By Fred Taub,
President, Boycott Watch
This morning, Sunday, June 29, 2009, Fox News
reported the passing of Billy Mays, the TV Pitchman with a distinctive shout,
or projecting as he called it. Mr. Mays sold scores of products and earned the
trust of consumers because the products he pitched all performed as advertised,
and even beyond. Mr. Mays put his name and reputation on everything he sold,
and the quality of the products he represented spoke volumes. While Mr. Mays
loved to present a "wow" factor in every infomercial, the biggest factor in his
success was the genuine warmth he inherently projected.
Billy Mays had a long successful career because he
not only believed in every product he sold, but because he never brought a
product to market that he never had 100% faith in. Mr. Mays was not an inventor
as is Ron Popeil of Ronco
who brought his own products to market, but rather Mr. Mays sought out
inventors with practical everyday items he could bring to the public at a great
price, usually $20 or less. As a result, Mr. Mays not only provided for his
family and not only turned every day people into millionaires; but he also
helped simple inventors, people who are inherent dreamers, fulfill their
dreams.
While writing a follow-up story, I was in
contact with the PR people for
Telebrands, Inc. to get
a statement from Mr. A.J. Khubani, President of Telebrands. In the process, I
spoke to Ellyn Small of Rosica
Strategic Public Relations, a wonderful lady. In my line of work, I have
found that most PR people forget to think like consumers and instead take on a
defensive posture, thus end up failing to actually serve the public they are
paid to relate to. Ellyn Small offered to get me a comment from Mr. Mays for my
story, and today I regret to have not taken her up on that offer.
Much can be learned from Billy Mays. First, it is
important to follow ones dreams. Second, if you create a quality product people
can relate to, you can market it and succeed, but only if you believe in
yourself. Yes, Mr. Mays is the personification of fulfilling the American
Dream, as he not only did that for himself, but he helped others do the same.
Mr. Mays was born in 1958 in McKees Rocks,
Pennsylvania. He started with nothing and built his own empire on honesty,
happiness, sincerity and integrity. While there will never be anyone who can
sell like Billy Mays, his life reminds the world that in this greatest nation
on earth and other free nations, anyone and everyone can achieve their dreams.
Billy Mays will be missed, but the lessons he taught
America, will live on.
On behalf of everyone at
Boycott Watch, we extend our condolences to the family. |
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