Discovery Channel announced in a press release that PitchMen has been picked up for a second season. According to the press release, the format for the second season is being developed by Anthony Sullivan, Billy May’s son, Billy Mays, III, as well as Thom Beers, CEO of Original Productions - producer of PitchMen season 1. Some of you might know Thom Beers for his “Amercian Chopper” fame.
As we find out more, we’ll pass it along.
Missed PitchMen: A Tribute to Billy Mays?
Well, don’t worry, the PitchMen: A Tribute to Billy Mays will be re-airing on Friday, July 24 at 10PM EST on Discovery Channel.
Recently, Livemercial, Inc. along with Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan hosted the first “Pitch It to the Pros,” contest at Response Expo 2009 in San Diego, CA. Many inspiring inventors pitched their products. The Pitch It to the Pros team saw everything from bottle toppers to massage steam chairs with MP3 players. And after all the ingenuity and creativity was put on display, Treasure Chest Pets by Lisa Lloyd was crowned the winner.
Here’s a video of the awards ceremony…
Now, this Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan-approved product is available through As Seen on TV Network.
What Are Treasure Chest Pets?
Treasure chest pets are dubbed “the world’s most adorable accessory organizer.” On the outside, TC Pets are big, cuddly stuffed animals that kids will want close by their sides. On the inside, well, they’re “treasure chests,” secret compartments that not only give children a sense of privacy but also help teach kids how to respect, organize, and treat their belongings.
As Seen on TV Network offers 3 types of Treasure Chest Pets: the Accessory Chest Puppy, Treasure Chest Monkey, and Media Chest Bear.
Here’s Lisa Lloyd giving her award-winning pitch for Treasure Chest Pets:
“But they’re so cute. Are you sure they’re for just children?” Why would they be just for children? Treasure Chest Pets are for – as “The Christmas Song” would sing – “kids from 1 to 92.”
Children going off to college? Treasure Chest Pets helps give them some privacy in their dorm or apartment. Parents, take it to the office and store your lunch money in it. Or whatever else comes to mind
Tune in for another As Seen on TV Network Blog’s LiveBlog of PitchMen. According to the Discovery Channel website, the episode, “Tale of Three Billys,” involves not only the Billy Mays we all know and love but also his father, Billy Mays and his son, Billy Mays, III. Not only that, but all three generations come together for the shooting of a new product, “Green Now.”
Step 1, deciding the products. Wow, someone was selling stuff about a calfing rope and an umbrella over a video camera. Which product do they pick? No One! Open Call time at Sullivan Productions…
The products people come up…
“You’d like to take everyone but you can,” Anthony Sullivan.
Then Mark Chester has walked through the store. His product, “Green Again,” a product to help renew the green back in grass. Environmentally friendly, has fertilizer, dries in 5 minutes so it can stay dry through the rain storm.
“I got to be honest Billy….I love the product,” Sully.
“I love this product, ” Billy.
Mark does a lot of jobs at residential homes and noticed all the brown spots. He did his research and found another product that found what he wanted. He spent many a-dollar to get the R&D together.
“We’ve been waiting all day for this product,” Billy.
Comercial break :10 after
If Billy and Sully love the product, then I’m going to hold off calling the product a, “spray can,” until I hear more…
Field Test: Billy and Sully take the Green Again out to the dog park to see if it will work. It’s almost amazing how the pet owners the talk to are girls. One pet owner points out how the green is darker than the grass.
“It smells and feels like spray paint,” dog owner.
“I want to know I’m not just spray painting my yard…” another dog owner.
Sully has the product being tested to make sure it’s non-toxic.
Billy Mays, III, is doing a commercial for Dan Wooley’s Ragazzi’s restaurant. Billy Mays is going to star in it. III wrote it, produced it, and directed it. The crew had to work through the lunch rush. If you’re wondering, the owner of Ragazzi’s is Billy’s brother-in-law.
As a show of respect, Sully dawns III’s PA pouch as a sign of respect. The first shots are the closeups.
“I’m sweating like I’m doing a marathon here,” Sully.
Commercial break :19 after
Billy graces his way into Ragazzi’s. “{III} is doing fine but Billy’s come in and all hell’s broken loose…and i’m running out of red wine,” Sull.
“He’s been wining n working. That’s the key to get Sully to work,” Billy.
“Him and his dad are night and day,” Sully.
“I’d work every day if he’d direct me,” Billy about his on.
GreenNow - Billy and Sull get on phone with Allstar Marketing. Allstar looks over the documentation and notes the product is not ready to go. They’ll have to work on another delivery system to make it legal. Mark claims Allstar is being to conservative.
Billy reaffirms his position that he will not put his name to something that is not safe for the environment.
Commercial break :30 after
While waiting for Green Again to get the legalities to sort out, the 3 Bill go to Sully’s house to show Sully Bill Sr’s product: a rotating taning device. Of course they have to “field test it.”
Sully wants Billy III to get margaritas and Billy can’t take his eyes off the test subject.
Those not on the “Turn Don’t Burn,” are jealous of those who get to test on it. The test subjects love the product. They get to nap and still get an even tan. A price quota of $150 and recommends a cup holder. Sully is convinced. Cruise ships, here they come.
Billy n Sully are going to do R&D to get testing done.
Green Again shoot time. Testing is complete. Now it’s called, “Green Again.” The shoot will take place in Southern California suberbia…
“Hi. Billy Mays here for Green Now…”
Sully wants the grass mowed to get lines. The international grass wars begin. “Seriously, this is lawns of America,” Billy.
“If I had the money, I’d switch the shoot to England,” Sully.
Commercial Break :42 after
Sully mows the lawn and the dry spots show up.
“I don’t think we should mow it,” Sully.
“Good call,” retorts Bill.
Time to bring in the dog. “I speak dog,” Billy. You can tell by the way to dog isn’t listening.
Billy n Sully can’t get the final shot right. “No Vanna White.” - crew.
Commercial Break :51 after
Ragazzi’s shoot is being edited. Billy Mays, III, actually worked at the restaurant when they moved to Florida. Time to show his uncle. Everbody is a fan of the commercial. The owner got to pay in pizza.
Green Now Media Test Results: Mark Chester goes to the door. Billy and Sully are straight-facing it. My guess: a winner.
“You’re gonna be a household brand,” Sully.
No champagne, but they’re going to celebrate. Way to go Mark.
Tune in next week for another enticing episode of PitchMen, and for all our home and garden needs, check out As Seen on TV Network.
As Seen on TV Network is the place to be read and experience another episode of Discovery Channel’s “PitchMen,” and tonight’s Episode, “Grater Education.” So far as we can gather from the Discovery Channel website, Billy and Sully will be working with the “Grater Plater” and will, get this, be teaching a class at Princeton University! (This is what I missed out by not getting an Ivy League education)
Product:Grater Plater
Inventor:Jeremy Parker
HERE WE GO:
Billy n Sully looked through the pitches and pick the Grater Plater. Grater Plater’s Jeremy Parker started when he was 9, pitching at shows including meeting Billy Mays during High School. He became, “Chef Jeremy” on the Home Shopping channel but having to fight cancer lost him his savings and his job. Now he’s trying to come back.
YouTube video of Grater Plater:
The Grater Plater helps keep in the juices n fibers from spices like ginger. Jeremy got the product from a friend and started pitching them in trade shows. Billy and Sully love the product. Billy wants to get the price point 2 for 1 at $14.99. It will come down to whether or not the Grater Plater can still be handmade in France or wiill have to be made to China.
Billy Mays will be doing a shoot for Mighty Putty Wood. His shoot will be aboard the famous HMS Bounty, the boat used in movies from “Mutiny on the Bounty” to “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
The Wow shot for Might Putty Wood was pulling the HMS Bounty with a Tug Boat.
Comercial break :11 after
Mutiny on the Bounty is what Billy Mays is all about. Nothing like watching the best pitchmen dangling from a swing seat. No one figured out how to keep his seat stablized, not to mention worrying about the sun and glare off the water. And now he has to get the line UST right.
“IT has the strength to pull the HSM Bounty…” DOH or “Her Majesty’s Bounty.”
Is that voice squeeking I hear? Billy’s hitting puberty. “Mighty Pub’s doing his job. Now I have to do my job.” Congrats, that’s the power of Mighty Putty Wood.
Billy Mays is being told that he’s going to now be mentioned on the HMS Bounty tour from now on. And now he gets to fire the canons.
Mighty Putty Wood Media Test Results: Another Huge Winner.
Grater Plater Time:
Sully got some “chefs” to cook for them on his boat so they can test the Grater Plater. The ladies like the grate and serve feature. They chef’s tell Billy and Sully that they’d pay “twenty to thirty dollars.”
Comercial break :22 after
Jeremy Parker started a band with Anthony Sullivan called, “Meet Me at the Pub.” They met by pitching products at a fair in Santa Rosa. Parker is hoping Grater Plater will help him reach his goals.
Professors Sullivan and Mays: Billy and Sully are going to Princeton University to guest teach in TELEBrands AJ Khubani’s class. The class breaks into small groups and develop a product n come up with the price, place and promotiont. The team with the best commercial get to travel to China with TELEBrands and work on getting their product on TV. Groups designing them.
Billy and Sully like the “Faster Filter” so far.
