Kevin Harrington (entrepreneur)
Encyclopedia
Kevin Harrington, is an American businessman and investor. He is the chairman and founder of TVGoods Inc. and co-founder of OmniReliant Holdings, Inc. and is a pioneer in the infomercial
industry. He has financed more than 500 direct TV marketing
product launches with sales totaling over $4 billion. 20 of those products reached individual sales of over $100 million.
His first company, Quantum International, merged into National Media in 1991 and grew to $500 million in annual sales with distribution in over 100 countries. Quantum became a case study in business that was taught at Harvard University
and MIT
. Additional entrepreneurial ventures include HSN Direct with the Home Shopping Network
and Reliant International, as well as two global networking associations, the Entrepreneurs' Organization
(EO) and the Electronic Retailing Association (ERA).
In 2009, Harrington became an investor ("shark") on the ABC
show, Shark Tank
, in which entrepreneurs pitch their ideas in hopes of securing investment financing from a panel of business experts. The show is produced by Mark Burnett
and is based on the British show, Dragons' Den
. Harrington released a book entitled Act Now: How I Turn Ideas into Million-Dollar Products, which chronicles his life and experiences in the DRTV industry.
Infomercial
Infomercials are direct response television commercials which generally include a phone number or website. There are long-form infomercials, which are typically between 15 and 30 minutes in length, and short-form infomercials, which are typically 30 seconds to 120 seconds in length. Infomercials...
industry. He has financed more than 500 direct TV marketing
Direct response television
Direct Response Television, or DRTV for short, includes any television advertising that asks consumers to respond directly to the company --- usually either by calling an 800 number or by visiting a web site. This is a form of direct response marketing....
product launches with sales totaling over $4 billion. 20 of those products reached individual sales of over $100 million.
His first company, Quantum International, merged into National Media in 1991 and grew to $500 million in annual sales with distribution in over 100 countries. Quantum became a case study in business that was taught at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. Additional entrepreneurial ventures include HSN Direct with the Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network or HSN began in 1977 as a 24-hour/7 day a week home shopping television network televised via cable, satellite, and some terrestrial channels in the Philippines. HSN can also be shopped online at hsn.com...
and Reliant International, as well as two global networking associations, the Entrepreneurs' Organization
Entrepreneurs' Organization
The Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global non-profit organization, whose stated mission is to "Engage leading entrepreneurs to learn and grow." EO was formerly known as YEO .- Founding Members :...
(EO) and the Electronic Retailing Association (ERA).
In 2009, Harrington became an investor ("shark") on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
show, Shark Tank
Shark Tank (TV series)
Shark Tank is a reality television series based on the Sony TV/BBC TV Dragons' Den. It premiered on ABC television in August 2009 and features a panel of five wealthy entrepreneurs who are called "sharks"...
, in which entrepreneurs pitch their ideas in hopes of securing investment financing from a panel of business experts. The show is produced by Mark Burnett
Mark Burnett
Mark Burnett is a British television producer and executive producer, based in the United States. He currently is the executive producer of five network television series with seven hours of network programming. Works with which Burnett is associated have won multiple awards and recognition...
and is based on the British show, Dragons' Den
Dragons' Den
Dragons' Den is a series of reality television programmes featuring entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas in order to secure investment finance from a panel of venture capitalists. The show originated in Japan as "Manē no Tora"...
. Harrington released a book entitled Act Now: How I Turn Ideas into Million-Dollar Products, which chronicles his life and experiences in the DRTV industry.