Billy Mays

Creating an infomercial today is not much different from pitching products on boardwalks and fairgrounds a hundred years ago. But where hucksters once aimed to fill every outstretched hand with a bottle of tonic, modern pitchmen hope to fill -- their flapping lips to God's ear -- every Walmart and...

When they write the story of the Great Recession, future historians will probably overlook the Ped Egg. That's a pity, because the device, which shaves dead skin off your feet like a cheese grater, is huge, downturn-defying success. In fact, the Ped Egg is the most successful product in the...

Failed product or not? We check out the Might Mendit The product: Mighty Mendit The price: Three tubes for $19.99 plus $8.95 for shipping and handling, bringing the total to $28.94. The claims: Repairs almost any fabric, fast way to fix rips, make hems, leaves no stains The Buy-o-meter rating: 3...

Billy Mays called iCan the "most important product" he'd "ever endorsed," but he won't be pimping it any longer.TMZ reports that "Today (Aug. 13) is the last day you'll be seeing the late, great Billy Mays endorse health insurance -- the company behind one of the legendary pitchman's most recent...

Although Billy Mays died two weeks ago, the powers that be have determined that the show -- and Mays' amazing showmanship -- must go on. Before his death, the famed pitchman recorded commercials for two new products, Mighty Tape and the Mighty Putty Super Pack. Media Enterprises, the marketing...

As the direct-marketing industry copes with the sudden death of pitchman Billy Mays (right), it's worth considering the fragile relationship between celebrity endorsement and mortality. The tragedy of Mays's unexpected death at age 50, of a heart ailment in late June, has practical implications for...

As the direct-marketing industry copes with the sudden death of pitchman Billy Mays, it's worth considering the fragile relationship between celebrity endorsement and death. In Mays's case, his premature departure should probably have minimal effect on OxiClean and Orange Glo. Similarly, with gold...

Can one of the most successful TV salesmen in history continue to move product from beyond the grave? It's a question with very practical implications for A.J. Khubani (left), CEO of direct-to-consumer merchandiser Telebrands. On Monday, Telebrands will roll out a national marketing campaign...

It's a little crass to acknowledge, but the death of a celebrity is, among many other things, a money-making opportunity. But perhaps it's best not to seem too eager to treat it as such, lest you offend those people whose dollars you covet. Today brings two examples of parties who crossed the...

The death of a direct-to-consumers product spokeman isn't ordinarily something that would send ripples through the media world. But Billy Mays, who died unexpectedly on Sunday at age 50, was no ordinary spokesman. He was, rather, both a true entrepreneur in an industry of pretenders and a budding...