Hi, Billy Mays Here
TV's Greatest Pitchman
William Darrell Mays Jr. (July 20, 1958 – June 28, 2009) was the best known American television direct-response advertisement salesperson. He made late night television commercials. Infomercials.
He was a fantastic pitchman for a wide variety of products, including OxiClean, Orange Glo, Kaboom, and Zorbeez. His promotions aired mostly on the Home Shopping Network through his company, Mays Promotions, Inc., although they aired on various other syndicated networks.
Before he was on TV, Billy learned his craft at home shows and state fairs all throughout the USA. For 12 years he flogged cleaning products and kitchen gadgets. But wait, there’s more…
I’m going to present his commercials, selling style, and transcripts of some of his pitches. It’s a real lesson in copywriting, as Billy sold a lot of product. While appearing on the Home Shopping Network, in the late 1990’s, Mays moved 6000 bottles of Orange Glo Cleaner in 11 minutes.
During his career, Billy Mays, along with his occasional fellow pitchman Anthony Sullivan, used his attention-grabbing voice and slicked-back hair to assist numerous companies in selling over $1 billion worth of products.
1) OxiClean
“Hi! Billy Mays here for OxiClean, the stain specialist, powered by the air you breathe, activated by the water that you and I drink. It’s Mother Nature-approved and it’s safe on your colored fabrics.
Use it on carpets. OxiClean seeks out organic stains, pet stains, food stains. it gets down into the matting, into the padding. It even takes red wine and grape juice out of white carpeting. It cleans, it brightens, it eliminates odors all at the same time. Don’t just get it clean, get it OxiClean.
Make a paste. Make it 10 times as powerful! The longer you let it set, the easier it is. It will whiten your grout and get rid of your toughest stains.
Sometimes soaking is the solution. If you use bleach, you’ll ruin your clothes! OxiClean won’t hurt the material -- even lace! It has the power of bleach without the damaging side effects of chlorine.
When your laundry detergent just isn’t enough, super charge it with OxiClean. One scoop in every load of laundry, it will make your whites whiter. It will make your brights brighter.
As a stain remover, it’s the best! Grass stains, clay stains. Long live your laundry! OxiClean, the stain specialist.
We sold millions of our two-and-half-pound tubs for $40. But if you call now, we’ll cut the price in half, only $19.95. You’ll also receive the Squirt Bottle and the Super Shammy absolutely free.
If you call during this show, you’ll receive a bottle of our world-famous Orange Clean made with pure orange oil. It cuts through the grease and the grime whether it’s baked on in the oven or caked on the stove. You get all this for just $19.95.
But call in the next 20 minutes, and we’ll super size your OxiClean from a two-and-a-half pound tub to a whopping six-pound bucket! Nearly triple the amount, but you got to call now!
Here’s how to order.”
2) Grater Plater
“What would happen if you combine a cheese grater with a plate? You’d have a plate that grates!
Hi, Billy Mays here for the Grater Plater! It’s no ordinary plate. Watch this.
Grate cheese with ease – Parmesan, Romano, even Asiago. There’s no wrong way to use it. Back and forth, side to side, round and round, all the cheese stays in the plate. Pass it around the dinner table and grate as you go.
Use it for pasta, pizza or salads. For zest, it’s the best. Whether is a lemon, lime or orange, you get perfect results each and every time. You can’t mince garlic with one of these and if you use a press, it’s a mess! Watch this.
You can puree garlic fast, quick and easy, and all the natural juices stay right in the plate. It gives you the consistency of garlic butter without the butter. Add a little olive oil and herbs, and it becomes a dipping plate.
Soft enough for little hands and it won’t even pop a balloon! The secret is the hardened, tempered ceramic design that never dulls. It’s triple glazed so nothing sticks.
Don’t cut a finger trying to grate ginger with one of these. The Grater Plater is the best ginger grater. There’s no strings and all the essence stay right on the plate. Use it for baking, chocolate, cinnamon – even coconut is no match for the Grater Plater.
Call now and we’ll send you the Grater Plater for just $10.
But I’m just getting started. With every order, we’ll include the Roll ‘n’ Peel. Take a clove and give it a roll. Peel all the garlic you like without ever touching it. You’ll even get the gathering brush to mix all the flavors together and top your favorite foods.
But call right now and we’ll double this entire offer absolutely free. Just pay separate shipping and handling. You get it all, a huge value all for just $10.
Here’s how to order.”
3) Mighty Putty
“Hi, Billy Mays here for Mighty Putty, the easy way to fix, fill and seal virtually anything fast and make it last!
Mighty Putty is not a glue, but a super-powered epoxy that you can mold to any shape and apply directly to most any surface for an everlasting bond.
Ordinary epoxies are a mixing mess. With Mighty Putty, you just cut like dough, simply knead to activate, apply and let dry.
It has the muscle to support up to 350 pounds.
Rebuild a damage tool to work like new or make car repairs and save money. Drills, holes and screws can ruin your project. With Mighty Putty, you just cut, activate and apply.
