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Act Now!: How I Turn Ideas into Million-Dollar Product
Product and Pitch Advice from the Man Who Turned Television into Sellevision
The Ginsu Knife, the Great Wok of China, the Food Saver, Tony Little's Ab Isolator--all have sold millions and have become household names thanks to Kevin Harrington's insightful vision to bring the traveling salesman's pitch to television. Since the late 1980s when Harrington's first infomercial aired, the extended commercial, or infomercial, has become a social institution and an intriguing way for anyone with drive, determination, and a good product to become wealthy beyond his or her dreams.
Some people take life as it comes; some grab it by the ears and shake and shake. Kevin Harrington is one of the shakers. When he has an idea, he 'acts now ' and he doesn't get discouraged by challenging situations--he finds a way around them.
The story he tells in Act Now is partly about his role in bringing about changes in the industry and the business methods, marketing tactics, and strategic decisions he's made along the way. Budding entrepreneurs, creative inventors, and ambitious businesspeople will reap the benefits of Harrington's insights how he chooses his products, what criteria he demands of his infomercials, and the details surrounding his choices in spokespeople, timing, and synergy.
The Ginsu Knife, the Great Wok of China, the Food Saver, Tony Little's Ab Isolator--all have sold millions and have become household names thanks to Kevin Harrington's insightful vision to bring the traveling salesman's pitch to television. Since the late 1980s when Harrington's first infomercial aired, the extended commercial, or infomercial, has become a social institution and an intriguing way for anyone with drive, determination, and a good product to become wealthy beyond his or her dreams.
Some people take life as it comes; some grab it by the ears and shake and shake. Kevin Harrington is one of the shakers. When he has an idea, he 'acts now ' and he doesn't get discouraged by challenging situations--he finds a way around them.
The story he tells in Act Now is partly about his role in bringing about changes in the industry and the business methods, marketing tactics, and strategic decisions he's made along the way. Budding entrepreneurs, creative inventors, and ambitious businesspeople will reap the benefits of Harrington's insights how he chooses his products, what criteria he demands of his infomercials, and the details surrounding his choices in spokespeople, timing, and synergy.
- GenresBusiness
276 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
88 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Harrington
87 books7 followersKevin Harrington is an entrepreneur, the Inventor of the Infomercial, the Original Shark on "Shark Tank" and "As Seen on TV" Pioneer.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 8, 2021
I read /ACT Now!: How I Turn Ideas Into Million-Dollar Products/, by Kevin Harrington:
https://seilertucker.com/launching-a-...
https://theinvisiblementor.com/act-no...
Harrington started out delivering newspapers, selling driveway sealing, and selling furnaces and other home products and their warranties and service, in high school.
He then moved on to selling California Closet franchises, other franchises, and businesses, and that's what got him on to late-night TV initially. To begin, he sold 10 business opportunities in the 30 minute slots, reduced it to 3, and then began to pitch products on TV and cable, essentially creating the infomercial, and US $5 billion of product sold.
Fascinating and inspiring story!
https://seilertucker.com/launching-a-...
https://theinvisiblementor.com/act-no...
Harrington started out delivering newspapers, selling driveway sealing, and selling furnaces and other home products and their warranties and service, in high school.
He then moved on to selling California Closet franchises, other franchises, and businesses, and that's what got him on to late-night TV initially. To begin, he sold 10 business opportunities in the 30 minute slots, reduced it to 3, and then began to pitch products on TV and cable, essentially creating the infomercial, and US $5 billion of product sold.
Fascinating and inspiring story!
September 16, 2018
Interesting read on Kevin Harrington’s business life. I liked his quotes such as, “Don’t sell the product- sell the story.” And I learned a little about the infomercial biz. Harrington’s mentor was Zig Ziglar (I’ve read all Ziglars books and attended some of his events.) so I can relate to his admiration of Ziglar as well.
Read
April 4, 2016It is an interesting book about The Infomercial King and member of the Shark Tank Panel.
October 29, 2016
Better than books by other sharks simply because it actually has a lot of stuff about the author's real life experiences.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews