BulbHead

BulbHead is an American direct-response marketing company and consumer brand formerly known as Telebrands. It is closely associated with the development of the “As Seen On TV” retail and advertising category, in which products are introduced through short-form television commercials, infomercials, print advertising, online promotion, and subsequent retail distribution. The business was founded in 1983 by A. J. Khubani, who began by placing product advertisements in publications including the National Enquirer. The company initially operated from Roanoke, Virginia, before relocating to Fairfield, New Jersey, in 1998. Khubani expanded the business into television advertising in 1986, producing short infomercials for an ultrasonic flea collar, a home bicycle exercise machine, and AmberVision sunglasses. AmberVision became an early commercial success, with the company later reporting sales of approximately 15 million pairs. This television-led model became the foundation of the company’s broader approach: identify or acquire consumer inventions, demonstrate them in highly memorable advertisements, build demand through direct response, and then place successful products in mass retail channels. The company has marketed a wide range of household, personal-care, pet, kitchen, automotive, and novelty products. Its better-known products have included AmberVision sunglasses, the PedEgg foot file, Doggy Steps, One-Second Needle, Pasta Boat, Jupiter Jack, Bottle Tops, Aluma Wallet, InstaBulb, Lint Lizard, Pet Rider, and Pocket Hose. The PedEgg, introduced in 2007, became one of the company’s most commercially prominent products, with more than 45 million units reportedly sold by 2013. Other launches included Orgreenic non-stick cookware, Olde Brooklyn Lantern, the Who Knew Books publishing line, and Rabbit TV, developed through a joint venture involving William A. Mobley and Freecast Inc. The BulbHead identity began appearing on products in July 2015 and became the company’s principal consumer-facing brand in May 2017. The older Telebrands name was retired in 2024. The transition reflected a move from a corporate or distribution identity toward a more unified retail brand, while the “As Seen On TV” designation continued to describe the marketing and merchandising category with which the business had long been identified. BulbHead’s commercial model depends on a large product pipeline and rapid testing of consumer response. The company has historically maintained a substantial number of products on store shelves, reportedly around 10 to 12 at a time, and has distributed products through retail chains in more than 120 countries. Its advertising and sales operations have featured well-known infomercial presenters, including Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan. The company and Khubani were also featured in the Discovery Channel series PitchMen, which followed the evaluation and development of inventions intended for direct-response marketing. An important source of product discovery has been the company’s recurring Inventors Day program. Entrepreneurs have been invited to present inventions to Khubani and his team at events held in various parts of the United States, including New Jersey, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Chicago. This program reinforced BulbHead’s image as a gatekeeper and commercialization partner for consumer-product inventors. The company has also faced allegations and litigation concerning intellectual-property infringement. Reporting cited in accounts of the business has described repeated disputes in which inventors alleged that their ideas were copied or used without authorization, including cases resulting in findings of willful infringement. These disputes have been a significant counterpoint to the company’s entrepreneurial and inventor-focused public image. Despite that controversy, BulbHead remains active as a direct-response and consumer-products business, continuing the product-development, advertising, and retail-distribution model established under Telebrands.

