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InventionHome Direct Response TV Product Summit 2011

InventionHome Direct Response TV Product Summit 2011           

Heartflex was selected on Wednesday, August 31st as one of only twenty four products from over 800 submissions to attend the very first direct response TV summit sponsored by InventionHome. 

The summit was held on September 28th at Robert Morris University, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  

The direct response TV companies in attendance were as follows and our presentation times are listed:

• Hampton Direct - 9:45
• Lenfest Media Group - 10:15
• Fitness Quest - 10:45
• Proformance Marketing - 11:15
• Allstar Marketing Group - 11:45
• Ideavillage - 12:15 

Jacque Cunning of InventionHome was our contact person for the event.  She was extremely helpful and responsive.

I flew into Pittsburgh, through Houston, using Continental Airlines from Austin on Tuesday, September 27th.  I stayed at a hotel about three miles from where the summit was located. 

I learned some valuable guidelines for direct response TV marketing.

• The product should have a maximum price of $19.95.
• The product should have a markup of at least 500% (finished product maximum wholesale cost of $5.00).
• The product should be easily demonstrable on TV 

Everyone from InventionHome and the DR TV companies was very nice I had a great time presenting the HeartFlex.  I had about fifteen minutes for each presentation and received good feedback questions from the company representatives.  The HeartFlex was well received.

We received some good feedback but were unable to get our manufacturing prices down to where our product would have a 500%+ markup for a completed price of $19.95.  Several of the direct response TV marketing companies had asked us to investigate lowering our costs by manufacturing the HeartFlex in China. 

I returned to Austin on September 29th. 

We are very gratified that InventionHome selected our HeartFlex for inclusion in the very first InventionHome Direct Response TV Product Summit.  We are continuing to work with InventionHome and their subsidiary MatchProduct.com  

 

 

Dramatically Lower the Risk of Cancer & Death by Disease - Secret Revealed

A very simple step by step process lowers the risk of cancer and death by disease.  So simple, in fact, that you already know what it is.  Doing it regularly is the difficult part.  But when you know how effective this process is I am certain you will do more of it - more often.

Modern day sedentary lifestyles lessen bodily circulation which, necessarily, lessens the body’s ability to naturally remove toxins.  The resultant higher ambient level of contaminants contained within the body is bad for overall health and fitness.

There are many “cleanses” available for counteracting the higher levels of poisons within our bodies.  Some modern cleanses are artificially chemical in nature and others are organic.  However, the most simple and natural body cleanse is one that is performed constantly by the body itself.  Our bodies are fantastic mechanisms and improving the volume of bodily fluids circulating through them assists our cleansing organs (liver, kidneys, pancreas, & spleen) to better do their jobs.

The step by step process which results in improving the natural processes which “cleanse” the body is actually just that - step by step - commonly known as walking.

Before dismissing this suggestion as just another whacky prescription to ignore consider this from the New England Journal of Medicine, 1998, Volume 338, pages 94 and 95:

 “Walking two or more miles per day lowers the risk of cancer.”

 

and:

“All death by disease is reduced by 50% if you walk just two miles per day.”

 

I knew walking was beneficial to fitness because my paternal grandfather made it to a healthy 98 years by walking an hour a day, every day, whether he felt like it or not.

Because of my grandfather’s healthy example we have produced a hand held piece of workout equipment which boosts circulation and which may be used when walking, standing, sitting, even when lying down.  It is simple and lightweight, stores easily, and travels well.  It improves circulation by providing resistance against moving the hands and force must be continuously exerted on the device in order to alter its shape.

 
Our device is called the Heart Flex because it boosts circulation (Heart) as it builds upper body fitness and strength (Flex).  Incidentally, it also gives the best and most complete wrist and forearm workout around. 

Please watch this video by Dr. Mike Maggio, a POSE trained walking and running coach where he demonstrates common walking mistakes, illustrates proper walking form, and shows how to use the Heart Flex to supercharge your walking workout.  

