully there is something there to help.
i’m glad she was able to get the spin gym. i definitely could see it as the yo-go!
Funny thing… the Spin Gym is a toy that has been around and made by people for at least 100 years! My Great Grandfather used to make the exact same thing with string and a button!
She could have sold it for 10 dollars. Instead she’d rather force people to pay 29.95 plus 10.00 shipping. Someone please tell me how inflating a price makes it a better product.
I’m interested in buying a Spin-Gym. I can’t readily find the site to do so, any suggestions?
I never hear of Forbes Riley until this show.
I found her very anoying, not happy go lucky like Billy.
I googled her and disliked her even more when I read her self-posted bio
I don’t think she should be pitching products.
No one is going to buy that expensive spin crap. My grandmother used to make us those for free with some string and a button. I might have thought about it if it was $10.
How can I get one of these, I’d pay $19.95…….
I wouldnt buy this product for a dollar even if I got a second one free. (Spin Gym). Concept is based on a very old childs toy that one would make out of scrap.
My husband and I want Spin Gyms!!!
Just finished watching Forbes spin Gym on Pitchmen. Funny for $20 bucks I could of told her the product is not worth the pitch! Why was it so important to put her name on something she did not create? Just because she’s done a few informercials does’nt give her any expertise on market value or product need!
wow — what an accurate account of tonight’s episode - thank you! And yes, now its a grassroots campaign - so thanks for the blog!
And I do sell that amount and more on HSN — I’ll be on the 31st of this month selling the Urban Rebounder — watch the counter
have a great nite!
Forbes Riley
MySpinGym.com
I’ve seen this exact item when I was in grade school 30 years ago. How did they get past patent rights?
I remember my grandfather making a toy similar to the “Spin Gym” out of a two-holed button and a piece of string. Me and my brother would play with them until the strings broke.
She is a fool its a five dollar toy………
As a professional in the fitness industry, it is exhausting constantly explaining to my clients why the junk they see on tv does not work. The “spin gym” is a perfect example of a worthless product, creatively marketed to an uninformed public. During Forbes pitch, she explained how her “chest” was fatigued after merely 30 seconds… interesting considering the muscles that comprise the chest (primarily the pectoralis major) aren’t even activated with the action she demonstrated (horizontal shoulder abduction). Furthermore, a $3-4 resistance band will provide the same type of resistance with far more versatility. Next time you want to know if a fitness product works, save some cash and ask someone with some basic exercise science knowledge.
[...] PitchMen! "Spinning Green" LiveBlog! - Spin Gym - Forbes Riley …PitchMen! Spinning Green LiveBlog! - Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan work with Forbes Riley and her product, Spin Gym. Check out the show on Discovery Channel. Read more [...]
I thought the spin gym was kinda neat and it would probably sell for the $14.95 or $9.95 price, and appeal to the mass market. I was really disappointed at Forbes temper tantrum over the price. It is extremely inexpensive to manufacture, and why not sell it for a fair price? Even adding the DVD, would not add to the expense of manufacturing. I do agree with the last post that you can get a similar workout with resistance bands sitting on the couch watching T.V. for $5.00 (or less). For those who really liked it, you can buy it for $29.95 plus $9.99 shipping. It comes with a DVD. I saw it at myspingym.com
[...] Fitness, Cosmetics and Home & Garden. A few recent products are… Tool Bandit, Grabit, Spin Gym, Spot Stain / Sucker, Heel [...]
I’m sorry but an elastic band (used by physical therapists for years) packs lighter and works better. I thought the spin gym looked nice, but….too expensive and I kept thinking over and over, “what if that gets caught in my hair?” When you do the stuff over the head and behind, I could so see that happening.
An elastic band is cheap, folds up small, will get through the airport security without setting off the alarm.
Hey - Forbes Riley here — I love the idea of an open forum like this - so I’m gonna chime in –
and challenge any of you to try the SpinGym and THEN write a comment….
a) yes, its based on age old technology and became a toy (button on a string), then an amazing German re-engineered it using 100% aluminum and actually won a design award and athletes in his country train with it - It weighs a little over 1/2 a pound but when you pull this it produces torque up to 20lbs — so it may look like a toy on tv — until you try it. Most people whose hands I put it in, can’t do it for more than 5 minutes - it may not have looked that way on tv.
