topic Re: the QVC purge in Q Talk

the QVC purge

chessygal — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 15:05:04 GMT

It seems like some vendors did survive the QVC purge when it happened. Dennis Basso, Judith Ripka come to mind. I think what they did was go to their list of vendors and pick out those whose sales amounted to a lot of $$$ and eliminated those who had low sales like Lee Sands, Kirks Folly, and other small vendors. This is the direction they are going now - big sales vendors IMO.

Re: the QVC purge

KYToby — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 15:54:33 GMT

So QVC kept vendors that generated a lot of sales and eliminated those that did not sell well? Who would have thought that they would do such a thing?

Re: the QVC purge

Colinka — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 16:33:44 GMT

Don't be snarky, KYToby. I originally loved the Q because you could find new and original items from smaller vendors there. It was like going to a unique small street of shops, versus the copycat bland shopping mall stores. Now it's just not as exciting or as special. The Q has sold its soul.

Re: the QVC purge

brandiwine — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 16:34:53 GMT

Like any retailer, bottom line is what counts. Vendors with products that don't sell, don't stay. Welcome to the business world.

Re: the QVC purge

stevieb — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 17:05:11 GMT

And in the process, they've decimated the notion of QVC as an entity that provides customers with a fabulous variety of options... Meanwhile, they appear also to be working on decimating the notion of value as well... Some would also say quality is on the table...

Frankly, so much of what the Q now pushes relentlessly just isn't all that interesting, often isn't worth the price and often can be obtained elsewhere, which taken together all begs the question whether or not the convenience factor alone is really all that... And even that assumes the items can't be obtained elsewhere just as conveniently... Nope sorry, and with the advent of this new shipping, uh, 'deal', I'll personally be relying even less on QVC.

Re: the QVC purge

chessygal — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 17:22:09 GMT

Maybe they told a vendor like Jim Shore that he would have to up his sales or else he would be out. However, he's very popular and they couldn't let him go so they upped his prices. Other vendors solved this problem by offering more merchandise like Susan Graver going into jewelry. And they kept Joan Rivers for name value alone. Interesting marketing strategies for now. Who knows what they'll do next. And what happened to Lori Greiner? She was good at inventing new products. Did she manage to hang on?

Re: the QVC purge

Colinka — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 20:09:16 GMT

Remember those great product searches where they brought in inventors and small vendors with unique items? I know Jeanne Bice got started that way. I also remember them doing a remote show in London, with true British products--everything sold out in a flash, and I was so excited to watch the presentation. It was like a mini-trip to England. I loved the Q for those types of things--I found so many unique things for gifts. They got me started on Birki's. I started collecting Joan Rivers' line bracelets. Nowadays, I can't remember the last time I bought something from the Q.

Re: the QVC purge

Daysdee — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 00:10:03 GMT

On 3/13/2015 newlook said:
Maybe they told a vendor like Jim Shore that he would have to up his sales or else he would be out. However, he's very popular and they couldn't let him go so they upped his prices. Other vendors solved this problem by offering more merchandise like Susan Graver going into jewelry. And they kept Joan Rivers for name value alone. Interesting marketing strategies for now. Who knows what they'll do next. And what happened to Lori Greiner? She was good at inventing new products. Did she manage to hang on?

Lori Greiner is on a lot. Lori is also on the TV program Shark Tank and she brings in people and products from that show.

Re: the QVC purge

Angry Bird — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 00:20:56 GMT

OP, Kid's Folly went out of business...Lee Sands retired...Jean Bice and Joan Rivers are deceased but Q kept their lines on air...I'm sure we will see Bob Mackie, Dennis Basso and others go before too long....It isn't all QVC ...

Re: the QVC purge

blackhole99 — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 02:19:27 GMT

I think the higher prices and new S&H policy will drive customers away from the Q. I know I started shopping here 10 years ago because the prices were right and I couldn't get what they offered in my area. I know I will shop more locally because there is not an incentive for me to buy from the Q any more. Of course if money is no object or you can't get out to shop then the Q is all yours.

Re: the QVC purge

Kachina624 — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 03:00:17 GMT

You'll notice that the products that have been retained are the more expensive lines. Kirk's Folly and Lee Sands were relatively cheap. It takes the same time and effort to sell a cheap item as it does an expensive one but the profit difference is huge. What would you do if you were the Q's CEO?

Re: the QVC purge

Kachina624 — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 03:04:23 GMT

On 3/13/2015 colinka said:
Don't be snarky, KYToby. I originally loved the Q because you could find new and original items from smaller vendors there. It was like going to a unique small street of shops, versus the copycat bland shopping mall stores. Now it's just not as exciting or as special. The Q has sold its soul.

Toby isn't being snarky; she's being realistic. The last thing the Q is interested in is giving the shopper a warm and fuzzy feeling or making their programming "special". It's all about the bottom line, baby.

