QVC HOLDS NATIONAL PRODUCT SEARCH AUGUST 8-9 AT COMPANY’S WORLD HEADQUARTERS
Potential Vendors Present Consumer Products to Merchandising Representatives
Entrepreneurial and Marketing Workshops Geared to Educate and Inform Aspiring Entrepreneurs
* * * * *
WEST CHESTER, Pa. (May 19, 2003) -- Aspiring entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to present their consumer products to QVC at the e-commerce leader’s National Product Search on Friday, August 8 and Saturday, August 9 at QVC Studio Park, the company’s headquarters, located in West Chester, PA. The product search will provide inventors, designers and manufacturers with a forum to share their innovative consumer products with QVC representatives from the merchandising, product development and vendor relations divisions. Advance registration is necessary by July 24. Registration information can be found at www.qvcproductsearch.com.
“Some of QVC’s most successful products have come to us through product searches,” said Darlene Daggett, QVC’s president of US commerce. "While QVC sells many well- known established brands, our ability as a retailer to demonstrate and speak about their features and benefits provides an excellent forum for brands that have not yet had national exposure.”
Last year QVC held a national product search at its flagship store in Mall of America. More than 600 inventors and entrepreneurs presented their designs and unique products to QVC representatives. Since then, six products, including Chicago-based Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels, appeared on QVC generating more than $1.4 million in sales. Kim & Scott co-president and founder Kim Holstein stated, “Attending QVC’s national product search last year has been one of our best business decisions. Sine then we have sold more than 120,000 pretzels in about 14 minutes of airtime to a national audience.”
Some of QVC’s top vendors -- Chesapeake Bay Gourmet, Junior's Cheesecakes, ProStrong and Quacker Factory -- were brands discovered in 1995 during The Quest for America's Best - QVC's 50 in 50 Tour. As of today, these successful product lines have continued to earn millions of dollars in revenue.
-more-
QVC Product Search / Pg. 2
QVC introduces more than 250 new products to its viewers each week. Products on QVC that have shown great success are those that are demonstrable on live television, solve an everyday problem, appeal to a broad audience, have unique features and benefits and are topical or timely.
Each potential vendor will be scheduled a time to meet with QVC representatives to “audition” his or her product. In addition, QVC will be hosting free seminars and workshops for attendees.
Marilyn Montross, QVC’s director of vendor relations, added, “Almost everyone dreams of creating their own business. This search will incorporate informative workshops for potential vendors and inventors that will educate them with marketing, sales and product development information. Our hope is to empower them with the information they need to proceed with their dream.”
Jeffery Babin, a lecturer for the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, will conduct a seminar on how emerging companies can create sustainable value. “I am pleased to provide a learning opportunity to participating entrepreneurs at the QVC Product Search seminars and workshops so that they may benefit from the knowledge base of the Wharton School, which has supported entrepreneurship through research, teaching and outreach for decades,” said Babin.
###
QVC, Inc., a $4.3 billion company, is an e-commerce leader, marketing a wide variety of brand name products in such categories as home furnishing, licensed products, fashion, beauty, electronics and fine jewelry. QVC reaches over 85 million homes in the United States. Other divisions/subsidiaries include QVC.com, Q Direct, Q Records and Video, QVC @, QVC Local, QVC ProductWorks. The QVC Studio Tour is located at the company’s world headquarters in West Chester, PA.