Aliso Viejo, Calif. — Buy.com has signed a deal with comedian and game show host Howie Mandel to star in a series of humorous TV, radio, online and print ads over the next two years. Mandel will also help develop Buy.com commercial concepts.
The first TV spots will begin airing nationally this month.
“I actually had been telling people for free that they should shop on Buy.com, so it is a pleasant surprise to get paid for something I already was doing,” said the host of NBC’s popular “Deal or No Deal” game show.
In one of the commercials, filmed on location in Southern California, Mandel repeats that pitch by dissuading shoppers from making their purchases at brick-and-mortar stores or at rival e-tailer Amazon.com, and directing them toward Buy.com.
“Howie is a trusted household figure and led the pack in a survey of favorite personalities conducted with Buy.com customers,” said Neel Grover, president/CEO of the online store. “We give people the best deals online — whether that’s on our site or pointing consumers to the lowest price available somewhere else. What better person to bring that message home than Howie Mandel?”
Buy.com placed 38th on TWICE’s Top 100 CE Retailer rankings, with an estimated $300 million in sales last year.