Commercial break :30 after
They’re doing a commercial shoot for Grater Plater. Anthony Sullivan does one commercial; Billy Mays does the other. They’ll A/B test both commercials to see which product goes nationwide. And the duo are already taking cheap shots at each other.
Now they’re fighting over who came up with the Blue denim shirt idea. They’ll both be wearing the same Billy Mays outfit. “Continuity,” is the reason Sully gives.
“The shirt is starting to take over my being,” - Sully
Wow, they’re taking it serious.
“If you think America is gonna respond more favorable to a an Englishmen than the real pitchmen, Billy Mays, you got another thing comin’.” - Billy
For the closeups, they want Parker to it. He has been officially knighted with the Blue Shirt.
Commercial break :41 after
Editing for the commercials has begun. Billy tried to “influence” the editor to do Billy’s first by giving the editor both dollars.
Sully comes to watch the videos and finds out Billy’s got done first. Proof the value of the dollar still goes a long way. Sully decides to edit the video himself. Sully stays up til at LEAST 5am.
Back to School - Billy n Sully go to meet with the Princeton students again.
Commercial Break :50 after
Billy n Sully looked over the products and chose Faster Filter. The students in the group get to go to China and work on getting a functioning prototype. Instead of forcing the water to the filter, the Faster Filter throws the filter through the water, drastically speeding up filtering time.
“When you go over there, don’t drink the water…unless you have a Faster Filter.” - Billy Mays
Grater Plater test results: Billy Mays crushed Anthony Sullivan by about 40%. But how well did the product do?
Jeremy Parker goes to the boat to find out. Billy n Sully show him by having one of the deckmaids bring out a bottle of Dom Pérignon. Tests show that the product should sell 3-to-1. Jeremy Parker beat the odds as a cancer survivor, now he’ll have beat the odds by having what will seem to be a successful product.
Emails and comments have been flying in to Blog.AsSeenOnTVNetwork.com, all with moreorless the same question:
“How do I submit my product/idea to ‘PitchMen‘ for consideration?”
Other variations of the question include, “How do I pitch my product/idea to Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan?” and the like, but we got the point.
So after a little research and a little waiting, we got the answer.
As far as we know, there is only one way to do an online submission to Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan for consideration. Believe it or not, the one way to do an online submission to Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan is NOT writing to Discovery.com. After asking Discovery Channel, they directed us to the link that have posted on their website.
Now before I give you the link, take heed of the tips posted by Discovery Channel, who got the tips from Anthony Sullivan’s Sullivan Productions, Inc. So in a since we got this straight from the horse’s mouth.
The more likely your product covers these principals, the better chance you have of getting it seen by Billy and Sully (note: these principles do not guarantee an audience with the duo.)
Discovery.com PitchMen Tips from Sullivan Productions
1) “Is It Highly Demonstrable?“ - is the product easy to pitch on TV
2) “Is It Unique or New?”
3) “Does It Have a Patent?“- not a necessity, but definately a benefit
4) “Does It Solve A Common Problem?”
5) “Does It Have Room for a 5x Markup?“ - best achieved with inexpensive cost of production
6) “Does It Have Mass Market Appeal?”
7) “Does It Have Perceived High Value?”
8 ) “Prevention DOES NOT Sell!” - hard to show the results in a TV commercial
Once you think your products have safely taken care of these factors, then feel free submit your product. And I wouldn’t recomend repeatedly sending your submissions. Nobody really likes spam.
And, from the school of “there is more than one way to skin a cat,” another place to pitch your product / idea is by going to livemercial.com.
As part of their ongoing “Pitch It to the Pros” campaign which has featured Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan, livemercial has a link where you can upload a video clip of your pitch.
And while you’re there, take a look at the many products that have already been pitched and submitted.
Join As Seen on TV Network tonight for another LiveBlog! of Discovery Channel’s smash-hit, “PitchMen!”
According to Discovery Channel’s website, tonight’s episode, “Digging for Dollars,” will feature Billy Mays revamping his infomercial add for the classic Awesome Auger as well as shooting the first infomercial ever done for affordable health insurance, “iCan.”
Here’s the classic Billy Mays “Awesome Auger” video:
Product: Awesome Auger
Inventor: Thomas Matasko
Product: iCan Health Insurance
Inventor: iCan Benefit Group, LLC.
Here We Go…
I bet this one starts a little different. H”mmm…
Here comes the discovery channel product test portion. M’mmm a bag that becomes a hat and a magnet wristband that doubles as a reusable kitchen “to do” list. Which of the four catch the eye of Billy n Sully? NONE OF THEM, NICE. NONE! WHile on their way to “InventBay” n Vegas, they looked through the videos and decided on NONE of them. They don’t seem optimistic about what theylll find at InventBay, either.