Re: the QVC purge

stevieb — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 04:30:05 GMT

Yea, right, sure and there are different ways to enhance a bottom line. Occasionally retailers even like to please their customers...

Re: the QVC purge

Snoopp — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 13:58:03 GMT

Frankly, I think the clothing vendors are too few. If I feel like qvc has nothing new to offer, I'm not buying. I'm a new customer but not going to be excited about buying from a limited number of designers. The shipping fees and return fees are a huge detriment to frequent purchases IMO. For example, I won't even consider buying shoes, handbags or cosmetics now. Too iffy.

Re: the QVC purge

chessygal — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 14:51:13 GMT

On 3/13/2015 Kachina624 said: You'll notice that the products that have been retained are the more expensive lines. Kirk's Folly and Lee Sands were relatively cheap. It takes the same time and effort to sell a cheap item as it does an expensive one but the profit difference is huge. What would you do if you were the Q's CEO?

If that's the case then the whole concept of these shop at home stores have changed. I remember ShopNBC (or ShopHQ or Evine) was the most high-end selling channel at one time. Now it seems that QVC is headed that way with the elimination of cheap item presentations.

Re: the QVC purge

stevieb — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 15:49:41 GMT

On 3/13/2015 Kachina624 said: You'll notice that the products that have been retained are the more expensive lines. Kirk's Folly and Lee Sands were relatively cheap. It takes the same time and effort to sell a cheap item as it does an expensive one but the profit difference is huge. What would you do if you were the Q's CEO?

Not what this one has done... I might focus on higher priced items, but not to the point of eliminating virtually everything else, particularly customer favorites and the very things that put my company on the map in the first place... And I might also try to offer a better mix of higher priced items featured on-air... The steady diet of the same ten brands might be working for the CEO, but if the financials are any indication, it isn't working all that well for customers...

Re: the QVC purge

febe1 — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 16:00:01 GMT

The Q should definitely NOT focus on high priced items, since 90% of their customers are return customers.

Re: the QVC purge

Venezia — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 17:51:14 GMT

On 3/13/2015 colinka said:
Remember those great product searches where they brought in inventors and small vendors with unique items? I know Jeanne Bice got started that way. I also remember them doing a remote show in London, with true British products--everything sold out in a flash, and I was so excited to watch the presentation. It was like a mini-trip to England. I loved the Q for those types of things--I found so many unique things for gifts. They got me started on Birki's. I started collecting Joan Rivers' line bracelets. Nowadays, I can't remember the last time I bought something from the Q.

I used to love the October Fest shows with German products and so many other special events. QVC really was worth watching in those days. (And I bought a lot, so I'm not "responsible" for the demise of the missing vendors.) Now? Not so much; I rarely ever watch it and, if there's something I want to check out, I record it and fast-forward through it.

I only buy the one or two lines I can't get anywhere else. How many Dyson, Keurig, Dell, Dooney & Bourke, etc. shows do I need to see? Totally boring and I can get better prices elsewhere, with free shipping (and usually faster).

Even the beauty shows that used to offer such spectacular TSVs are a thing of the past. Now I simply wait for a sale from the vendor and buy just the things I want. QVC has definitely lost its unique appeal.

I remember the days when TSVs were so varied and such great deals that they really did sell out fast. Now, if a TSV isn't selling well, they just "move on" to OTOs. A joke, as most times you can see that the TSV is still available.

Re: the QVC purge

Venezia — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 17:56:14 GMT

On 3/13/2015 Angry Bird said: OP, Kid's Folly went out of business...Lee Sands retired...Jean Bice and Joan Rivers are deceased but Q kept their lines on air...I'm sure we will see Bob Mackie, Dennis Basso and others go before too long....It isn't all QVC ...

I wish we could put this myth to rest once and for all - Kirk's Folly did not go out of business, until QVC dropped them at almost no notice, after they'd scheduled (and ordered the inventory for) a year's worth of shows for their 35th year in business. QVC left them high and dry with little opportunity to sell their items. That's what put Kirk's Folly out of business.

Just tired of posters perpetuating this idea that Kirk's Folly chose to close their business and that's why QVC dropped them. Other way around!

Re: the QVC purge

Spurt — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 19:45:20 GMT

On 3/14/2015 snoops said:
Frankly, I think the clothing vendors are too few. If I feel like qvc has nothing new to offer, I'm not buying. I'm a new customer but not going to be excited about buying from a limited number of designers. The shipping fees and return fees are a huge detriment to frequent purchases IMO. For example, I won't even consider buying shoes, handbags or cosmetics now. Too iffy.

Well said....variety is what keeps customers coming back certainly NOT seeing a limited number of vendors being presented over and over, this just drives people away. Certainly something should be done for the sake of customer retention.....

As for their new shipping---it seems now QVC has instituted a "try out fee" so definitely some customers won't take a chance on shoes, cosmetics, clothes, or handbags. And their "buy more and save" is no real bargain, not when you pay full shipping on each (no more 1/2 shipping on multiples of same item, sent to same address)