New Dimensions

Infomercials and direct-response TV ads have become some of the most successful routes for inventors to get their products to leading retailers. These retailers often use the "As Seen on TV" marketing technique to push products, as the merchandise can keep selling long after its last TV spot. Best of all for inventors, the infomercial promoters usually finance most-if not all-of the cost of producing and marketing the idea. To stay on top of the latest developments in the direct-response industry, subscribe to Response magazine (http://www.responsemag.com), which covers multichannel direct advertising (including infomercials), one- to two-minute direct commercials and direct-response Web advertising. Annual subscriptions are $39.

This article was originally published in the April 2000 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: New Dimensions.