“We’re miners. We sift,” Billy Mays.
For every Dual Saw, there seems to be 20 products that don’t make sense. Like the pad you wear under your undergarment that helps filter flatulence. I’m impressed they kept the jokes to a minimum.
Billy n Sully meet the inventor of the “Fauslock,” a lock that goes around outdoor faucets. It won “Best New Invention” at InventBay and Billy n Sully still aren’t impressed.
“Just ’cause we don’t like it doesn’t mean it won’t sell 2 million at hardware stores,” Sully.
Then the last inventor comes in. He’s got what looks like a Forearm Forklift. They’re like suspenders with straps that help ou support stuff. THe picture has the inventor - who had suffered a herniated disc which prompted the idea - lifting a motorcycle with the straps.
Inventor: Ron Comerowski
Product: Hand Straps
Commercial break :11 after
Handy Straps works by proportioning the weight throughout the back.
Here comes the price point war.
“How much you sellin’?” Billy Mays.
“$60,” Ron Comerowski
“Stop….” Billy commands…”I don’t know if you’re getting it down to $19.99.”
“I don’t want it there,” Comeroski fires back.
“I don’t want to touch it if I can’t sell millions and I hope you can respect my passion for it,” Billy Mays.
Billy n Sully take it back to Tampa to decide.
Awesome Auger video shoot update time.
Tom Matasko - Tom met Billy in the 1970’s back in the Ohio flea markets. Matasko was a pitchmen who learned it from his father. The pitched the flea markets. His success allowed him to buy a plan until her crashed it in 1996 when flying to do a show with his father. The accident put him into a coma for mounts. Matasko didn’t know he lost his legs for “six months.” His right hand still has nerve damage.
According to “PitchMen,” Matasko was watching an old gardener in the garden next door while hanging at his Dad’s house. One thing lead to another.
Watching the video you can see that Billy truly enjoys shooting the video for Matasko.
Comemrcial break :21 after
During the Awesome Auger shoot, the director goes, “Is that the ShamWow?” Wow.
Oh, wait, so you’re the one that hasn’t heard of ShamWOW? Here’s how Billy describes ShamWOW and its PitchMen, Vince Offer…
“I have ZorBeez. He came along and knocked ME off.”
“Can we get a ShamWow on the set?” Billy’s ready to work now! Billy n the director really get along well.
Matasko n Billy want to keep sales growing so Matasko will have funds to complete other like inventions. These guys get along so well with the shoot that they’re done by noon.
Commercial break :31 after
With Awesome Auger shoot wrapped up, Billy n Sully decide on Hand Straps. Billy n Sully test it with the crew.
“I think I’ve seen one of these hanging from the ceiling once,” wow, family show here, buddy.
Overall, the crew seems to have mixed results. Billy’s arguing how it could help those who couldn’t use their arms. It sounds like he might have Matasko on his mind. Good guy thoughts.
The price point is also throwing the crew for a loop. Any price point would take a 30 minute infomercial like Dual Saw.
Looks like Billy n Sully are having trouble deciding about Handy Straps.
Commercial break :40 after
Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan have decided on Handy Straps…they don’t want to sell it for over $20 and pass. Ron’s willing to change the price down to $39.99. Billy n Sully don’t want to dance. They want to sell products that will be better for the economy.
Billy n Sully get to do another reshoot: iCan Health Insurance. Billy is passionate about the product because of all the people who are uninsured. The whole Mays family is on the set.
Billy admits to being on the road alot and not being with his family, “You age 10 years in 5…my life started at 40.” Having meet the guy before, Billy Mays is sincere in being grateful for what he’s earned and for his family. Oh yeah, his song is on twitter: @youngbillymays.
He’s wearing a suit coat over his blue denim shirt. Nice.
The shoot is loaded with copy. Billy’s not even completely shouting either. Billy n have a Sully on whether Billy can get through a whole mountain of copy in one take. Ooooh, Billy goes to town.
Commercial break :51 after
iCan shoot wraps out. Another great wrap.
Now they’re A/B testing the old Awesome Auger video against the new Awesome Auger video. If the Auger keeps selling, Matasko can have the capital to develop products.
The results: the new video is dominating the old video and selling like a dream. If the new campaign sells close to the old campaign, then there’s another $10,000,000.00 in revenue with which to invent.
I look forward to seeing more Tom Matasko products coming out.
And if you’re looking for ideal home and garden products to help yourself in the yard, check out As Seen on TV Network.
Check back here next week for another LiveBlog of PitchMen.
Make sure to tune in tonight for another PitchMenLiveBlog! as we dissect and analyze the newest PitchMen episode, “Spinning Green.” According to the Discovery Channel website, the featured product will be “Spin Gym,” by Forbes Riley.