b) sadly to manufacture the SpinGym - MUCH more expensive than you would imagine (not including shipping to the US, customs etc) with the price of steel etc (and that is in China) — if someone knows how I could get the quality I have, but at a less expensive price — bring it on! So do you see how we just CAN’T sell it for $10 AND then we market it with a series of DVDs from arms to abs and cardio all with the SpinGym– DVD workouts sometimes sell for $9.99 to $19.99 alone…
I have been in the health and fitness business for almost 20 years and this is one product you should try, before you just dismiss it as a toy -
Forbes Riley
Forbes,
It was nice to see you on the show. I just watched yesterday. You are great and have done well making a name for yourself. You are however getting too close to this product. At the end of the day it is business and not personal. Billy knows when to let go and never get emotionally attached to a product. I understand that you didn’t want to come down on the price and that was probably smart of you for reasons that other people do not see. But you came apart at the seems a bit. Keep it together; your image and reputation are the most valuable assets to you. They will help sell the next product then the next one after that. You have done a great job with this product but dont stop there. The big one is still to come.
All the best~
Sorry, Forbes. Your career peaked at Splatter University. If you get another shot, cry less and listen more when people try to give you sound advice. You do look great for almost 50, though.
I felt so bad for Forbes! Too bad it didn’t sell better. I know it meant a lot to her. Maybe keep trying and keep the price as low as possible. The more people that can afford it the more popular it will become. I think it’s a really good idea. Takes more concentration than a rubber work out band therefore it would me more interested in doing it. I would buy one but $20 even would be my limit including shipping. Not a big work out junky but this seems kind of fun. If I’m not having fun I have trouble getting motivated to excercize. I would use the Spin Gym.
As Forbes said,
“Hey - Forbes Riley here — I love the idea of an open forum like this - so I’m gonna chime in –”
Well reply to this and you can send me one, Forbes. I’m not going to pay for it because your comment was an invite. If I believe it works, I’ll buy it out right. If not I’ll send it back then “chime in” as you put it.
As a former Marine I’ve worked out with different equipment from all over. I challenge it.
Forbes,
Thanks for commenting on this forum. I just watched the show and felt strongly that you should be marketing this with a DVD. In fact I was yelling this at the tv by the end
Glad this is an open forum too!
I was surprised that there was no mention of a DVD in the pitchmen show and I wonder how it would have been gone with that angle in the pitch show.
Since you already have that idea going, here are a couple more:
1. prove the 5 minute statement by getting a Guiness Record for using the SpinGym.
2. calculate the calories per hour to compare it with other exercises.
3. Finally, maybe you can incorporate this into another exercise product like a treadmill or elliptical instead of having the push bars use the spingym to occupy the arms and show that you can get a 25% better workout
Oh, and I agree with the feedback on your bulldog personality and found you a tad over the top, … breathe …
Best of luck,
Tim
I have to agree with Gary on this it seems like you are getting too close to this product.
One thing that might prove interesting though is that the show could cause a grassroots movement for this product. By having it on pitchmen and it being rejected has essentially pulled it from the brink of obscurity. Since Forbes is such a likeable spokesperson and since her passion for this product is so evident people may want to purchase the product just to prove the critics wrong.
First off, I think the Spin-Gym is a really cool idea. Quite frankly, it just looks like fun. I had a wooden version of the toy when I was a kid, and the thought of an oversized metal one attracts me like the oversized kid that I am.
And if playing with it works a muscle or two in the process, more the better.
Secondly, is it just me, or has Ms Riley gotten really hot? I don’t mean to be base, but I was impressed with her physique, and I did not have that impression of her from the Juicer infomercial.
I don’t follow infomercials, but I did hop right on the computer after catching the Pitchmen episode to check out the Spin-Gym. I do hope the one they offer is the metal version and not the plastic one.
I hope that the Pitchmen episode gives Ms Riley the advertising boost that she needs for this product.
Hi Forbes,
When the news of the Spin Gyms failure was revealed on the show, I was stunned. It looked like you had a winner!.
Sure I played with the toy as a child, but your model is just based on the concept.
Keep fighting with your product. Maybe the informercial is not the proper medium for its presentation. Just because it did not sell does not mean it is a failure.
You have the genes and spirit of your father.
Keep searching for its proper presentation to the world and you will succeed!
Is it just me or what? Seems like Forbes spend most of her time defending her product instead of selling it. Maybe if she wasn’t so annoying, people would buy it. Slow down, take a deep breath and listen to the EXPERT. Billy knows what he’s talking about. $29 bucks for this? Come on. That’s outrageous. Your best commercial was the fact that these guys let you on their show. People will be curious and go to the website, but that won’t last. This is not the savior of the world that you think it is. It’s just not that great. Get a clue.