North Coast Medical "Discovers" HeartFlex

Prestigious North Coast Medical from California "discovered" HeartFlex at this year's American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Trade Show in Houston, Texas. North Coast Medical's owner and president, Mr. Mark Biehl, is selling the HeartFlex on his website at http://www.ncmedical.com/heartflex. "We are very pleased and gratified to be recognized by NCM," said John Corbin, president of HeartFlex, Inc. "Mark's company is renowned as being at the forefront of both Occupational and Physical therapy. We are encouraged that NCM will introduce the HeartFlex to hospitals and clinics around the globe. One of my goals has been to get the HeartFlex into the hands of everyday patients. Folks who are sedentary while in the hospital. Our device will revolutionize the medical industry by giving its clients a simple and fun way to maintain their upper body strength and stimulate their circulation to facilitate their speedy recovery while lying in their hospital bed. Heartflex is compact and lightweight and affords a great way to stay fit." HeartFlex also targets specific muscular structures of the upper body and speeds recovery from injuries and post surgical trauma.

Upper Body Exercises With HeartFlex Aid Preparation for Breast Cancer Surgery and Recovery

Andrea Leonard-Bruno:

• Founder and President of the Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation and The Cancer Exercise Training Institute
• Author of The Cancer Exercise Specialist Handbook and co-author of the book, Essential Exercises for Breast Cancer Survivors.
• Certified by the American Council on Exercise, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the Cooper Institute as a personal trainer and special population's expert.
• Adjunct faculty member of The American Council on Exercise and the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
• Administers Cancer Exercise Specialist Examinations and renewals for Certified Cancer Exercise Specialists.

A cancer survivor, she developed specific exercises that aid breast cancer surgery and recovery.

• First, exercises that help define muscularity and vascularity of the upper body aid the surgeon's ability to define and differentiate between structures during surgery.
• Second, exercise lowers anxiety and improves the overall fitness level of patients.
• Finally, Andrea illustrates how to speed recovery from breast cancer surgery. She illustrates two levels of fitness traing with the HeartFlex. She selected the device because it produces only resistance exercise without the use of dangerous springs and rubber bands which can overload sensitive healing structures and cause damage during the healing process.

Andrea's life work is in helping cancer patients and survivors. Check out her site: http://www.thecancerspecialist.com/
HeartFlex was not developed for breast cancer patients yet Andrea's expertise discovered that its unique properties make it ideal as a cross training product for patient preparation and recovery from breast cancer surgery. Her complete training session is included on the DVD that accompanies each HeartFlex. A bonus feature of the training video illustrates how to check for the onset of lymphedema.

People’s Pharmacies distribute HeartFlex

I heard Mr.Bill Swail, owner of The People’s Pharmacies, discuss his holistic approach to improving health on Austin radio stations KJCE 1370 and KLGO 98.5 / 99.3. After listening to his weekly Saturday shows “Let’s Get Healthy” and “The Good News Health Show”, I was convinced that the People’s Pharmacies were the perfect venues for introducing the HeartFlex to folks in our own hometown.

I contacted Mr. Swail and he invited me and my assistant, Beverly Gandy, to an Austin, Texas Rotary Club luncheon which he was hosting. We were given the opportunity to demonstrate the HeartFlex to the Rotarians. They were very enthusiastic about the HeartFlex and its many health benefits. At the luncheon Mr. Swail decided to carry the HeartFlex in all of his Austin pharmacy locations.

People’s Pharmacy refers to itself as “Austin’s Favorite Wellness & Compounding Pharmacy”. Each pharmacy has a wellness manager, nutritionists, naturopaths and homeopaths who work in concert with the resident pharmacists. This collaborative holistic approach creates a synergy that makes People’s Pharmacies special and very beneficial for their patients. Their specialists are promoting the HeartFlex and recommending it as an alternative therapy because of its many attributes which include; lowering blood sugar levels, upper body strength training, physical rehabilitation, and increased circulation.

We are extremely gratified that People’s Pharmacy, which is known for its personal attention, naturopathology approach, and wellness promotion concerning total body healing has chosen our HeartFlex to add to their product line of holistic wellness tools. HeartFlex is now available at all People's Pharmacy locations in Austin, Texas.

