As many of you reading this have probably heard, the direct response television industry lost a true pioneer last weekend, with the untimely and sudden death of TV Pitchman Billy Mays. Billy, well known for his thumbs-up pitches and larger-than-life personality, was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, just minutes away from our InventHelp and INPEX headquarters, here in Pittsburgh.

Over the years, Billy had been seen hawking everything from Orange Glo to Oxiclean, and most recently was featured alongside Anthony Sullivan in the Discovery Channel reality show, Pitchmen. Like many consumers, I was also a big fan of Billy Mays and had the opportunity to meet him at the Inventors Corner back in March at the Home & Housewares Show. It was a true pleasure to meet the man who made selling products on television look like a fine art and whose zest for life was infectious.

On behalf of the entire InventHelp and INPEX staff, our condolences go out to the Mays family. He will be greatly missed.

Related InventHelp posts:

1. Billy Mays, Invention Pitchman and TV Star, Dies at 50
2. Check Out Pittsburgher Billy Mays on The Discovery Channel
3. Pitch Your Idea at the InventHelp-INPEX New Product Showcase
4. Check out the InventHelp INPEX blog for real-time show updates!
5. InventHelp’s INPEX® Wrap-Up