The Perpetual Pitchman: How Popeil Became a Multi-Millionaire

There are some who say that what Popeil has been able to accomplish in his career is nothing short of magic. To create an empire out of seemingly nondescript kitchen wares is without a doubt an impressive feat. It was not, however, magic. The secrets behind Popeil’s success are as simple to follow as the instructions on his Veg-O-Matic.

He put the product first: Most television viewers have at one point or another seen one of Popeil’s infomercials, but few would ever be able to recall his name. That is because whether he was selling on the streets of Chicago or live on his infomercials, Popeil always put the product ahead of himself. He understood how to make the product come across as appealing as possible, and from design to distribution, that was his sole focus.

He used clever marketing: 60 percent of the way into the infomercial, you made your first sales pitch. And you did not just make it once; you made it three times. That was just one of Popeil’s handy little marketing strategies. Popeil left no stone unturned when it came to his pushing his products. Every step of the sales process was part of his carefully crafted marketing strategy to bring in as much profit as possible.

He created his own products: Popeil was a firm believer in the fact that product development and marketing went hand in hand; without a clear handle on one, the other would rarely be successful. It was in designing and manufacturing his own products that Popeil developed the know-how and the passion that would see his marketing through.

He strove for perfection: Whether it was the angle of the glass cover on his Showtime Rotisserie, or the sales pitch for his Pocket Fisherman, Popeil always strove for 100 percent satisfaction before presenting something to the public. Believing that practice makes perfect, Popeil strove to ensure both his products and his sales pitches were at the height of perfection.

He put in the time: Few other entrepreneurs can claim to be as hard working as Popeil. Whether it was waking up at the crack of dawn as a teenager to chop hundreds of pounds of vegetables to use for his day’s demonstrations, or spending hours on end in his kitchen testing facility, Popeil put in the hours he needed to get his products off the ground and selling.

All of these factors come down to what Popeil believes are the two most essential keys to success: quality and reputation. In fact, “It’s all I have,” he says. By building up his reputation for quality kitchen and home products, and by making his infomercials strategic and as entertaining as they could be, Popeil was able to generate a loyal customer base. His products and late night infomercials may have been parodied on everything from “The Simpsons” to “Saturday Night Live,” but with his multi-million dollar fortune under his belt, it is Popeil who is now having the last laugh.



The Perpetual Pitchman: How Popeil Became a Multi-Millionaire

Like this article? Share it with your friends

E-Mail | Print | Post | Republish | More

Related Articles
Lesson #3: The Best Product is the One that Sells Itself
	“Developing and marketing a product are like left and right feet,” says Popeil. “They both have to work for the product to succeed.”
Lesson #5: Dogged Persistence Makes the Best Pitchman
	Popeil was just sixteen years old when he began selling his father’s products on Chicago’s infamous Maxwell Street. His workday would start at 5 a.m., when he used to arrive at the market and spend one hour cutting ...
The Perpetual Pitchman: How Popeil Became a Multi-Millionaire
	There are some who say that what Popeil has been able to accomplish in his career is nothing short of magic. To create an empire out of seemingly nondescript kitchen wares is without a doubt an impressive feat. It w...
Mr. Infomercial: The Early Years of Ron Popeil
	You may not know him by name, but chances are if you have ever had a sleepless night and turned on the television, Ron Popeil has been there to keep you company. He is the king of the late night infomercial, and the...
Lesson #4: Test Your Product and Test Your Pitch
	Almost every day, some new kitchen widget or another is released onto the market. A select few might become hit sellers, while the rest crash and burn as quickly as they were thought up. However, even where an entre...

---

Related Forum Posts
	Ron Popeil Interview
	Non Commercial Food Service Handbook