Use HeartFlex For a Safer More Enjoyable Motorcycle Ride

"Using HeartFlex has strengthened my wrists and forearms which allows me to go on longer rides, and makes them more enjoyable! I keep it on the couch and use it while I'm watching TV."
--James F., Austin citizen and long time motorcycle enthusiast

Make the HeartFlex one of your motorcycle accessories. Because it is compact and lightweight you can keep it “handy” and use it to warm up and build maximum strength at the controls.

Whether you are riding a crotch rocket, a Harley Hog, a custom Thumper, Trike, dirt bike, even a scooter - any type of motorcycle with a hand controlled throttle - check out our lightweight handheld HeartFlex.

Use Heartflex at home or take it on the road with you to warm up and improve your hand, wrist, and forearm strength before your ride. Maximizing strength and endurance at the controls improves motorcycle safety and makes your ride much more enjoyable.

There are no shortages of motorcycle rallies here in Austin. Some of our annual events include the John Paul Mitchell sponsored Peace, Love, and Happiness Rally, the Annual Rot Rally, and The Republic of Texas Ride. Please come for a ride in Austin, Texas the home of HeartFlex.

George Allen "Pat" Summerall endorses HeartFlex

HeartFlex is truly honored to have George Allen “Pat” Summerall endorse our product. He is a former American football player and well known television sportscaster who has worked at CBS, FOX, and for a short time at ESPN.

He is known for his NFL announcing work with John Madden that lasted 22 years. He has broadcast on CBS and FOX’s NFL. In 1999 he was inducted into the American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame.

His pre college football was played at Columbia High School, where he made All State in football and basketball. He also acquired varsity letters in baseball and tennis.

His college football career at the University of Arkansas was from 1949 - 1951 where he was a place kicker, defensive, and tight end.

The Detroit Lions drafted him in 1952. He was traded to the Chicago Cardinals and played with them from 1953 - 1957. He then went to the New York Giants from 1958 - 1961. In 1959 he scored a perfect 100% extra point kicking; thirty for thirty.

In total he spent ten years as a professional football player in the National Football League.

After retiring from football he became the paramount football broadcaster for the CBS network from 1962 until 2003. He branched out and has broadcast professional golf and tennis (including the Masters and US Open), and the 1974 NBA Finals.

Again, we at HeartFlex are truly honored and humbled to have Pat Summerall endorse our product.

Time Proven Exercise Concept, New Device - HeartFlex

Swimming is perhaps the best overall exercise there is. It combines consistent resistance through a range of motion with multiple repetitions. This is what HeartFlex was designed to do.

Our most elite athletes aren't overly muscled - they are slim and trim. They don’t look like Marvel comic super heroes. They aren’t so covered with muscles that they can’t touch the backs of their heads. Our best athletes have developed "functional" muscles so they can walk and move with catlike agility. Jackie Chan, Lance Armstrong, and Tiger Woods don’t look “comic book like.” They look toned and trim. They use their muscles to perform and excel. They have developed "functional" muscles by performing multiple repetitions over time.

Also, when studying the Greek statues of athletes and you will see “balanced” musculature and form. Bodies that were built to perform and excel.

Treadmills build dense, long muscles of the lower body and at the same time they improve stamina and endurance; dynamic balance and coordination.

Have you ever seen a body builder that is proficient at swimming, gymnastics, or the martial arts? - NO.

Jack LaLane is in great shape because of performing multiple repetitions over time.

HeartFlex builds strong, dense, functional muscle tissue at the same time as it stimulates circulation and increases oxygen uptake by improving cardio vascular conditioning. It was designed to be fun and easy to use. When a person is serious about fitness and health they realize that there is no “magic pill” that can increase functionality of musculature. It takes time and dedication to build muscles that work.

Lower body treadmills are designed to accommodate the movement of legs in a single plane. By that, I mean a single direction. They don’t build functionality in side kicks and twisting motions of the legs. HeartFlex targets and trains functional upper body muscles in a multitude of angles and vectors. It builds hand, arm, forearm, elbow, shoulder, chest, and back strength. There has never been an upper body exercise device that has the adaptability and proficiency of HeartFlex.

