Buzz
Before the era of Billy Mays, Anthony Sullivan, Matthew Lesko, or Vince “ShamWow” Offer, Ron Popeil reigned as the undisputed “Godfather of the Infomercial” and “Salesman of the Century.” However, Popeil’s legacy extends far beyond his salesmanship. Dive into these 5 lesser-known facts about the founder of Ronco.
1. INNOVATION IS HIS CORE.
Unlike many pitchmen and pitchwomen who merely endorse products, Popeil is the mastermind behind his creations. This distinction, he believes, is key to his success. "Being an inventor first and a salesman second is why my products resonate so well with customers,” Popeil explained to Forbes in 2006. “When you develop something that fills a genuine need or solves a problem, sales become effortless. The demand is already there.”
And that’s not all…
2. HIS INFOMERCIALS WERE COMPLETELY UNSCRIPTED.
Beyond his array of popular “as seen on TV” products, Popeil also coined many of the iconic catchphrases still used by infomercial hosts today, such as the famous line, “But wait, there’s more…” In a 2014 conversation with the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Popeil revealed that his infomercials were entirely improvised, including the memorable “Set it and forget it” tagline for the Showtime Rotisserie.
And there’s even more…
3. HE CREATED ‘GREAT LOOKING HAIR’ TO HIDE HIS BALD SPOT.
In a discussion with Forbes, Popeil shared that many of his inventions stem from personal necessity. One such example is Great Looking Hair, also known as spray-on hair. “I have a bald spot on the back of my head, and I recognized the need for a solution,” Popeil said. “That’s why I developed the spray-on hair. I always keep a can in my briefcase.”
And there’s more…
4. NOT EVERY INVENTION WAS A SUCCESS.
During a conversation with People, Popeil revealed that his mind is constantly generating ideas for new products. “While others shop for clothes, I’m in the housewares aisle brainstorming new concepts,” he said. Despite being one of the most successful inventors in late-night TV history (with over $2 billion in sales), he has also introduced a few failures, such as a home handwriting analysis kit and a subliminal message tape designed to help people quit smoking.
And that’s not all…
5. THE BEASTIE BOYS MENTIONED HIM IN “CRAWLSPACE.”
The opening lines of The Beastie Boys’ track “Crawlspace,” from their 2004 album To the 5 Boroughs, go like this: “There's a party going on in here for real / I got more product than Ron Popeil.”
Despite widespread belief, the 1984 Weird Al song “Mr. Popeil” is not about Ron. As Yankovic clarifies in the album's liner notes, “It’s not about Ron Popeil, the Ronco founder, but his father, the inventor of the Vegamatic and the Pocket Fisherman. He promoted these products on TV before Ronco existed. Mr. Popeil was a significant figure in American pop culture, pioneering the TV marketing of quirky gadgets. While writing the song, I stumbled upon a magazine article about me, alongside a piece about Mr. Popeil’s daughter, Lisa Popeil, a classically trained singer who collaborated with Frank Zappa. I thought it’d be fantastic to have her sing on the track, and she agreed. It was surreal directing Lisa on how to sing her own name in the studio!”