BulbHead originated as Telebrands, a direct-response marketing business founded in 1983 by A. J. Khubani. The company’s early method was comparatively simple: advertise consumer products in publications with broad popular reach and measure demand through direct orders. Khubani later expanded into television, producing three short-form infomercials in 1986 for an ultrasonic flea collar, a home bicycle exercise machine, and AmberVision sunglasses. AmberVision became an early breakout product, with approximately 15 million pairs sold according to the company history summarized in the reference material. Telebrands was initially based in Roanoke, Virginia, and moved to Fairfield, New Jersey, in 1998. Its business grew around the direct-response formula that later became widely recognized through the “As Seen On TV” label: a product is demonstrated in a concise, memorable commercial, consumers are encouraged to order directly or seek the item in stores, and successful products are expanded through retail placement. Telebrands is credited with creating the original “As Seen On TV” logo and helping establish the category as a recognizable form of consumer merchandising. Over time, the company assembled a broad portfolio of practical and novelty products. These included household tools, kitchen products, personal-care items, pet accessories, automotive devices, lighting products, and consumer electronics. The PedEgg foot file, launched in 2007, became one of the company’s most prominent products and was reported to have sold more than 45 million units by 2013. The company also introduced or distributed products such as Doggy Steps, One-Second Needle, Pasta Boat, Jupiter Jack, Bottle Tops, Aluma Wallet, InstaBulb, Lint Lizard, Pet Rider, Pocket Hose, Orgreenic cookware, Olde Brooklyn Lantern, and the Who Knew Books line. Rabbit TV represented an expansion into digital media through a joint venture involving William A. Mobley and Freecast Inc. The company’s product-development system included regular opportunities for inventors to present ideas. Its Inventors Day events brought entrepreneurs before Khubani and his team in locations including New Jersey, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Chicago. The program complemented a public profile built through television presenters. Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan were among the pitchmen associated with the company, and Telebrands and Khubani became central subjects of the Discovery Channel series PitchMen. The show portrayed the selection and commercialization of inventions for the “As Seen On TV” market, with Khubani retaining final decision-making authority. The brand architecture changed during the 2010s. BulbHead first appeared on some products in July 2015 and became the principal consumer brand in May 2017. The Telebrands corporate name was fully retired in 2024. The change gave the company a more unified identity across its direct-response and retail product lines while preserving its association with the “As Seen On TV” category. BulbHead has operated through television, internet, and print advertising as well as retail distribution. The business has reported selling hundreds of millions of products since its founding and distributing through retail chains in more than 120 countries. It has also reportedly maintained approximately 10 to 12 products on store shelves at a time, a high number relative to other direct-response television companies. The company’s history includes substantial controversy. Inventors and other rights holders have brought intellectual-property claims alleging that BulbHead or its predecessor used product concepts without permission. Reference material describes a pattern of more than 120 alleged infringement incidents and cases in which the company was found liable for willful infringement, including one matter involving a jury award of damages and attorneys’ fees. The available material does not identify enough case-specific information to summarize each proceeding reliably. These disputes remain an important part of the company’s documented history because they contrast with its public role as a platform for inventors. BulbHead nevertheless remains active as a direct-response marketing and consumer-products brand.

• 2024

  Telebrands name is retired

  [1]BulbHeaden.wikipedia.org

  The former Telebrands name was fully retired.

• 2017

  BulbHead becomes primary consumer branding

  [1]BulbHeaden.wikipedia.org

  BulbHead replaced Telebrands as the principal consumer-facing identity.

• 2015

  BulbHead name appears on products

  [1]BulbHeaden.wikipedia.org

  The company began using BulbHead as a product-facing name on selected offerings.

• 2007

  PedEgg launches

  [1]BulbHeaden.wikipedia.org

  BulbHead’s predecessor launched the PedEgg foot-file product, which later became one of the company’s most widely sold offerings.

• 1998

  Headquarters move to Fairfield

  [1]BulbHeaden.wikipedia.org

  The company moved from Roanoke, Virginia, to Fairfield, New Jersey.

• 1986

  Television infomercial testing begins

  [1]BulbHeaden.wikipedia.org

  The company produced short-form television commercials for an ultrasonic flea collar, a home exercise machine, and AmberVision sunglasses.

• 1983

  Telebrands is founded

  [1]BulbHeaden.wikipedia.org

  A. J. Khubani founded the direct-response marketing business that later became BulbHead.

A mass-market direct-response brand that turns demonstrable consumer inventions into television-, internet-, print-, and retail-distributed products, with an emphasis on convenience, novelty, problem-solving, and impulse-friendly household purchases.

• Personal care · 2007

  PedEgg

  A foot-care device designed to remove hard or dry skin from the feet. Launched in 2007, PedEgg became one of the best-known products in the company’s portfolio and was reported to have exceeded 45 million units sold by 2013.

• Eyewear · 1986

  AmberVision

  A line of tinted sunglasses promoted through one of the company’s earliest television infomercials. The product was an early commercial success and reportedly reached sales of approximately 15 million pairs.

