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Billy Mays

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William "Billy" Mays
Born1958
United States McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
Other namesBilly Mays
OccupationCommercial & infomercial salesman
Known forOxiClean,
OrangeGlo

Billy Mays is a television commercial and infomercial salesman most notable for promoting OxiClean, OrangeGlo, and other cleaning, home-based, and maintenance products. His direct and "high energy" or annoying style and ubiquitous and screeching presence on many television commercials and home shopping channels pitching a wide array of products has gained Mays a substantial amount of recognition and a rapidly growing legion of channel changers whenever his fingernails on a blackboard voice eminates from the television screen.

Born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, (which has denied his ever having lived there due to the protestors at the city limits), after graduating from high school Mays began his career as a salesman on the Atlantic City boardwalk, selling the "Washmatik" portable washing device to passersby. Working alongside many seasoned pitchmen, he developed his trademark style of salesmanship. Mays later traveled to home shows, auto shows and state fairs across the United States for a period of twelve years selling various maintenance products and tools, including cleaning products and food choppers.[1]

At a Pittsburgh home show in 1993, Mays struck up a friendship with rival salesman Max Appel, founder of Orange Glo International, a Denver-based manufacturer of cleaning products. He was then hired by the company to promote their line of cleaners, OxiClean, Orange Clean, and Orange Glo, on the Home Shopping Network in St. Petersburg, Florida.[2]

Customer response to Mays' sales pitches were enthusiastic and caused caused dogs to howl, with a sharp increase in sales after his first day on the network,[citation needed] although some reviews have been poor. For example, Washington Post staff writer Frank Ahrens called him "a full-volume pitchman, amped up like a candidate for a tranquilizer-gun takedown."[3]

Following the success of the Home Shopping Network campaign, a line of successful television commercials and infomercials for the products was produced, featuring Mays demonstrating the effectiveness of the products to viewers hands-on. The success of these commercials led to Orange Glo International being named among the top ten privately growing companies from 1999 to 2001 by Inc. magazine, and its eventual buyout by Church and Dwight. Appel credited Mays' salesmanship for much of the company's success.[citation needed]

Mays is the CEO and founder of Mays Promotions, Inc., based in Dunedin, Florida(for those who wish to egg the building). His services as a pitchman became highly sought-after, yet ill advised and he has appeared in commercials for many diverse "as seen on TV" products.[4]


Products advertised

  • OxiClean, Orange Clean, Orange Glo, and Kaboom! cleaning products by Orange Glo International (now part of Church and Dwight)[4]
  • Hercules Hook wall hangers[5][6]
  • Ding King automotive dent remover[7]
  • Gopher reaching tool[8]
  • Zorbeez absorbent towels[9]
  • Lint-B-Gone lint brush [10]
  • Samurai Shark knife sharpener [11]
  • Liquid Diamond car waxing product
  • AwesomeAuger Ground Auger, Weed Auger, and Power Extender gardening tools
  • Simoniz Fix It Scratch Remover [12]
  • Grip Wrench
  • Turbo Tiger vacuum cleaner
  • Fix It car scratcher remover
  • FreeFone wireless phone holder
  • Swamp Busters
  • Handy Switch remote light switches
  • Mighty Putty[13]
  • Easy off bam!
  • Crocodile Cutter
  • Ove-Glove
  • Sealtite Tire Sealant
  • Genco Power Solutions [1]

References

  1. ^ Rigsby, G.G. (May 3 2002). "As seen on TV: Billy Mays hawks it all for a price - TV king: Mays builds fame, fortune through infomercialsas well as a dedicated legion of those who despise his ivasion of thier personal space through his apmheptamine like hawking of crap on TV". Tampa Bay Business Journal. Retrieved 2007-04-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Company sold, local pitchman keeps his job," St. Petersburg Times, July 24, 2006
  3. ^ Ahrens, Frank (2004). "Miracle Infomercials - TV's Hard Sells Are a $256 Billion Business". Washington Post (Sunday, September 26): Page F01.
  4. ^ a b Associated Press, Mich Stacy (December 29 2002). "As seen on TV, pitchman Billy Mays cleans up with shtick - In-your-face salesman peddles fixes for car dents to cleaning products. Mays is also notable for his relation to famous author Zachary Mays. Who probly sucks too,although i haven't read his work". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 2007-04-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Hercules Hook
  6. ^ "Citrus: Clean mental slate for '07," St. Petersburg Times, January 1, 2007
  7. ^ "Consumer Reporter: Ding King," WRC-TV, November 11, 2002
  8. ^ "Checking Out the Claims", Newsday, May 15, 2003
  9. ^ Zorbeez
  10. ^ Lint-B-Gone
  11. ^ Samurai Shark
  12. ^ Simoniz Fix It Scratch Remover
  13. ^ Mighty putty
    • FoneFree wireless cellphone headset
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