And to mix it up a little, Billy and Sully go to Hollywood! Want to guess which one goes on The Tonight Show. Sparks could fly.
Here’s a Fox News Clip of Forbes Riley where she sneaks in a Spin Gym pitch:
PitchMen, “Spinning Green,” Episode facts:
Channel: Discovery
Original Air Date: 2009/05/27
Time: 10:00pm EDT and again at 1:00am EDT
Product: Spin Gym
Inventor: Forbes Riley
HERE WE GO
The final four products Billy n Sully had to choose from here is intriguing. Billy n Sully are off to Vegas to pick the product. Billy just wants to pick the best product and that’s it. This is they’re at ERA in Vegas and come across Forbes Riley. There are some giants at the show: TELEBrands, livemercial…
Riley is trying to get Billy n Sully turned on to Spin Gym. Sully looks excited. Billy seems on the fence. Forbes got her inspiration from her father - an abstract inventor who didn’t know how to get his products to market. Forbes Riley claims she sells about $2,000 a minute when on”Home Shopping.” Now she wants her name on a product and have the same effect. She didn’t’ invent Spin Gym, but she’s an inventor.
Billy and Sully will field test, but first Billy has a Kaboom shoot. …take 8, take… Sully n Billy are fighting about how to wipe glass scum. I guess it proves that details make all the difference. Billy is giving Sully the death look while Sully does an onscreen rant.
“Maybe you should use a ShamWOW,” said the production assistant whose sure not to have a job much longer (unless that was Billy Mays III). If Billy only had a ZorbEEZ in his back pocket at that point.
“Maybe I’ll give you a ShamPOW!”
Commercial break :11 after
The Cleaning lesson continues. “See, if you listen to me I’ll make you look good every time,” Sully. But now the schedule is behind. Billy wants to get the shoot on schedule - so long as he doesn’t have to listen to Sully.
“Billy may have actually done something in one take - because he listened to me.”
Field testing the Spin Gym on the boardwalk - “Welcome to the gun show.”
The question: Toy or workout device? They all tell Billy its a workout device but then tell the camera they think it’s a toy. That’s mean.
TELEBrands TIME! Forbes, Billy, and Sully meet with AJ Khubani. Riley is selling the idea to AJ - Grease Bullet in the background. (I bet Grease Bullet is about to relaunch right, about, now… )
AJ is concerned about Spin Gym’s credibility. Riley says it was the same thing with Ped Egg. AJ is testing the product. Now the learning curve is a concern.
Billy n Sully point out that it’s demonstrable, solves a problem…the ball is in AJ’s court.
Commercial break :20 after
AJ’s answer: he’s willing to give it a go.
In the meantime, Billy n Sully are interviewing other inventors. A guy is showing a wine stopper with an air bag that keeps the air away from the wine. Billy’s afraid to promote alcoholic beverage but doesn’t know if it’s an As Seen on TV material.
An inventor has a plant watering device (very Aqua Globes-ish but without the work of art). Billy and Sully like the product. The inventor is in his 70’s and his dad - all 99 years old of him - is the co-owner of the product. Life springs eternal.
Forbes Riley comes to Sullivan Studios to discuss the price point. She brings in a team of exercise geeks to do a Spin Gym workout. Forbes, you don’t have to preach to the converted. AJ Khubani thinks that with his Chinese manufacturing that they can get the product down to $19.99. The price point scares Riley. (Riley, most of the best infomercial products sell at $19.99!!!)
Uh-oh, Forbes Riley found out her Spin Gym trademark has been taken. She put in a call to the owner of the name and is waiting to hear it back. Now they’re doing product naming.
Commercial break :33 after
The name setback has her down.
Commercial shoot time. How do they keep doing shoots without trademark on product names. She’s frantically offering $10K for the naming rights…she got it. That’s called listening to Billy - “take it or leave it.”
Forbes Riley is doing the promo herself. Billy, Sully, and Riley in the same room. They could make the whole episode around them arguing how to say, “Here’s how to order…” Billy Mays name drop time!
Now they’re arguing price point reshoots. She earlier discussed how she didn’t get her MBA. If she had, she’d understand the value of price point instead of the prestige. She’s willing to walk away because she’s that afraid of the prestige of the price point.
Commercial break :43 after
“I don’t know what her problem is. I think she’s more concerned about a associating a Forbes Riley product for $10 bucks than she is selling the product. I mean, What the f###?” - Sully.
“This whole thing can go from a $10 Spin Gym to an $80,000 paperweight.” - Sully
She’s getting nauseous over the price points. It looks like her nerves are calming down after the shoot. Working out with the Spin Gym for 3 hours in front of the camera can do it to.
Billy n Sully are off to Burbank - NBC Studios. Billy’s going on “The Tonight Show.”
