Skylanders video game. Not only do you get to shell out $60 for the video game, then you get to shell out $10.00 each for numerous collectible characters you can use in the game. This is absolutely brilliant, from a marketing standpoint!
I vote for the tornado or hurricane booth. I've started to see them in the mall. Basically you pay a dollar, get in.......and this fan blows air at you really fast.......then you get out.
elf on a shelf. It's brilliant. It only takes one kid at daycare to start talking about it and all of a sudden every parent is running out buying a $30 stuffed elf and book.
Dude those things work AWSOME! If your kid is acting up just say " hey that elf is watching you!" and wham! They straighten right up!
That's what people at work have been saying. Reason I say it's product of the year is someone is collecting $30 for each one of those sold and once 1 kid gets one, a lot are getting them as well.
World of Warcraft is another good one. $45 for the game and then a monthly fee for the privilege to play the game you just bought. Gotta pay for chuck Norris somehow.
I am in the middle of building the "Heavy weight boxing simulator". You put your dollar in, step in and 2 mechanical arms beat the living hell out of you. Coming to a mall near you.
I have a buddy who distributes (didn't invent it though) blood alcohol tester blow thingys to bars. You put a buck in and see if you're over the limit before jumping in your ride and heading home. He makes pretty good money from them. However, its not from people looking out for the better good of their fellow man it seems. Nope, every swinging dick in the bar wants to see who can blow the highest.... We really are a bunch of damn cavemen aren't we?
I've seen those... and exactly ^THAT^ happened... One day I'm going to think of something like that... one day... Then free track days for all!!!!!!!!!!!!