As-Seen-on-TV Products

Every time Vince Offer pitches ShamWow on late-night television, I'm captivated. Not by the product, but by his glib patter. And I must not be alone; the number of products being sold in this manner seem to be growing. Aqua Globes, PedEggs, and Debbie Meyer's Green Bags are just a few examples of products that have enticed couch-potato Americans to get out their credits cards and call now, because, if you call in the next 15 minutes, we'll throw in ...

Sorry. I got carried away. Add these one-of items to the many products sold on QVC and the Home Shopping Network and it's clear that television has crafted itself a lucrative niche between online and corporeal shopping. And, as big business trims its advertising budget, someone has to fill the vaccuum, to keep that free network crap programming coming. Thanks, Vince.

Thirft Store Fashion

The recession has turned a slowly developing trend, the new austerity, into a tidal wave. Shoppers of all income levels, having become comfortable with buying used goods on eBay, have now embraced hunting for bargains in real life. Once-quiet Salvation Army and Goodwill stores are now packed with bargain seekers who have discovered that they can buy perfectly wearable clothes for pennies on the dollar, books for pennies a pound, and household goods for a song. Since every sale means one less discard filling up our landfills, one more dollar available for these organizations to do their good works, and many dollars saved by the consumer, thrift store fashion must certainly be a strong candidate for best breakout of 2008.

Twitter

What are you doing right now? If you Twitter, you recognize this question as the focal point of the hottest internet craze of 2008. The free Twitter service is an outgrowth of text messaging -- in particular, the habit of many young people to send frequent texts to their friends, updating them on their location, activities, and brief thoughts. Such frequent touches allow users to maintain a large social network in between more substantive conversations.

Twitter coordinates and harmonizes the brief contacts by allowing a member (TomBarlow, for example) to send 128-character or shorter updates to fellow Twitters who have asked to be updated. For example, I just tweeted, "Tom is writing about Twitter for BStox. Relieved that Toby is recovering."

I could send my Tweet via PC or text message from my cell. My friends can receive my tweet via e-mail, text message, or on their PC. This way, we keep up to date with one another, without imposing. At its best, Twitter can strengthen bonds between users.

The program can also be integrated with Facebook and other hot applications, too and, like Facebook, allows users to discover like-minded potential friends. Some alpha bloggers have declared personal blogs dead and moved on to Twitter. The wind of the internet seems to be blowing Twitter's way in 2008.

Share the reasons for your Breakout Product pick in the comments, or let us know about any contenders we overlooked. Also be sure to see the rest of the Best & Worst in Money 2008.