Sully got called, “his chauffeur,” by the NBC Security guard. NICE
Billy is doing an Orange Glo / Shakespeare spot on the episode. He’s getting ready to do a live take. Billy’s practicing. The’re enjoying the fact they have a signed script from Jay Leno. Sully’s pumped, being ubersupportive. They both understand the significance of this moment for the Direct Response industry.
Commercial Break :52 after
Billy claims The Tonight Show was “nerve-racking,” but according to Sully, Billy Mays killed it. He got to hang out with Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes and Jennifer Aniston. Billy wants to meet her again. Sully wont’ let him go alone
Media Test Buy for Spin Gym Results: the tested $19.99 against $29.99 both tested bad. The best it could do was a $196 CPO for $19.99 price point. Sully is coming back with saying the $10.00 price point could have worked. “Always go with the best offer,” Billy Mays. Have to agree with Billy n Sully.
AJ dropped the product. Billy n Sully suggest she drop the product.
Forbes Riley still won’t get over her fear of the $10.00 price point. She’s breaking down. “That’s why you’re driving the Bentley and I’m not.”
Sometimes the best lessons are the hardest to learn. Check back her next week for another LiveBlog! of PitchMen.
Tune in to the As Seen on TV Network Blog as we LiveBlog! the adventures of Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan in another episode of Discovery Channel’s, “PitchMen!” Tonight’s episode includes the Grabit and, a product that can be found on As Seen on TV Network, Tool Band-It.
What Is Tool Band-It?
Have a looksee as the product is pitched by none other than Billy Mays himself.
PitchMen, “Tool Guys,” Episode facts:
Channel: Discovery
Original Air Date: 2009/05/20
Time: 10:00pm EDT and again at 1:00am EDT
Product #1: Grabit
Inventor: Ivan Desaulniers
Product #2: Tool Band-It
Inventor: Mike Shurm
Here We Go
The show starts with its product pitch choices section.
Tool Band-It is part of the choices. Which one will they pick? Mark Shurm’s Tool Band-It. Off Shurm goes to Tampa.
Tool Band-It - lightweight, magnetic arm band. Made for jobs in confined spaces - cars, crawl spaces…
This is the part of the story where we learn that Shurm is risking a lot. He’s a Purchasing Manager for a restaurant chain in San Diego. Shurm got the idea while working on a door jam with his dad and got upset that his dad kept putting the nails in his mouth. Necessity being the mother of invention…
Discovery animation explaining the powerful magnets that power the Tool Band-It. Discovery Channel makes everything look cool.
Tool Band-It investment: ~250k and “every spare moment.”
Billy’s testing it. Billy - The Tool Band-It holds metal tools but doesn’t hold metal tools to the tools on the band.
Sully, “So why do you need us?” Shurm’s answer: lack of time n resources to grow it further.
Billy n Sully put their heads together. Sully likes it. Billy’s unusually quiet which seems to often mean he’s supportive n rooting for the idea. They both like how that it’s a finished product and ready to go. They want to test it.
The other product. Grabit. I’ve used it before. It pulls out stripped screws. Billy Mays has his set designers testing it out.
The set designers appreciate it. Billy’s sold.
Commercial Break :10 after
Grabit: Ivan Desaulniers has spent ~2 million dollars patenting the idea and lost 1 million dollar in bad product because the prototype wasn’t properly tested. The secound round has been tested to the hill: geometry, heat testing. Another 10 years of testing and $13 million dollars went into the second prototype. If the Grabit fails, the company goes down.
Comic relief section: Billy’s gonna try to fix Sully’s boat so they can move it so the workers can fix the dock lift and test the Tool Band-It. Looks like Billy needs a Tool Band-It.
“We can row it faster than this,” Sully.
Sure enough, Billy fixed the boat.
The workers use the Tool Band-It while Billy n Sully go boating around. I think the workers hope they get to keep the Tool Band-It. They say they’d spend about $30 for one of these.
Billy n Sully callled Shurm to tell him they love the Tool Band-It.
“Quit your day job,” says Billy.
Commercial Break :21 after
Desaulniers uses 20 machines to make the little Grabit. Wow.$110,000 a machine.The process is intense. Discovery Channel doesn’t need animations to make this look cool. ~ $16 million dollars spent on the little bit - for want of a nail, or crowbar (as a co-worker points out)…
As if the the Grabit deal isn’t complex enough, AJ Khubani n TeleBRANDS wants in on the action. After negotiations, a marketing company and two infomercial giants, AND Billy Mays is working Grabit.
Sully says that “everybody on the planet except me,” is on the Grabit project.
Shooting conflicts: Sully says Billy double-booked. Billy says he didn’t double book Grabbit n Tool Band-It. DOH!
