What are some examples of products that were simply released before their time and thus failed?

 

What are some examples of products that were simply released before their time and thus failed?

Comedian and former Tonight Show host Jay Leno has a perfect example of this.

Back in the 70’s and before he was famous, Leno was hired to play the role of Sales VP, Bob Johnson, for a company called Freshen.

Freshen made a moist toilet paper that was an alternative to dry toilet paper. It’s actually a very good idea; if you got poop on your hand, would you just wipe it dry with paper, or would you prefer to use a moist cloth that could help wash your hand? Food for thought.

Back to our story.

Leno is paid to give a funny monologue to a room full of grocery and drug store buyers and then segue to the owner of the company.

He flops. The buyers aren’t ready for this type of product. The presentation ends and the room is deadly silent.

The founder of Freshen runs up the the front of the room and explains that, “No, this isn’t actually Bob Johnson, but Jay Leno, a local comedian!” and starts trying to sell the room on who wants to be the first to place an order.

The buyers are grossed out and start to leave. Seeing this, he offers a free case of Freshen with the purchase of a case.

More buyers leave.

The poor business owner is now desperate; he offers a free case to just try it in their stores, but by now, the room is almost empty as people are disgusted by the idea of Freshen.

After everyone leaves, Leno asks to be paid; the Freshen owner, now in tears with his head in his hands and knowing he has a warehouse full of Freshen that no one wants, tells him, “Are you kidding? “GET OUT OF HERE COMEDIAN!! YOU BOMBED!!”

But Leno persists and is finally told to take a case of Freshen as his payment. He does.

“Hey, a deal’s a deal,” he says afterwards.

Fast forward 40 years: what is the hottest new product on the toiletry shelves of grocery and drug stores?

Sometimes, timing is everything.