VALPARAISO | If you've ever used Orange Glo, OxiClean and Kaboom!, Billy Mays would like to thank you.
Mays, the bearded TV commercial and infomercial salesman known for his high-powered promotion of household cleaning products, showed up Thursday in Valparaiso at a Digital Cocktail Hour sponsored by the company Livemercial.
To honor Mays, Mayor Jon Costas proclaimed Sept. 4 as "Billy Mays Day."
Mays accepted a certificate from Matt Murphy, director of economic development for the city.
"I'm shocked and surprised and touched," Mays said. "I wish I could stay longer, but this is a clean city."
Known as the "King of Infomercials," Mays is the CEO and founder of Mays Promotions Inc., based in Dunedin, Fla. He began his career selling products on the Atlantic City Boardwalk and then moved on to pitch numerous products at home shows, auto shows and other events nationwide. He reached national prominence through his work for Orange Glo International as a pitchman for its products on the Home Shopping Network.
His next project, a reality show called "Pitchmen," is scheduled to air in spring on the Discovery Channel. It features a behind-the-scenes look at how Mays and fellow infomercial star Anthony Sullivan make their infomercials.
"Billy is more than just a famous face and one of the most successful pitchmen in the business," said Johnny Mathis Jr., CEO of Livemercial. "He is also a great personal friend and a longtime Livemercial supporter.
Founded in 2002, Livemercial is the leader in single product sales for the direct response industry and the largest provider of "instant-on" streaming video technology for e-mail, pop-ups, banners and direct response Web sites.
The company sponsored the Digital Cocktail Hour to bring Northwest Indiana/Chicago businesses together to explore opportunities to establish an alliance of digital companies in the region. It also was an opportunity for the business community to learn more about Livemercial's own recent technology innovations and plans for the Livemercial Technology Center, which will be housed in the former Natural Ovens bakery dome, 3400 Mariposa Drive.
