Looking To Save Money? Check Out Mattress Mac!

People in and around the Houston. Texas area certainly know all about Mattress Mac. Jim McIngvale has become somewhat of a local celebrity thanks to both his zany commercials and for his many charitable activities. But his fame extends beyond Houston. He's teamed up with national celebs and even presidents.

A little background. After graduating college, Jim held many unsuccessful jobs, so he and wife Linda left Dallas and followed Jim's brother to Houston. The draw was a promise of a furniture store location. Upon arrival, they found a strip of old homes without heat or air conditioning.

They started their business selling low end mattresses and other furniture to many people relocating to Houston from the north. The people came in search of work, and frequently had only what they could fit in a car. All they were looking for was something to sleep and sit on. Jim provided that at an affordable price.

Then the oil boom turned into a bust, and the McIngvale's sales plummeted as their customer base was lost. So Jim invested his last $10,000 into TV ads. He didn't like what he saw from commercial production, so he decided to take over the process himself. A star was born. Jim jumped up and down grabbing sales receipts from his pockets, all the while declaring he'll "save you money!"

His sales skyrocketed immediately. The crazy man dealing furniture on I-45 North between Parker and Tidwell became the talk of the city. As his business took off, Jim started trying new angles in his advertisements.

In several commercials, Jim and his son wore mattress costumes and named themselves "Mattress Mac" and "Mattress James". Those particular advertisements ran for only a short period of time many years ago. But the nickname caught on and stuck.

The rags to riches story of Mattress Mac today serves as an inspiration. Mac is not just as well known for his charitable donations toward a city that gave him success. He has purchased the Grand Champion Steer at the Houston Livestock show on several occasions. In 2001 Tropical Storm Allison flooded much of the city. Mac bought all the Simmons mattress overruns then turned around and sold the mattresses for 50% off. Many of those mattresses were bought with Red Cross vouchers. Mac then donated those vouchers back to the organization.

Hurricanes Rita and Katrina devastated alot of the Gulf Coast in 2005. Mattress Mac again provided help. New Orleans evacuees started showing up in Houston by the busload. Many had no place to sleep until Mac opened up his showroom providing them a warm comfortable place. Jim also teamed up with President George Bush, another famous Houstonian, to raise money for relief efforts. He continues to show determination in giving back to his new hometown.

We all know not all multi-millionaires make good role models. Jim McIngvale does. Many rightfully look up to him for not only his good business sense, but also his sense of responsibility to his community. No wonder so many consider him a hero.