It is TOO EXPENSIVE!!! $29.99 plus $10 shipping? CRAZY! You’d sell millions at $14.95 and 5.95 shipping. Too bad you are so greedy.
Ummm….how does the price of steel effect the price if it’s made from “100% aluminum”?
I found it at myspingym.com, but it is $29.95 plus $9.95 s&h! Principles of Economics states that demand behaviors are highly affected by the expectations of future prices. Now that we know the price will be dropping significantly in the near future, you may consider dropping the price on your main site if you expect to capture any immediate revenue from those of us who are ready to purchase now. Otherwise, we’ll just all sit around and wait. I’m in no hurry to pay triple the price for something that is not a necessity in today’s economy.
Tell Billy Mays thanks a lot for ruining it for you — I would have paid $30 bucks. If you tell me I can sit in my cubicle on the days I don’t have time to go to the gym at lunch to work out and still get in my upper body toning right in my chair at work — that’s worth one month of gym fees to me. Have you waved at someone and when they wave back, their flab under the arm keeps going when they stop? Yuck!
I’ll pull your “toy” out of my desk drawer long before I’d think of pulling out the set of 5 lb weights at work! I’ll be price watching.
P.S. to Tim — there is a DVD. You can stop yelling at the TV. I’m sure your neighbors will appreciate it
Check out myspingym.com
There’s also a convenient carrying bag, training guide, and an additional strength cord (maybe they have a tendency to break?) I don’t see an option to purchase additional cords other than the one extra that comes with it, so if you burn through the two…???
I happened to see the Pitchmen episode with the Spin Gym. I too remember playing with the string and button version when I was a kid and I was jazzed to see a workout model. This is exactly the sort of thing I’ve been wishing for. I need something that I can do for just a few minutes several times a day. Having a fun factor makes it easier to pick it up and use it. If I had the motivation to exercise I wouldn’t need this. This is what I need to get me moving in the right direction again. It’s perfect. But I have to say that the price of $29 plus shipping and handling is more than I’m willing to spend. The economy has me looking hard at how I spend my money. For me, $19 including s&h is closer to what I’d be willing to spend. What Bob said about giving people what they need at a price they can afford during this ecomonic crisis is smart. It rings with “We’re in this together”. This doesn’t have to make you feel like you’re lowing the prestige or value of you or your product. Actually, when you were insisting on the $29 price, I was offended. I felt like you were trying to bleed every penny you could out of people. This isn’t a time when you can get away with that. For a long time companies and individuals were making HUGE profits. That time has passed. The companies that are going to make it now, are the companies that are willing to take a smaller profit. Selling a million Spin Gyms with $1 profit is a whole lot better than selling 200 with a $10 profit. Telling us that it costs a lot to ship them from China didn’t get a ounce of sympathy from me, either. It’s the cost of taking business away from American companies.
Sorry but there is absolutely NO way I’d spend $29.95 + an additional $10 shipping for that product. After watching the show, I believe they wouldn’t have insisted on the optional sales price takes if the product would not have been profitable at $9.99 or $14.99. So if you can afford to sell something for a reasonable price and still make money - you should absolutely do so!
The spin gym just doesn’t translate well on TV – it looks silly and is way too easy bypass a silly looking product with that price tag!
Drop the price to 10-15 dollars and I’ll buy it. I’m not going to pay $40.
Surprise! If you go to myspingym.com, there is a message thanking you for visiting and announcing the offer is no longer available. hmmm…I thought for sure she would eventually just drop the price and pick up the profits from those of us willing to pay the 10 bucks. I guess a good business person would rather drop the product altogether and get nothing. Ought to be fun sitting around the house trying to figure out what to do with all of the unsold product! Genius.
From what I heard the product sold out — and they’re trying to get more inventory…
Forbes is HOT! looking better now than in the JLL juicer info
Forbes Riley is a DIVA who made a huge mistake with that TANTRUM over the pricing of that contraption. She should have listened to the PROFESSIONALS. I wouldn’t pay anything for any product she chooses to endorse. What a joke.
hey - funny reading all these blogs — I did make-up on the show — guys — they edit reality — what you saw isn’t the whole truth — and I’m not gonna go into detail — but they didn’t show the complete story - Forbes is not a DIVA — I have worked with her many times — such a professional, dedicated and always gracious to the crew…
just know there’s more to the story - and she’s worked hard on the fitness dvd series — and by the way, wait until you actually try her little product — that sucker works really well on your arms — I love mine — and I spend $24 bucks just on a lipstick at a department store.
Also, just so sad about Billy — what a great and gentle soul — I will miss him so much — my heart is broken….
