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QVC is a West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA, multinational corporation, specializing in televised home shopping. Founded in 1986 by Joseph Segel, QVC broadcasts in four major countries to 141 million consumers. The name is an initialism—standing for Quality, Value, Convenience, the three pillars of Segel's vision for the company. In 2008 QVC was referred to in a song by the London UK based band the Holloways in the song PSB
was founded on June 13, 1986.
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Encyclopedia
QVC is a West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA, multinational corporation, specializing in televised home shopping. Founded in 1986 by Joseph Segel, QVC broadcasts in four major countries to 141 million consumers. The name is an initialism—standing for Quality, Value, Convenience, the three pillars of Segel's vision for the company. In 2008 QVC was referred to in a song by the London UK based band the Holloways in the song PSB
Corporate history
QVC was founded on June 13, 1986. The first live broadcast took place at 7:30 ET on November 24 of that year. Hosts Kathy Levine and Bob Bowersox featured a shower radio for $11.49. Initially running live for 16 hours a day, the channel extended its broadcast hours to 24 at the beginning of 1987. The corporation set a new record for first full-year fiscal sales for a new public company of $112 million.
In a move that many considered risky, QVC acquired its top competitor, the Cable Value Network (CVN), in 1989, despite the fact that CVN was about twice QVC's size. By February 1990, many cable systems nationwide had replaced CVN with QVC. The $380 million deal contributed to a loss of $17 million during the next fiscal quarter, and then to difficulties in the couple of years that followed. However, with a major piece of its competition out of the picture, the network eventually progressed to renewed and stronger profitability.
In 1993, QVC, Inc. formed a deal with British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) to create a UK version of the channel. QVC—The Shopping Channel first broadcast in the UK on October 1.
On February 2, 1995, Comcast purchased a majority shareholding in QVC, Inc., taking control of the corporation. QVC kicked off the "Quest for America's Best 50 in 50 tour," a 50-week nationwide product search.
QVC's shopping network went online on September 9, 1996, when the company's interactive division, iQVC, launched QVC.com, allowing customers to purchase their items online via the Microsoft Network. QVC Germany launched in December of that year.
QVC launched a spinoff shopping channel, Q2, carried in major cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, Boston, Baltimore, and Dallas-Fort Worth.
QVC was named "Official National Retailer for the 53rd Presidential Inaugural" in 1997, and US operations at Studio Park commenced on September 24.
In 1998 a class-action suit was brought against QVC. Two former hosts of QVC sued the network, claiming that they were discriminated against by the shopping channel based on their race. The lawsuit went on to state that QVC refused to allow non-white hosts any permanent daytime/primetime spots, which relegated them to the overnight hours, otherwise known as the "graveyard shift." Because of this, the non-white hosts were paid considerably less than the white hosts.
On August 8, 2001, QVC @ the Mall, a flagship store at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, opened.
July 3, 2003 saw Comcast sell its majority share to Liberty Media, setting the value of the company at $14 billion.
In March 2004, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged QVC with making "deceptive claims" about weight loss products and the United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the company. This case has since been dismissed. Around the same time, QVC Inc. bought out BSkyB's 20% holding of QVC UK, thus becoming sole owners of the network.
Also that year, over 105 million units were shipped, more than 160 million phone calls were handled, 2 million new customers were gained, and QVC had its biggest sales day ever, December 4, both online and on air.
On January 7th, 2007, QVC hosted a 20th anniversary cruise for both customers and employees. Bob Bowersox and Pat James DeMentri accompanied others on the cruise. There was a special broadcast from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and David Venable flew in for the occasion.
Later that month, QVC partnered with AOL to launch a free, live, streaming version of the channel on AOL Video. Claims that it is the first of its kind have been called into question by Virtual Digital Cable, which has offered the channel online on a subscription basis.
QVC shipped its billionth package on March 22, 2007.
In the summer of 2007, QVC held an internal contest to win $10,000, which challenged its employees gain visibility of themselves in a t-shirt emblazoned with a "QForce" logo. Entries included appearances on Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show by Tina Fey, on behalf of her brother, Peter Fey, a QVC employee. (of more than 725) was a belly-flop contest to benefit Cure Autism Now which was shown on internet video sites such as YouTube. The contest generated an estimated 65 million impressions and was the brainchild of Jeff Charney, the Chief Marketing Officer of QVC.
On September 23, 2007, QVC rebranded itself, changing its logo and onair and online graphics. The rebranding was accompanied by an advertising campaign with the tagline "iQdoU?" ("I shop QVC, do you?") that had preceded the rebrand with "teaser" billboards in major US cities, most notably in New York's Times Square. On 9/23 the corner of the billboard was "torn" away to reveal the new QVC logo and to associate the tagline/billboards with QVC. The iQdoU campaign also included a teaser website found at .