Billy won’t apologize so Sully thinks revenge. Wait, there’s 2 Billys. What’s that about?
Commercial Break :32 after
We’re back. (Had to take a couple seconds to watch the Cubs get shut out a second straight night in St. Louis. GRRRRR. Oh. Soto walked. It ain’t over yet)
Tool Band-It n Shurm has found a company to help out: Vertical Branding. You’d know Vertical Branding from such products as Billy May’s ZorbEEZ! They’re trying to decide the right “Wow” sell for the commercial. All sides are at odds. Sully has 12 hours to come up with Wow for the commercial.
Commercial shoot time: 2 things missing from the shoot: 1) the Wow idea. 2) Anthony Sullivan, aka the director. It is amazing how many products are shot at Sully’s house. Sully’s got a head-spinning flu. Billy’s having fun.
“When I look bad I put makeup on,” Billy Mays.
Shurm would be upset, but h@ll, Mike Shurm has Billy Mays pitching the product. Unfortunately, the shoot is going slow. Still now WOW. Talk about working without a net.
Commercial Break :41 after
(for prosperity’s sake, the Cubs scraped around a run in the top of the 9th. Runners are now at first n third. 2 outs. Reed Johnson is up, facing an uphill battle working back from an 0-2 count. We think he’s wearing a Tool Band-It. Nasty slider just got him. Cards win 2-1. Thanks for indulging me. Commercial Break is almost done.)
Recap. Tool Band-It is still without Sully and the Wow factor. Sully sounds hungover. Billy’s even throwing in his “World Famous Hercules Hook,” into the Tool Band-It offer.
Billy Mays is off to the Grabit shoot. The shooter is a rival to Anthony Sullivan.
“Forget all that time on Focus Groups. Just spend a little money on TV and you’ll get your answer,” Billy Mays.
Billy n Sully are back working on Tool Band-It. Sully still thinks it needs a “Wow,” demo. Sully thinks of a “heavy weight.” Should have said something a couple days ago. They’ve pulled out the freeweights to see what works.
“Do you know how much 25 lbs. weighs?” Billy.
“25 lbs.,” Sully.
They’re reshooting with the 25 lbs. freeweight. The Tool Band-It holding the 25 lbs. free weight is actually pretty cool.
Back to the Grabit edits. The inventor thinks the commercial can do better.
Commercial Break :52 after
The Grabit commercial got completely reshot and redited. AJ Khubani n TELEBrands ran the TV Test. Results: poor. DeSaulniers looks devistated. Khubani suggests a reshoot because he believes in the product and the need. DeSaulniers thinks the shape of the economy has a lot to do with it. Khubani n TELEBrands is fronting all the money for the TV commercials and want to do it again. Retail sales for the Grabit also confirm that the product should end up doing well.
Tool Band-IT Results: Shurm is trying to not to get too high, not get too low. It’s sorta anticlimatic for us because you can find Tool Band-It on As Seen on TV Network so you know the outcome. Shurm looks like Andy Dick’s older brother, but in a humble enough way where you can still get can get behind his story. Tool Band-It hit 3.5 - 1 on its add buy and should make about $700k a week! Nice job, Shurm.
Way to go Mike. Way to go, Ivan!
See you next week as we LiveBlog! another episode of PitchMen.
Now you can meet Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan face-to-face and pitch your ideas to them!!!
On May 20th-21st, 2009, at Response Expo 2009 in San Diego, CA, Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan, along with the executive team from livemercial, will be hosting “Pitch to the Pros!” The event will take place at Booth 301.
From 12pm-3pm on both May 20th and 21st, inventors are invited to bring their product or idea to Response Expo 2009 and “Pitch to the Pros” for 5 minutes before the panel of Mays, Sullivan and livemercial - the online leader in direct response. Pitches will be videotaped so be sure to bring your best pitch.
And, this just in, the winner will be announced on May 21st, at 4pm by both Billy Mays and livemercial CEO Johnny Mathis.
Winners receive a free DVD copy of their pitch along with a free one-to-one strategy session with the livemercial executive team.
Pitch It to the Pros QuickFacts - according to blog.livemercial.com When: Both May 20 and 21, 2009, 12pm to 3pm Where:
2009 Response Expo, Booth 301
Hilton Bayfront Meetings and Convention Space
1 Park Boulevard
San Diego, California, United States 92101 Cost: free
And, good luck! Hopefully, we’ll get to blog in the future about your product’s success !!!
