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“Getting to Know Sue Clifton, Dooney & Bourke”: A...

Rubbing elbows with a princess, program hosts, and you!

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Hi there!

When I started my career at QVC some 13 years ago, I was completely star struck by our hosts and on-air guests. I remember how excited I was (and how envious my wife was) when I got to meet legendary program host Kathy Levine (I still have the headshot she signed for me). And I recall (with some amusement) asking fitness guru Tony Little for his autograph one day in the QVC cafeteria.

One of the biggest thrills was meeting HRH Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia. She was selling a line of bath and body care and fragrance at the time, and I was assigned to come up with a name for the line and to write the package inserts. I remember polishing my shoes that morning, and when my wife asked me why, I replied, “It’s not every day I get to meet an anointed princess!” Upon being introduced to her, I said, “It’s an honor to meet your, your highness.” And I meant it! When she asked for something to drink (“Something with bubbles”) I was more than happy to hop to it. (A bit of trivia: Princess Elizabeth’s daughter is actress Catherine Oxenberg.)

When my son, Cameron, was about ten years old, he came to work with me one day. I asked him if there was anyone he wanted to meet, and without hesitation he responded, “The tall guy” (a.k.a. David Venable). I asked one of the producers to arrange it, and Cameron and I met David backstage. They shook hands and chatted for a while, and when we got back to my desk Cameron said, “I’ll never wash this hand again!” Like father, like son.

A few years later Cameron heard Chuck Woolery was going to be on QVC and told me he just had to meet him. We went to QVC one Saturday evening to meet Chuck outside the green room and he was gracious and friendly, talking with us for several minutes and answering Cameron’s questions about Love Connection. For my part, I remember Chuck most fondly as Mr. Dingle on the New Zoo Revue!

Through my work with the Insider and now InsideQ magazines, I have met nearly all of QVC’s program hosts and they are, each and every one, just as friendly and genuine as they appear on air, whether at the Q or out in public (I’ve run into Mary Beth Roe at a QVC Outlet Store and Lisa Robertson at the mall). Our on-air guests are just as lovely and I’ve met some truly wonderful people: Jeanne Bice, Leslie Blodgett, Tova Borgnine, Nick Chavez, Chaz Dean, Lori Greiner, Valerie Parr Hill, Bruce Makowsky, Holly Mordini, Joan Rivers, Denis Simioni, Phillip Watson, Kathy Van Zeeland and, most recently, Lidia Bastianich, who will be featured in the June InsideQ magazine (subscribe now so you don’t miss this exciting cover story!).

About ten years ago I took my mother and son to a QVC audience show where we got to meet the perennially beautiful Sophia Loren. And on the QVC Studio Tour several years ago, my mom got to meet Rick Domeier and former hosts Dave King and Steve Bryant (remember them?). Though it’s not guaranteed you’ll get to meet one of the hosts, the tour takes you behind the scenes of our state-of-the-art broadcasting facility and you’ll see and experience how QVC products are sourced, tested, and brought to life on air. (I have included some photos taken along the tour route.)

One of the things I love about my job (besides interacting with hosts and guests) is meeting QVC customers. Every week I stop by and say hello to guests of the All-Access Tour while they’re having lunch in the QVC North Fork commissary (here’s a photo I snapped last week).

I’ve met customers from as far away as Russia and as close by as West Chester, Pennsylvania. I introduce myself and tell them a little about the InsideQ program. Often there is an InsideQ member among the guests, and it’s always interesting to hear what they have to say about the InsideQ magazine, web page, and eNewsletter, as well as QVC in general. They are so friendly and enthusiastic about the Q and it’s always a pleasure to meet them face to face.

Just last week customers Adam and Eleanor flew to QVC from Cali to take the tour. Knowing how much Eleanor loves QVC, Adam planned to ask for her hand in marriage while they were here. Imagine her surprise when Adam proposed to her! They were presented with a cake and flowers and host David Venable stopped by to congratulate the couple. You can see more photos on David Venable’s QVC Facebook.

If you’re ever in the West Chester area, I strongly suggest you take the QVC Studio Tour or the All Access Tour (maybe we’ll meet). You won’t be disappointed.