Her attitude caused me not to buy one! She is jus a typical 40+ crazy bitch that is going through womanapause! !
i have bad arm and shoulders this product not for me
This is nothing but a large button on a string.
I played with these when I was a kid over 50 years
ago and learned about them from my mom who learned
about them from her dad.
These are nothing new.
I am sure that kids have been playing with them for
a very long time.
I don’t know how many years but iI am sure it has been
around as long as there has been buttons and string.
For someone to make $1,000s of dollars off of this is
very low down.
The only one I feel sorry for is Forbes’ husband, what a bitch. I hope nobody buys your crappy waste of time product after the fit you threw on the show. Who the hell do you think you are?
Suzanne Sommers to the thighmaster and forbes-idiot to the spingym? You think the only thing Suzanne Sommers is remembered for is the thighmaster? You certianly have delusions honey.
And its obviouslly possible to sell your stupid ball of metal with handles for ten bucks and make a profit or the pitchmen wouldnt have suggested it but you are a money whore who wouldnt have it so I laugh as you fail.
I ordered a SpynGym right after the episode aired on Pitchmen and to date it still has not arrived. As of today it has been 1 week shy of 3 months.
On July 12 I received an e-mail form Forbes Riley saying the manufacturer was caught off guard and the shipping would be waived. Is this a vaporware produce?
If you have one I hope you like it. As of today I replied to Forbes Riley’s e-mail telling her to cancel the order.
I am very disappointed in Forbes Riley. She should never have endorsed a product she didn’t have.
dear donnie — had some manufacturing issues and it took longer than i had anticipated — as a spokesperson for many successful products — I never had to do that end of the biz before and it has been an adventuous learning curve –
but I have a GREAT product and would like to get you one at a big discount - believe me, my reputation and committment to quality work has always been important to me —
so FACEBOOK me - and i will contact you back directly –
thank donnie!!
all my best,
forbes riley
Rita Safady September 29 at 12:49pm
I absolutely love it. I’ve helped in the development of many products over my years in the infomercial world and you can tell that you have, too. It’s got so much going for it that it’s hard to know where to begin - no brown nosing involved.
My big problem is flabby arms. I like the Overhead Spin for this reason. My arms tend to lose blood after a bit so I switch it up to another position. I’m working my arms at the gym, too, so this is the perfect marriage. I find that if I “concentrate” on what muscle the specific exercise is targeting, and really work it and squeeze it, it’s even better.
One of the hidden and fun things about the SG is the feeling of “controlling the inertia” of the unit. You sort of get this “rhythm” going and it adds to the enjoyment and satisfaction if that makes sense.
My only suggestions are about the instruction guide. I would love to see your signature on page 3 (I always like the personal touch) and the photos are small. But you already know that - you have an amazing amount of information, explanation and visualization to display and you didn’t want your guide to run 200 pages long. I get it. I need to look at the DVDs, too, as I’m sure I will learn a lot.
IT SITS ON MY COFFEE TABLE AS A PIECE OF ART, TOO! FABULOUS.
actual quotes from our customers — not just people who watched an episode of PitchMen! These people bought and are using the product….
· “I will be buying more for Christmas gifts etc and will be more than happy to pay $39.99!”
Deborah D.
Richmond, VA
· “I want to say thank you for such great service and commitment to customers! I appreciate the great service I received as well as the awesome workout. I am going to buy SpinGym’s for my friends and family as well as spread the word about your product! Keep up the great work and thank you!”
Sarah D.
Havelock, NC
· “Dear staff at spingym,
I have been using my Spingym just about every day for about 2 weeks
and LOVE IT!!!! I already see my arms toning up! I have tried for
years to thin my arms down to no avail and this little machine, in two
weeks, have already started toning them! I am now looking to buy
sleeveless shirts!
Yesterday I was talking to a cashier telling her about my spingym
and happened to have it in my purse. I whipped it out and showed her
the workout and she loved it! She said she was going to look into
buying one for herself. I love the compact design and the fact I can
take it with me everywhere I go. Thank you for making such a
wonderful product and for having a wonderful staff!”
Your biggest Spingym fan,
Sarah D.
Havelock, NC
· Love my SpinGym. It was worth the wait. Thank you so much!
Sheryl S.
Lexington, SC
If you’ve been following the saga of SpinGym — please take 2 min and look at this –
> Justin Chon from “Twilight” uses it as the start of a press junket –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYi5z4zt1m4&feature=email
please give this a read if you’re following the journey of the SpinGym
thanks!
http://blogfully.net/2009/11/spingym-by-forbes-riley-product-review/