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Billy Mays

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This article is about the American salesman. For the Welsh football (soccer) player, see Billy Mays (footballer).
William D. Mays
Born (1958-07-20) July 20, 1958 (age 66)
United States McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania a suburb of Pittsburgh
Other namesBilly Mays
OccupationCommercial & infomercial salesman
Known forOxiClean,
Orange Glo,
Kaboom,
Engrave It,
Handy Switch,
iCan,
Mighty Mend-It
Mighty Putty,
Hercules Hook,
AwesomeAuger,
Steam Buddy,
Zorbeez,
Big City Slider Station
SpouseCandace

William "Billy" D. Mays (born July 20 1958) is a television commercial and infomercial salesperson most notable for his unique voice and promoting OxiClean, Orange Glo, and other cleaning, home-based, and maintenance products. His signature yelling approach to pitching an array of products, along with his recognizable beard, have gained Mays a substantial amount of recognition.

Biography

Mays was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. After graduating from high school, he began his career as a salesman on the Atlantic City boardwalk, selling the "Weed-Matic" portable gardening device to passersby. Working alongside many seasoned pitchmen, he developed his trademark style of salesmanship.[1]

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]

Rise to prominence

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]

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. He typically begins such commercials with: "Hi! Billy Mays here for [advertised product]." Their success led to OrangeGlo 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. His services as a pitchman became highly sought-after, and he has appeared in commercials for many diverse "as seen on TV" products. Mays claims to be an avid user of the products he promotes.[3]

Mays was named the new voice of iCan Benefit Group, LLC., "the first company offering Health Insurance Billy Mays has been excited to endorse". The TV commercials, featuring Billy Mays telling "the iCan story", began to air nationally in May 2008.[4] He is quoted as "The King of Infomercials".

In December 2008, Mays began appearing in ads for ESPN's online service, ESPN360[5]. These ads were a slight departure for Mays as they were designed to be parodies of his and other infomercial cliches with Mays appearing to be doing a parody of himself. He also made a live appearance during the 2008 Champs Sports Bowl promoting ESPN's and ABC's January 1, 2009 bowl games.

Mays currently resides in Odessa, Florida, northwest of Tampa in a US$1.8 million home built in 2005.[6]

On the AOTS (Attack of the Show) Halloween 2008 show. Kevin Pereira expressed his fandom for Billy Mays by dressing up as Billy Mays several different times throughout the show.

Billy also appeared on the sideline of the 2008 Champs Sports Bowl. He was featured on the sideline by ESPN, talking about the lineup of bowl games for the rest of the season. [citation needed]

Products advertised

References

  1. ^ a b Rigsby, G.G. (May 3 2002). "As seen on TV: Billy Mays hawks it all for a price and is a jerk.- TV king: Mays builds fame, fortune through infomercials". 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. ^ Associated Press, Mitch Stacy (2002-12-29). "As seen on TV, pitchman Billy Mays cleans up with shtick - In-your-face salesman peddles fixes for car dents to cleaning products". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  4. ^ "Billy Mays - The New Voice of iCanSM". PRWEB. 2008-05-21.
  5. ^ "Billy Mays wants to sell you some ESPN360". AdWeek. December 23, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  6. ^ "Property appraisal, Mays, William D". Hillsborough County Property Appraiser. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
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