Ron Popeil’s Greatest Hits
The Veg-O-Matic was invented by S.J. Popeil-his father’s company and whom Ron worked for as a young man. Ron helped to make the Vego-O-Matic a big hit, thanks to his ingenious marketing and pitching abilities.
One of the most famous products Ron is credited with producing and selling is the Showtime Rotisserie. He starred in commercials as he was impaling chicken on the two-pronged spit rod and popping it into the oven. The product itself was designed to be the star, and not Ron. This is one of the main reasons his products sold so well.
Over the past three decades, Ron Popeil has invented a wide range of kitchen gadgets including the Popeil Automatic Pasta and Sausage Maker. This gadget features s thrust bearing that is made of the same material that is used to produce bulletproof glass.
The Ronco Electric Food Dehydrator is a Ronco invention as well as is the Digital Jog Dial Showtimes which is a spinoff of the Showtime Rotisserie Grill. It also made “set it and forget it” a national catch phrase. The Popeil Pocket Fisherman is another product that is a top seller that has thrilled generations. When ready to use, the small fishing pole is simply unfolded until it snaps into place. The handle is a mini tacklebox that contains a hook, line, sinker and bobber. The Pocket Fisherman was designed with the idea that it would make a great gift for a man.
Ron Popeil’s products are ingrained into the fabric of America. Americans are known for looking for quicker, more efficient ways of doing the most simple tasks and Ron gave that to us with his practical and useful inventions.
A Bit of the Ronco Rotisserie
The Rise Of Ron Popeil
Ron Popeil is an American inventor and marketing genius who is known best for his company Ronco-a direct response marketing company.
Ron began to sell his father’s gadgets made for the kitchen at the largest flea market in Chicago in the mid 1950s at the young age of 13. In his late teens he sold the kitchen gadgets by working the state and county fairs and he was very successful in his endeavors due to his alluring marketing techniques. He knew how to grab the attention of the passerbys and how to keep their interest. Popeil enjoyed his success and he wore a Rolex watch and was able to afford to rent expensive hotel suites. Later he opened an office on Michigan Avenue in Chicago and was called the Paul Newman of the Playboy Building. He was mesmerizing and handsome. Secretaries working nearby would take their lunch breaks at the Woolworth’s store so they could watch him sell the Chop-O-Matic at the store.
Ron Popeil founded Ronco in 1964 and their commercials quickly became memorable and very persuasive. The Veg-O-Matic had just been introduced prior to the founding of Ronco and Mel Korey assisted Ron in shooting a commercial for five hundred dollars. They convinced department stores to carry the Veg-O-Matic with the terms that if they stores could not sell the units-they could be returned. They cleverly purchased TV commercial air time cheaply and their gamble paid off as they sold 2,500 of the units in five weeks. It made the phrases “it slices, it dices” famous.
Ron’s pitch was amazing. There was something about the way that he did it that made the products irresistible to potential customers. He would explain the product to customers three or four times, using a different twist each time.
Today Ron Popeil is semi-retired and Ronco is now based in Chatsworth, California.
The Family History Of Ron Popeil
Nathan Morris immigrated to the United States in the late 1880s and called Asbury Park, New Jersey his new home. Nathan was a pitchman who worked the boardwalk and traveled up and down the east coast selling kitchen gadgets that were made by Acme Metal. Nathan founded N.K.Morris Manufacturing in the early 1940s which produced the KwiKi-Pi and the Morris Metric Slicer. Slowly, his family members began to join him in business. His two sons, Lester and Morris became his salesmen.
Prior to the war, he hired Samuel Jacob Popeil or S.J. – his nephew, to become his apprentice. S.J. was very inspired by Nathan, which spurred him later to go ahead and found The Popeil Brothers which called Chicago its home.
The Popeil family used a combination of vaudevillian showmanship along with innovative product design, starting with modest kitchen gadgets such as the glass knife and progressing on to the Ronco’s Showtime Rotisserie and Barbecue. The world was then soon introduced to the Chop-O-Matic, Dial-O-Matic and the Veg-O-Matic. Sameul Popeil had two sons, Jerry and Ron. Jerry passed away young. The younger son, Ron, is familiar to those of you who watch infomercials on television.
The Popeils used attention-grabbing manners and motions to gather people around them at markets, fairs and auto shows. Over time the Popeil Brothers’ products became easier to sell on television and they products all were given very catchy names that were easy to remember.
In the years following the war, many Americans made the kitchen their life work. The Morris-Popeil clan was considered the first family of the kitchen in the United States. The brothers were high spirited, successful and would ponder late into the nights about ways to chop an onion without crying. They believed that product development and marketing were one in the same. The men were brilliant and Ron was the most spirited and intelligent of them all.
Nathan Morris and Ron Popeil’s relationship as uncle and nephew was not without its controversies. The two were in court in 1958 because Ron felt that Nathan had stole his idea for the Chop-O-Matic with the release of the Roto-Chop. The courtroom scene was dramatic and Nathan had a sudden heart attack while in court. The case was settled the next day.
The story of the Popeils is nothing short of fascinating and compelling. The mark that was made by this family on the modern kitchen is undeniable and one that makes for some interesting reading.
Get Snuggies
The Snuggie definitely has made an impact on the landscape of America’s pop culture scene. Referenced often, people simply get snuggies. One guy who did not “get snuggies” is AJ Khubani, CEO of TeleBrands. On the television show Pitchmen he admits he passed on The Snuggie thinking it would never sell, then it became a hit. Some people are skeptical but it is a comfort thing. Just like the food- meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, may all sound simple and unappealing, but actually sit, enjoy, and you begin to understand. Those who get snuggies do the same, sit and understand the comforting, the soothing.
Then there are the parties, where snuggies have replaced the toga for theme wear. Now we just need this generation’s Animal House for frat boys to start chanting “snuggie, snuggie, snuggie!”
Pitchmen was not the only show which the Snuggie was mentioned, but even a hit show like The Big Bang Theory highlighted The Snuggie in its season finale. Nice to see the writers of my favorite show get snuggies too.
Awesome Auger Gets It Done
The Awesome Auger is one of those household items that has many uses and you don’t realize that you need it until you have it. Then it is one of those “how did I ever do without?” items. Initially designed to turn earth for planting, other users have presented themselves unearthing rocks, mixing paint, mixing cement, and mixing sheetrock mud. Then the additional attachments give even more use like weeding.
This Awesome Auger was originally featured on Pitchmen’s episode “Digging for Dollars.” The story of the inventor is heartwarming and worth watching.
One the most interesting aspects to an Awesome Auger offer is the free cordless drill for only the cost of shipping and handling. Can’t get that anywhere but from the official offer.
The Awesome Auger Is Awesome