• Garden and household equipment

  Pocket Hose

  A compact hose product marketed as a space-saving alternative to conventional garden hoses. It exemplifies the company’s emphasis on simple demonstrations and convenience-oriented household products.

• Kitchenware

  Pasta Boat

  A kitchen product marketed for preparing pasta and handling the cooking process in a dedicated container. It belongs to BulbHead’s broader portfolio of demonstration-friendly kitchen and food-preparation products.

• Cookware

  Orgreenic

  A line of non-stick cookware promoted through direct-response advertising and retail distribution. The line extended the company’s presence in kitchen products beyond individual novelty items.

• Household cleaning

  Lint Lizard

  A cleaning accessory intended to help remove lint and debris from household surfaces or appliances. It reflects the company’s focus on inexpensive products addressing familiar domestic problems.

• Automotive accessory

  Jupiter Jack

  An automotive-oriented consumer accessory marketed through the company’s direct-response product system. Its inclusion in the portfolio illustrates BulbHead’s willingness to develop products outside household and personal care.

• Lighting

  Olde Brooklyn Lantern

  A lantern product marketed as part of the company’s home, lighting, and preparedness-oriented range. It was among the products introduced during the BulbHead era.

• Intellectual-property infringement allegations and findings

  BulbHead and its predecessor have faced numerous disputes brought by inventors and other rights holders alleging that product ideas were copied or used without authorization. The reference material describes more than 120 reported infringement incidents and cases involving findings of willful infringement, including one proceeding that resulted in a substantial jury award. Specific case details are not sufficiently identified in the supplied material to support a more precise account.

  Source

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• 1986AmberVision television infomercial campaign

  United States

  Telebrands used one of its earliest short-form television commercials to promote AmberVision sunglasses, helping establish the company’s television-led direct-response model.

  Outcome. The product reportedly sold approximately 15 million pairs.

  Source
• As Seen On TV direct-response campaigns

  United States · International markets

  BulbHead and its predecessor marketed products through short television commercials, infomercials, print advertisements, internet promotion, and retail displays under the recognizable As Seen On TV framework.

  Outcome. The approach supported distribution through retail chains in more than 120 countries and generated hundreds of millions of product sales according to the company history summarized in the reference material.

  Source
• Inventors Day

  United States

  The company hosts recurring events at which entrepreneurs present inventions to A. J. Khubani and his team for possible development and direct-response commercialization.

  Outcome. The program became a recurring channel for sourcing new product concepts; the reference material does not provide a complete conversion rate or product-by-product outcome.

  Source

• 2024

  Retire the Telebrands nameStrategy

  Background

  BulbHead had already become the company’s principal consumer identity and was used across an expanding product portfolio.

  Action taken

  The Telebrands name was fully retired.

  Aftermath

  The business continued under BulbHead branding, retaining its direct-response and retail-distribution model.

  Source

• 2017

  Make BulbHead the primary consumer brandStrategy

  Background

  After two years of using BulbHead on selected products, the company consolidated its consumer product presentation under the newer name.

  Action taken

  BulbHead was designated as the primary consumer-facing brand.

  Aftermath

  The transition culminated in the retirement of the Telebrands name in 2024.

  Source

• 2015

  Introduce BulbHead brandingStrategy

  Background

  The company sought to establish a distinct consumer-facing identity alongside its established Telebrands corporate name and As Seen On TV category association.

  Action taken

  BulbHead branding began appearing on selected products.

  Aftermath

  The name later became the primary consumer brand and ultimately replaced Telebrands as the company’s public identity.

  Source

• 2024

  Telebrands name retired[1]BulbHeaden.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The former Telebrands name was fully retired as the business completed its transition to BulbHead branding.

• 2017

  BulbHead becomes the primary consumer brand[1]BulbHeaden.wikipedia.org

  Other

  BulbHead was designated as the company’s primary consumer-facing brand, consolidating product presentation under the newer name.

• 2015

  Telebrands begins using the BulbHead name on products[1]BulbHeaden.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company began placing the BulbHead identity on selected products, initiating the transition from its long-standing Telebrands branding.

1. 1BulbHeaden.wikipedia.org