YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
Scott Opfer, founder and president of Opfer Communications Inc., is in the beginning stages for a new office and studio.
During the final 2018 installation this morning of Springfield Business Journal’s 12 People You Need To Know live interview series, Opfer said he recently purchased half of Larry Lipscomb’s 3-acre family farm at 3745 S. Cox Ave. and plans to build a new office and a separate video production studio at the site.
He intends to keep the farming theme in the new building designs.
“Our plan is to tear down the barn and replace it with an office that looks like a farm barn, then there will be a big hay barn that will be a TV studio,” Opfer said, declining to disclose his planned investment.
Opfer Communications produces infomercial and direct-to-consumer sales video content, including spots with pitchman Billy Mays, known for OxiClean commercials, before he died in 2009.
The new studio space is designed at 12,000 square feet, Opfer said, and the two-story office building is planned for 7,000 square feet. Neither an architect nor a general contractor have been hired.
“It’s been in Larry’s family forever, and he has put his faith and trust in us, and he had my word we’d do it right, so we’ve taken our time,” Opfer said.
During the interview, Opfer discussed the infomercial industry and a video was shown with some products his company has promoted, including Armor All, Sani Sticks and the Paint Zoom.
“We have a paint gun that has done more than most movies,” he said, referring to the Paint Zoom sprayer’s sales.
He covered some of the challenges in the industry, such as competition with Amazon and the changing sales marketplace.
“The evolution was TV, retail and then internet,” Opfer said. “Now, it’s internet with TV at the same time and really a little bit of retail. It’s changed the world.”
Below is an example of an international infomercial featuring local personality Christine Daues.
Moseley’s Discount Office Products was purchased; Side Chick opened in Branson; and the Springfield franchise store of NoBaked Cookie Dough changed ownership.