Here’s something you can’t do with glue: Mighty Putty seals leaks instantly. Use it on pipes and faucets for a permanent seal. As you knead, it activates, turning from green to white to show it’s ready to hold on tight.
It has the strength to pull this fully loaded 80,000-pound tractor trailer! Now that’s the power of Mighty Putty!
Whether it’s tile to wood, metal to glass, any job big or small, Mighty Putty repairs them all. Fill cracks in ceilings, walls, and floors. Mold it to furniture, sand and paint for a seamless repair.
And it’s ideal for all your crafting projects. There’s nothing you can’t do with Mighty Putty.
Call now and we’ll send you two powerful sticks of Mighty Putty for only $19.99. But through this exclusive TV offer, we’ll double it and send you two more sticks free.
Mighty Putty will pay for itself the very first time.
But I’m not done yet. Call right now and I’ll triple the offer, and send you six sticks of Mighty Putty for the same old price of $19.99.
Order now!”
4) Big City Slider Station
Hi, Billy Mays here for the Big City Slider Station, the fast and easy way to press and cook delicious sliders. Those restaurant mini burgers everyone loves.
No more squishing and squashing or flipping and flopping. With the Slider Station, just scoop, press and cook right on your stove.
The unique design cooks both sides at once, so you never have to flip ‘em. And in just two minutes, you’ll have five mouth-watering sliders.
Use dinner rolls, potato rolls, any bun. You can double or triple-stack ‘em and watch your family attack them. Topped with pickles, onions, ketchup or cheese, Big City Sliders are sure to please!
The double-sided, non-stick surface is so slick not even burnt on cheese will stick. Whether its ground beef, chopped or sirloin, just scoop, press and cook. No flipping and no hassle.
Make healthy turkey, chicken and veggie burgers with these, and join the craze with me, Billy Mays!
You could also cook ‘em on a bed of onions for that classic diner taste. Or use the Slider Station as the ultimate burger press to load the grill in no time.
And watch this: On a busy school morning, five perfect egg sandwiches in an instant. Moms are going to love it! And when you’re done, clean-up is a breeze.
Call now and receive the Big City Slider Station with measuring scoop for just $19.99. We’ll also include this Slider Station Recipe Guide loaded with my favorite creations like the barbecue bacon cheddar and the original Billy Burger free.
But call right now, and we’ll send you the quick prep slicer perfect for onions, pickles, and mushrooms – at $20 value free. Just pay separate shipping and handling.
You get it all! Big City Slider Station, Measuring Scoop, Recipe Guide and Quick Prep Slicer all for just $19.99.
Order right now!
5) Ding King
“Hi! Billy Mays here with an amazing new product, you got to see it to believe it – it’s called the Ding King. It’s the do-it-yourself dent and ding remover with professional results.
What do you when you get a dent or a ding in your car? Up until now, you either had to drive around that way or spend hundreds of dollars to have it fixed.
Not anymore. The Ding King gives you the power to remove that dent or ding in minutes, and you do it yourself.
Here’s how it works: Simply apply the special bonding agent to the super strong dent- puller and place it firmly in the middle of the dent. Now put the pulling bridge over it and twist on this special wing nut. It’s like dialing the dent away.
You see it happen instantly, right before your eyes ... like magic. The dent is gone. And look your car is like new again! It’s like the dent was never there.
You want your car or truck to look good. Nobody wants to drive around with dents and dings. Take a look at this ding ... it’s a doozey. But don’t pay a fortune to have it removed.
And why risk higher insurance rates when you could remove it quick and easy with a Ding King? Just turn the wing nut and watch that awful dent just disappear.
Use it just once and it’s more than paid for itself. Ding King works on any finish and it works on all these makes and models. That’s just about every car and truck made, and I want you to put it to the test. If you’re not completely satisfied, we’ll refund your money.
Call now and you’ll get the Ding King Kit complete with everything you need.
Auto body shops pay as much as $300 for the same kit. The Ding King is yours for only 29.95, but you’ve got to call now.
Here’s how to order.”
6) Dual Saw
“There really is only one way to truly grasp just how advanced this is, and that’s to watch it in action.
The Dual Saw is built tough, but it’s the way that it cuts that counts. Watch this!
Power, precision, versatility, strength. The Dual Saw, the one tool with the power to cut it all.
With its laser cut, dual and double-tungsten carbon blades and its patented counter-rotating technology, the Dual Saw really is a cut above the rest. Watch it plunge-cut straight into the toughest materials, and then cut with craftsmen-like accuracy, moving both backwards and forwards. No other saw can do that.
The counter-rotating blade technology lets you sink the Dual Saw’s precision teeth into any material with no kick, no biting and no vibration. It really is the only way to cut.
Each tooth is laser honed to create a sharper, higher quality blade that gives you cleaner cuts time after time.
Use it on any type of wood, like decking, wood flooring and all types of home improvement projects. It’s perfect for plastics, PVC and plexiglass. It cuts a straight line without burning or melting.
