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Ron Popeil
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The Salesman of the Century Hardcover – October 1, 1995

by Ron Popeil (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 23 ratings
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The television pitchman and inventor reveals the secrets behind his success and offers advice for success
Previous page
  1. Print length
    306 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Delacorte Press
  4. Publication date
    October 1, 1995
  5. Dimensions
    6.75 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0385313780
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0385313780
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With the charm of a born spiel-spinner, an eye for low-priced gadgets people will buy and a robust sense of self-esteem ("I'm now a celebrity"), Popeil, by his own account, successfully worked county-fair midways as a young inventor-salesman and, eventually, on video home-shopping channels, became a multimillionaire acclaimed on 20/20 as "the grandaddy of TV hucksters." Among his top-selling items: spray-on relief for baldness, an inside-the-shell egg-scrambler and a pasta-making machine that comes with a bagel-cutter that allows you to quarter a bagel so it will fit in your toaster. Popeil provides remarkably detailed information on product innovation and effective marketing, along with many often overlooked details of patent law, copyright, FCC regulations, manufacture at home and abroad, pricing, order fulfillment, publicity and advertising. A behind-the-scenes, fun-to-read look at the basic American business of selling. Graham is a TV columnist for USA Today. Illustrations.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Besides being grist for Saturday Night Live comedy sketches, the Veg-O-Matic and the Pocket Fisherman have become exemplars of schlock and kitsch. Long before there was a home shopping channel, Ron Popeil made millions selling these and other Ronco products to a nation of insomniacs and impulse buyers during late-night and early-morning marathon television commercial breaks. Popeil has two stories. The first is his biography as he tells it to USA Today television columnist Jefferson Graham. He relates how he got started, candidly assesses his three failed marriages, and explains how Ronco (but not Popeil himself) went bankrupt in 1984. He describes his three-year "semi-retirement" and his big comeback in infomercials and cable home shopping, a medium perfectly suited to Popeil's theatrical selling style. His second story is a pitch to those who would emulate him. With nuts-and-bolts practicality, he explains how he gets his ideas and brings them to market. Sure to attract readers faster than a K-Mart blue-light special. David Rouse

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Delacorte Press; First Edition (October 1, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 306 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0385313780
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0385313780
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.75 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 23 ratings

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Ron Popeil

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
23 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Gregory C. Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars The title is so-so, but the content is really excellent!
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2012
Verified Purchase
Popeil has been a kind of ever present personality on TV, selling us things that we have a hard time taking our eyes off of. Not because the product looks so great or we really need it, but because of Popeil himself and his hard to ignore salesmanship! This is brought out very clearly in this set of cassettes. Not only that, but, the information he provides truly is excellent and worth while to any would be inventory and/or and entrepreneur. I plan to act on most of his suggestions and hope that you will be seeing my products for sale very soon. He indeed does make it accessible to anyone, if you are willing to try and follow through, I am very sure of that! I highly recommend this learning tool. Once again, excellent job Ron, and thank you for your excellent advice.
2 people found this helpful
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Claude Whitacre author of "One Call Closing" "Sales Prospecting" and "Selling Essentials"
5.0 out of 5 stars Only six reviews? An unclaimed treasure.
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2013
Verified Purchase
Is this book some sort of secret?
This guy practically invented the infomercial. This book is the story of his life. But, more importantly, hundreds of lessens in how to sell to mass markets, and the power of a product demonstration.

The chapter The Fair Circuit is worth the price of the book alone. It describes how to sell items in quantity to groups of people, and gives some case examples of sales superstars.

If you're in any kind of sales, this book will keep you riveted. It did me.
4 people found this helpful
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Mike C
5.0 out of 5 stars Ron Popeil is a hero.
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2013
Verified Purchase
The best part about this book is gathering an understanding of Ron's background to sales. He succeeded from the ground up. Ron will admit in this book about his lack of formal education, which is your first signal that this is a great tool. Sales books are a dime a dozen and lay out all these rules and steps. Ron's story paints a picture of the framework and foundation of his sale methods. After reading this book, you really want to meet the guy in person.
One person found this helpful
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Hou713
3.0 out of 5 stars A bit repetitive
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2012
Verified Purchase
This book was a let down. It seems like he repeats the same stories and themes over and over again. If your interested in creating infomercials it may help, but if your looking for sales tactics you can use in this decade it will not help much.
2 people found this helpful
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Sheila
5.0 out of 5 stars Ron Popeil the daddy of TV sales
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2013
Verified Purchase
I happen to be a fan of ron Popeil more than the products themselves. This book is inspirational in the sense that it shows how one man busted his butt to become a success. It's a book on salesmanship and entrepreneurship. I highly reccomend it for anyone who wants to go into the retail or product design business for themselves. Or if you just need a kick in the butt!
One person found this helpful
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Leonard Natural
5.0 out of 5 stars and good quality
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2016
Verified Purchase
arrived on time, and good quality thanks
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richard e whitelock
5.0 out of 5 stars THE MAGICAN OF STATE STREET
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2023
I knew Popeil as early as 1957 in Woolworth's at State and Washington. I was going into my junior year of high school and Ron was out on his own. Ron took a liking to me because at this time because he was just out of the University of Illinois and around 23 years old and my dad was an executive with Woolworth. Ron had learned a serious lesson in life's college. Treat the bosses son nice and in return he might do something for you. We became fast friends over that summer and following Christmas.

Ron was knockdown handsome. He was a cross between TV's Doctor Ben Casey and Hollywood's Paul Newman. He was born with a Golden Tongue, And on top of those qualities, he was gentile and a very knid person. And the women loved him. Secretaeries, bank tellers, saleswomen, and any woman who could still breathe, had a pulse, wore a skirt and could walk on their own, made their way to Woolworth'store to watch Ron flash his smile and become their matinee idol or the man of their dreams. Theycametosee Ron. To look at him. Just get close to him. Buying whatever he was demonstrating was secondary.. But they bought. Sometimes more than once. It was a win-win. It was entertainment at its best. And I loved every moment because some of Ron's charismaand charm often riubbed off on me.

I heard Ron pitch the Chop-O-Matic and Veg-O-Matic six days a week. On the 7th day, when we rested, Ron was down on Maxwell Street walking the street of broken dreams with many other vendor and demonstrators. If you couldn't find what you were looking for on Maxwell Street, then it simply wasn't made.

Ron's success came from his dialog, his absolutely knock dead good looks and his willingness to "sell, sell, and then sell some more." Read his books, watch him demonstrate on video, and listen to his audio tapes. It can only help. But when it comes to selling popcorn in the dessert to an Arab, there was only one person on earth who could accomplish that task, and that was Ron Popeil, Simply One Of The Very Best.. I lost touch with Ron once I went to college, but I will never forget him. He was a fine young man and very kind and generous.
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Boss
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the last great pitch-man
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2022
Ron was a guy you'd want to split a six pack of beer. His story was pretty amazing. Hard work and persistence led to his success. Idea man and pitch man - all in one!
One person found this helpful
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