Anticipated Product: Heel Stick
Inventor: Melinda Clark
Here is a video of Kyle Myhra, inventor of the Spot Sucker:
HERE WE GO
Picking one of four products again. Spot Sucker has been choosen. Kyle Myhra n family drove from Colorado to Sullivan Studios to show the product for ten minutes. Billy is squirming - OxiClean jitters. Billy’s pointin’ out going against Tide n, of course, Billy Mays. Sully is pointing out that inventor is half the product. Sully seems uber intrigued - probably because now he can do something that competes with the legendary OxiClean.
Kyle’s mama has been helping despite a nasty divorce, the recent loss of both parents, and now having to sell her home. Being a son of single, divorced mom, I’m on board for this story. Sully’s right. The inventor is half the story.
Speaking of Sully, he’s pointing out that he can probably get Kyle and family the capital. I smell an AJ Khubani appearance coming. It looks like they both see themselves in Kyle. They’re taking him on the road. He’s under Sully’s wing. Billy’s gonna be the wingmen. They’re showing him, “presentation!.” “…a big promotion to get a crowd,” - Sully
Oh no, “Life’s a pitch, then you buy.” - Billy Mays
preview for the next segment - Kyle’s pitching to AJ Khubani! I’m getting good at this.
Comercial break :12 after
Billy is back from TELEBrands and has another foot product like PedEgg n the like…he thinks it’s perfect full Sully because Billy “doesn’t do” feet. Product: Heel Stick. Inventor: Melinda Clark.
Clark got her idea out of necessity - she had horrible cracked feet. The premise to the Heel Stick is that it helps the body heel on its own. She’s been selling them to Spas n the like and has been receiving rave reviews.
Billy n Sully take the product to a local Spa n get an impromptu focus group going. Nice! These customers try it for a week and Billy n Sully will pay for them each to have a mani-pedi.
The results: people noticed the difference after a couple days. One didn’t think it was spectacular.
Go fig, they got their own pedicures. Those look like massage chairs. THEY ARE.
Commercial break :21 after
The Clarks visit Sullivan Studio to discuss how to promote the product. Sully talks about the problems with effectively showing feet on TV. Is Sully showing his own feet on the infomercial? Wow. The Clarks are happ.
Billy n Sully are flying the Myhra’s on - it looks like Bill’s new jet - to the east coast. Hoping to finance. The duo are grilling and preppign him the whole drive to the office.
Going to Media Enterprises first. They’ve done Mighty Putty and Mighty Mendit…Media Enterprises seem to like the product.
Sully’s getting cabin fever…
Commercial break :32 after
Going to see TELEBrands n AJ Khubani. Sully’s concerned. “Don’t screw this pitch up.” Kyle to AJ, “Don’t blink ’cause it happens fast.” Moxy - nice. AJ Khubani says it will need engineering - at least $100K in research and development. AJ is concerned about how to make this cost effective.
Billy and Sully take Kyle next door to IdeaVillage - AJ’s brother Andy Khubani. Andy seems to be a little more sold on it than AJ. Andy thinks it’ll take 3 to 4 months of R n D. Andy will have IdeaVillage do more R&D before deciding.
Commercial break :41 after
Shooting a Heel Stick commercial. Testimonial shots. Nice…the’re going to pop balloons with cracked heels.
Media buy test results for Heel Stick: …
Commercial break :50 after (teasers)
Try again, media buy for Heel Stick: “FANTASTIC” - Sully. Good to hear! Media buy ROI ~ 2.5-1. Expected ~ 10,000,000 to be sold in a couple years.
Kyle Myhra will be doing his pitch at the Philadelphia Home Show. Billy n Sully is coaching. Kyle can’t sell it - still in demo - but he can generate buzz.
Kyle wants this to work to help his family out.
Well, Billy’s starting the traffic generation. That’s easy. OH NO! Kyle is using a HEADSET!!! NO. Now Vince-ing it, Kyle. Ohhhh, Kyle. Good pitch otherwise.
Billy’s stepping in and talking about how Kyle is the future of America. “You’re a pitchmen now.” Billy and Sully are investing the product themselves. $5k from the duo. Not to mention all the incredible press from the show. Kyle has IdeaVillage, TELEBrands and Media Enterprises showing interest. I hope he can piggyback it into an investment, if he hasn’t done so alread. If As Seen on TV Network hears more about Spot Sucker, we’ll pass it along.
Tune in next week for another adventure in LiveBlogging. Next week’s episode will include Tool Band-It!
The spirit of Billy Mays continues to shine.
Recently, Livemercial, Inc. along with Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan hosted the first “Pitch It to the Pros,” contest at Response Expo 2009 in San Diego, CA. Many inspiring inventors pitched their products. The Pitch It to the Pros team saw everything from bottle toppers to massage steam chairs with MP3 players. And after all the ingenuity and creativity was put on display, Treasure Chest Pets by Lisa Lloyd was crowned the winner.
Emails and comments have been flying in to 