HeartFlex combines multiple repetitions with easy resistance and builds upper body muscles that are extremely strong and full of endurance. So, do you want to be big and bulky or toned and healthy? Do you want to look freakish? Size might matter but functional fitness and health trumps freaky big every time.

Martial Arts Applications and Fitness Walking Exercises for HeartFlex from France

Our French distributor, Jean Makpevode, is a third degree black belt in the art of Tae Kwon Do, karate. I didn’t know this when he originally contacted me and expressed the desire to be our French distributor. To visit his website go to www.heartflex.fr.

HeartFlex is particularly useful for the martial arts because it:

• Improves Hand Speed
• HeartFlex utilizes the same principals as a boxer’s speed bag by combining easy resistance with multiple repetitions.
• Builds Arm Structure
• HeartFlex targets and strengthens the wrist and forearm muscles so that they act as one cohesive unit. Stabilizing these muscles delivers a much more powerful punch or block and helps to protect against carpal injuries.
• Makes You Punch Like a Demon
• Blazing hand speed coupled with arm strength maximizes the effectiveness of your punching power.

Jean also trains other elite athletes. He uses the HeartFlex to develop dynamic balance and core stability.

Jean teaches fitness classes in Paris where he takes his students and walks the neighborhoods while using HeartFlex.

Walking in Paris while using the HeartFlex is a great way to get a complete workout. He calls these outings "Tonic Walks. Here he is on the left giving some personal instruction to one of his students. "

He has developed a group cardio workout in conjunction with the Reebok Step. HeartFlex supplies the crucial upper body component of fitness while walking.

Watch him demonstrate this workout by clicking on this video link. His website is: www.heartflex.fr .

Note the spring action walking devices that Jean is using with the HeartFlex.

Seniors Fitness Benefits From Using HeartFlex

"Helping folks lower their golf scores and hit more kill shots in racquet sports is a worthy goal. However, one of my passions is utilizing the HeartFlex to improve quality of life issues and I am very pleased that it has applications for improving Senior Fitness."

HeartFlex uses a proprietary technology which is totally benign. It does not rely upon heavy weights, dangerous springs, or rubber bands which can fall or snap back and cause injury. We have noticed that less conditioned folks are easily intimidated by most exercise products.

Though HeartFlex was not originally intended for seniors it has been found to restore functionality and strength in seniors and the deconditioned.

* * * *

We received the following letter from Bonnie Livingston, a trainer at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, South Hills:

"My classes love the addition of the HeartFlex! So far I am using them at an assisted living facility where the population is less conditioned than the Silver Sneakers but I know they would love the addition if we can get it approved by Healthcare Dimensions. I intend to show it to the Silver Sneakers representatives the next time they are in town. I will keep you posted".

* * * *

HeartFlex also gave us a surprise when my friend Art, a diabetic, took some HeartFlex units to his diabetes clinic. We discovered that it has the ability to lower blood sugar levels.

"To whom it may concern:
Re: Heartflex exercise device
"This device has been used in several classes at The Diabetes Center. It is easy to demonstrate, and patients find it simple to use. It is lightweight and easy to maneuver. It would also travel well. It may be used in a standing or sitting position and can be effective for patients at varying degrees of fitness. We have observed drops in blood sugar from 10 to 60 points after only 5 minutes of activity."
Sincerely,"

Denise Riesman RD,CDE
Beverly Krohn MS,RN,CDE

* * * *

We also found the HeartFlex is effective regardless of age.
Alberta (Bert) C., 72 years young,
"I like it, its fun to play with. It gives you something to do with your hands. I've never enjoyed exercise, but this is fun!"

Alice F., 77 years young,
Alice, who walks 1 1/2 miles per day, said about using HeartFlex, "This is fun! This keeps your mind off things. I would use it in my apartment every day. Excellent!"

Waterford Retirement Community - Houston, Texas

* * * *

So far we have found that HeartFlex is easy enough for anyone to use. By increasing repetitions it also provides a great workout for even the most elite athlete. Again, we have found that HeartFlex provides benefits regardless of age or fitness level. My personal hope is that HeartFlex will assist seniors in maintaining and/or restoring their independence and dignity by giving them the functional strength necessary for a full and independent lifestyle.