It was announced on November 12, 2008, in the wake of the economic crisis of 2008, QVC would lay off 700 jobs, or six percent of its US workforce.
On December 21, David Venable announced that Bob Bowersox was resigning from QVC to pursue other writing and acting ventures, effective immediately. David filled in for Bob on In the Kitchen with Bob, which followed a pre-taped farewell from Bob to his fans. David has since been tapped to permanently replace Bob as the new host on "In the Kitchen."
Operations
All four QVC networks run 24 hours a day, although live programming hours vary between each region.
QVC US
QVC's U.S. operations are based in the Studio Park complex in West Chester, Pennsylvania, which houses its corporate headquarters, studio and broadcasting facilities, and distribution warehouse. Studio Park is the former corporate offices of Commodore Business Machines. Call center facilities are located in Chesapeake, Virginia, Port St. Lucie, Florida, San Antonio, Texas, and West Chester, Pennsylvania. Additional distribution centers are situated in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Suffolk, Virginia, Florence, South Carolina and Rocky Mount, North Carolina, in order to ensure the fastest possible delivery of items.
QVC U.S. also operates a series of retail stores across the country, including one at the Mall of America in Minnesota.
QVC broadcasts via cable and satellite TV 24 hours a day, 364 days a year (the Christmas show is pre-recorded), to 90 million homes, and ranks as the number two television network in terms of revenue (#1 in home shopping networks), with sales in 2006 giving a net revenue of $7.1 billion. Recently, Comcast has added a high definition simulcast of the channel in few select markets like Chicago.
QVC UK
The UK arm of the company operates from two venues in the United Kingdom. Corporate headquarters and broadcasting facilities are located at Marco Polo House in Battersea, London, while call centre and distribution facilities are situated in Knowsley, Liverpool. Prior to 1998, these facilities were based at the McIntyre and King facilities on Harrington Dock also in Liverpool.
QVC UK runs two small outlet stores, one in Warrington, the other in Shrewsbury.
QVC—The Shopping Channel broadcasts live 17 hours a day (although the channel runs 24 hours a day), 364 days a year, to 5.4 million viewers of cable, satellite, and digital terrestrial services in the UK. Satellite also relays the channel across much of mainland Europe. Retail sales for the year 2004 reached £265 million. Also there is a QVC Active service that runs on cable, satellite, and digital terrestrial in the UK.
QVC Germany
QVC Deutschland GmbH, incorporated in Düsseldorf, runs call centre operations from two sites in Bochum and Kassel, whilst distribution is handled from a dedicated site in Hückelhoven.
QVC Germany broadcasts live 24 hours a day, 363.5 days a year (off-air Christmas Eve (no program after noon) and Christmas Day), with 33.8 million households reached. In 2004, sales of $643 million were made.
QVC Japan
QVC Japan is based in Makuhari, where its corporate headquarters and call center facility are located. Distribution facilities are located in Sakura City.
QVC Japan broadcasts live 24 hours a day (as of June 2004—previously running for 15 hours—making it the first broadcaster in Japan to run a 24-hour live service), to 7.5 million homes, with $416 million sales in 2004.
QVC Italy
QVC Italy was planned to launch in Italy on Digital terrestrial television in 2008 but the commission refuse the request .
Products
QVC carries a large range of products, and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of its items. Items are presented by hosts, who may be assisted by guests—typically, people who work for the item's manufacturer or an expert on the subject. Each item is identified by a unique item number, allowing for easy identification when ordering. In commonality with many of its rivals, QVC offers one product at a reduced price for that day only—the Today's Special Value commonly referred to as TSV. In the US, the Today's Special Value was launched on August 11, 1987 with a 30" long wave necklace. When a TSV sells out, there are several "One Time Only" items good only on certain shows the rest of the day.
QVC offers products from a wide variety of famous brands and well-known celebrities. Joan Rivers and are amongst those whose products are demonstrated on-air.
QVC's flagship brand is , a simulated gemstone exclusive to the company (having acquired manufacturing facilities, proprietary technology, and trade name rights from MSB Industries, Inc. in 1988).
QVC's most popular brand of apparel in the US is ; others include Dialogue, Sport Savvy, citiknits, Quacker Factory, and .
The most popular beauty brand on QVC in the US is , followed by PeterThomasRoth, philosophy beauty and Laura Geller Make-up Studio. On June 15, 1998, Models Prefer Color Cosmetics, QVC's first exclusive color line, was introduced. Other beauty brands include , Le Mirador Skin care, , Joan Rivers beauty, ,and Jonathan Product Salon Hair Care by Jonathan Antin.
