An Interview With Stacey Stauffer and Alberti Popaj

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An interview with Stacey Stauffer and Alberti Popaj by Anne Creedon

When I have the privilege to interview our hosts, they’re always extremely nice—which is probably why our customers love our hosts and guests so much! I feel like I get a sneak peek into their personalities when I sit across the table from them. Some folks are larger than life, others are quietly sweet, and some of them exude a cheerful disposition that makes you feel like you’ve known them for years. When interviewing two of our newest program hosts, Stacey Stauffer and Alberti Popaj, I felt like I was with friends and almost forgot I was conducting an interview!

Anne: Stacey, you were a TV news anchor/reporter before coming to QVC. What was that like?

Stacey: It was an incredible adrenalin rush and an amazing career. My goal was always to become a reporter and anchor in Philadelphia, and I’m one of the luckiest women in the world to have reached that goal. But having my boys, Ben and Larry, planted the seed in the back of my mind that I may not want to do news forever. Even in local news, I could never guarantee my son that I could make it to his baseball game, so I thought there had to be something I could do where I’d have a little more down time. So I credit them for opening my eyes so I could jump into this challenging new world—a dream I never knew I had!

Anne: Alberti, some of our customers will recognize you because you were an on-air guest at QVC. How was that experience?

Alberti: I loved it! Every moment I spent in this building as a guest was a happy moment, which is what made my decision to move here from the West Coast an easy one. I’m from Los Angeles and Palm Springs, so there’s a little bit of difference in the climate! I moved here on January 4, 2014, and on January 5 the polar vortex shifted. That morning, I was running late and found my car’s windshield covered in ice. I’m originally a New Yorker, but I didn’t learn to drive until I moved to California. I had to call my dad and ask, “How do you get ice off a windshield?”

Anne: How is being a program host different from your previous television experiences?

Stacey: In journalism, it’s very much about just giving the facts. You keep your opinion out of it and don’t let it influence the story. At QVC, we give viewers the information, but we also give our ideas and opinions.

Alberti: I’m on the air more frequently now so I have more of a relationship with the customer. I get to share what I like about products and what I think they’re going to like.

Anne: What was your first impression of QVC?

Stacey: This is Disney World! I was absolutely astounded by the energy that almost knocks you over when you step in the door. All the employees are happy and love what they do.

Alberti: The happiest place on earth! Everybody is happy and smiling! And I would describe it as a family, because from the second I walked in I felt welcomed, invited, liked, and supported.

Anne: Tell us about some of your favorite things. Pizza topping?

Stacey: It depends on my mood. It could be an onion and cheese night or spinach, ricotta, and garlic—lots of garlic!

Anne: Ice cream flavor?

Alberti: Ben & Jerry’s Mint Chocolate Cookie! It’s the best ice cream you will ever eat because it’s mint ice cream with Oreos crushed up inside.

Anne: Hobbies?

Stacey: Something I really love to do is bird watching. But not just any birds—birds of prey! One of the top items on my bucket list is to see a bald eagle in the wild. Every September is a big migration time for bald eagles at this place called Hawk Mountain in Kempton, Pennsylvania. Wouldn’t you know, after years of going, something like 20 bald eagles flew through either the day before or the day after I was there?

Alberti: I love to work out and do any physical sport. And I love to grill and bake. Anything that happens on top of the stove isn’t my thing, but grilling and baking covers all you need—the cornbread and the ribs!

Anne: Last, but not least, what are some of your favorite QVC

products?

Stacey: It’s changing! Having worked in television news and makeup being a part of being on the air, I came to QVC geared toward loving the beauty products. But now that I’m here, I love learning about things like garden tools and gardening— which I’m horrible at! But as I’m presenting these kinds of products, I’m learning while I’m on air and I love that.

Alberti: Oh gosh, what’s not to like? I love philosophy*, which is my daily ritual when it comes to my body wash, lotion, and fragrance. And I love my Little Giant* ladder because I just moved into my new house and that’s helping me more than ever. Everybody needs one!