Use the same blade to cut into all types of material– from copper to diamond plate. Compared to the ordinary grinder on the left, even construction-grade rebar won’t tick the Dual Saw.
The counter-rotating technology is so advanced that it took millions of dollars and eight years to develop, and has been proven in fire rescue situations.
It’s time to make the Dual Saw an asset to your tool collection. Use it to save money and do-it-yourself. Drop a sink into a bathroom or kitchen, install an AC return fan quick and easy. And for hardwood flooring, it’s the best!
Take it outside and get a straight line every time for decking and fencing. It’s the portable powerhouse that fits in the palm of your hand.
Whether you’re a seasoned contractor or a first time user, nothing compares to the Dual Saw. It’s the ultimate combination of precision engineering and blade technology. No other saw even comes close.
The Dual Saw makes all kinds of jobs easier. No drilling pilot holes, no more torn up surfaces. Like a train on the track, it knows how to do one thing – and that’s cut. If it has to be cut, cut it with a Dual Saw.
You could spend hundreds on different tools to get the job done or you get it all done with the Dual Saw. It’s the one tool that you don’t want to be without!“
7) Orange Glo
“I love beautiful wood. Don’t you?
Well, let me show you how to take care of all your wood with Orange Glo wood cleaner and polish, made with pure orange oil. It cleans, polishes and protects all at the same time. It cuts through the grease and the grime, especially on kitchen cabinets.
Orange Glo puts down an invisible shield, an invisible barrier that protects your wood from water spots and stains. Look at this: You could even see the difference.
“I’ve used other cleaning products but I keep coming back to the original Orange Glo. It cleans and polishes the wood. The shine lasts from cleaning to cleaning.”
Orange Glo revitalizes your wood and restores its natural luster. It even covers those annoying nicks and scratches.
“And now, all my wood surfaces are clean and shiny, and my whole house smells like fresh oranges.”
Now, let me show you our brand new polishing cloths with all the power of pure orange oil. They’re not only soft, but they’re tough enough to get the job done. For fingerprints, dust, grime, they leave an incredible shine and a fresh orange scent.
When you call, you’ll receive a 32-ounce bottle of our Orange Glo, two canisters of our brand new polishing cloths ... all for just $19.99. But call right now, and we’ll include a bottle of our amazing wood floor cleaner absolutely free. It cleans and protects your wood floors in one easy step restoring their natural luster.
These Orange Glo products will take care of all you fine wood. That’s not just our pledge, that’s our promise.
So you get all this: 32 ounces of our Orange Glo, two canisters of our brand new polishing cloths, and our amazing wood floor cleaner. That’s a huge value all for just $19.99. But you got to call now.
Here’s how to order.“
8) Handy Switch
“Are you fed up with trying to find a lamp switch in a dark room? Tired of getting out of bed every night just to turn off the light?
Hi! Billy Mays here for the Handy Switch, the new line of this light switch that lets you controls any lamp from anywhere.
Just pick the lamp you want to control and plug it in into the remote receiver, then simply peel and press the Handy Switch in place. It’s that easy. And because it’s wireless, there are no tools or wiring to worry about.
Place the Handy Switch on the wall where you enter the room, or next to your bed so you don’t have to get up to turn off the light. Place one upstairs so you don’t have to go back downstairs.
The powerful radiofrequency lets you control any lamp up to 50 feet away. Just plug the lamp with the receiver, and place the Handy Switch where you want it.
And because it’s wireless, you could put a light switch where you never had one before. Perfect in a child’s room to put the light switch within easy reach.
Or how about turning on all your holiday lights with the flick of a switch? You could even put one in your car so you could turn the lights on before you go inside.
With Handy Switch, the switch you need is always right at hand. So stop stumbling around in the dark looking for the switch and stop getting out of bed just to turn off the light.
Call now and you’ll get the Handy Switch for only 19.99. You’ll also receive our Handy Stick Up Light absolutely free. Just peel and place in a closet, under a cabinet – anywhere you need extra light.
Yes! You’ll get the Handy Switch and the Stick Up Light all for only 19.99. But call right now and we’ll double this entire offer. Just pay separate shipping.
That’s right, you get two Handy Switches, two remote receivers and two Stick Up Lights – all for only $19.99. But you can only get this special two-for-one offer by calling now.“
My Take
When you make something, it should make life better, easier, fix a problem, or help the customer to make more money.
Your product should be affordable.
Something is unique if it's the only one of its kind or has something special that others don't have.
We like getting the benefit of things right away instead of waiting.
To show how great your product is, people need to see how well it works.
I hope you enjoyed Billy Mays and his likeable selling style. Which product would you buy first? I kinda like the Dual Saw tool. Comment, like, and share. Peace!
Check out All the Articles - you may find something interesting today :)
Paul, I'm old enough to remember Billy Mays' predecessor in hawking products ... Ron Popiel. Everybody over 60 years old remembers the Veg-O-Matic, the Pocket Fisherman and Mr. Microphone! Fun read. Thanks!