QVC has contracts with the National Football League and NASCAR to sell its officially-licensed merchandise. The NFL deal is non-exclusive, but allows them access to use team names and logos in on-screen graphics and present highlights of the league's games. The NASCAR deal is exclusive. Special guests (football players/drivers) occasionally appear on both shows.
QVC usually has many types of programming in one day, but sometimes a day has a single theme. Such 24-hour events include St. Patrick's Day Celebration, Fashion Day, Christmas in July, Craft Fest, Big Bonanza Silver Day, Klondike Gold Rush, Rose of Tralee, Now You're Cooking Day, and others.
Once a year, QVC broadcasts FFANY Shoes on Sale with designer and brand name shoes at half the price, benefiting breast cancer research.
QVC HD
QVC broadcasts in High Definition 24 hours a day. Recently, Comcast has added a high definition simulcast of the channel in few select markets like Chicago.
Hosts
This is the list of current US QVC hosts and some hosts' signature shows:
- Jill Bauer (You're Home with Jill)
- Sandra Bennett
- Jayne Brown (The QVC Morning Show Fashion Friday)
- Rick Domeier (Home Projects with Rick & Dan)
- Sharon Faetsch (T.G.I.F.)
- Jacque Gonzales
- Carolyn Gracie
- Dan Hughes (The QVC Morning Show and For Race Fans Only)
- Pat James DeMentri (The QVC Morning Show and The QVC Morning Show Fashion Friday)
- Dave James (Seriously Late on QVC)
- Gabrielle Kerr
- Shawn Killinger
- Lisa Mason
- Antonella Nester
- Patti Reilly (Saturday Night Beauty)
- Lisa Robertson (Ask Lisa About Style and PM Style; currently on family leave and will return the week of March 22)
- Mary Beth Roe (Gold Rush)
- Jane Rudolph Treacy (Shoe Shopping with Jane and Enjoyable Entertaining)
- David Venable (Dining With David and T.G.I.F.)
- Dan Wheeler (Home Projects with Rick & Dan)
- Leah Williams (AM Style)
Former Hosts
- Bob Bowersox (Left QVC in fall of 2008)
- Davinia Palmer (Left QVC in fall of 2008)
- Kathy Levine (Left QVC to work for HSN. Left HSN and now has her own jewelery line on QVC La Vintage)
- Victor Velez (left QVC in 1998 claiming that he was the victim of racial bias, bringing a discrimination suit against the network)
- Gwen Owens (left QVC in 1998 claiming that she was the victim of racial bias, bringing a discrimination suit against the network)
- Steve Bryant (Left QVC in May 2001 to pursue musical interests,was a host on talk radio,infomercials and was Vice President of On-Air Sales at Shop At Home.Now in working in radio
- Christa Pitts (left QVC to start her own consulting firm)
- Lena McIlwain (left QVC to start her own fashion accessory company)
- Paul Deasy (left QVC with his wife (see below,) to go work for HSN) (they both have since left HSN in 2007 to start their own e-commerce company)
- Judy Crowell (left QVC with her husband (see above,) to go work for HSN)
- Kim Parrish (left QVC to start her own clothing line called "The Kim Parrish Collection". The line is designed for on-the-go women, and is sold on HSN)
- Mike Rowe (left QVC to do work on various TV shows including Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe)
- Marianne Manko (Left QVC to work for various TV news stations.Now Primary Anchor for )
- Kendy Kloepfer (Left QVC to work for ShopNBC)
- Molly Daly (Left QVC and is now a news anchor for KYW NewsRadio in Philadelphia)
- Katina Forte (left QVC to work for ShopNBC)
- Jennifer Dempster
- Sheila Johnson
- Dave King (left QVC in April 2008)
- Laurie Shore
- Elizabeth Day
- Lynne Tucker (Nov 1995 - April 2001) QVC offered her a continuing contract, she declined. Returned to San Diego. She and husband own a successful video production company.
- Jeff Hewson
- Steve Colantuno
- Donna Harfenist
- Suzanne Runyan (left QVC to work for HSN)
- Lynn Doyle (left QVC to work for CNBC, Fox News and now is host/producer of "It's Your Call" a talk show on CN8, a Comcast channel
Competitors
With the continued growth and popularity of home-shopping television, more and more companies are emerging to attempt to challenge QVC's position. In the United States, the Home Shopping Network and ShopNBC are QVC's primary competitors; meanwhile, having outlasted many would-be pretenders, QVC UK competes with a number of other channels, most notably Ideal World (live, and following the QVC model), Screenshop (recorded advertorials), as well as with variable-priced 'auction' channels such as bid tv (and its sister channel price-drop tv), and others.
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