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[#1]

Twenty-two years ago, before I even knew what QVC was, I said, “Yes”,  when KitchenAid asked me to explore for them, a relatively new sales vista, television marketing. I flew from my home in Tampa to Philadelphia to meet with host Mary Beth Roe, who was to “check me out” and give me the particulars of on-air selling. We immediately “clicked”. The stars aligned for me that day and my life was forever changed.

Today, QVC is a major KitchenAid account. The success of KitchenAid at QVC would never have been possible without you, the QVC Customers. How kind, loyal and supportive you have been to me and the KitchenAid brand all these years! Thank you for inspiring me to bring you the answers and insight you needed to make informed choices, the cheers of encouragement, taking the time to say hello, ask a question, chat and relate your wonderful KitchenAid stories. So many wonderful stories like:

…the Mother and Daughter, who at 3am waited at the top of the tarmac for me to deplane, giddy and    literally jumping for joy to tell me after 20 years of wishing, the Mother had gotten a Stand Mixer.

… Miss Louise, 72, thrilled to have made her very first pie crust using her food processor.

… Miss Lillian, who wanted to wow her family at Thanksgiving by making spiralized Hasselback potatoes.   We had a lot of back and forth that week, ending in a proud report that she had “blown everyone away”.

… Mr. Andy, who loved KitchenAid colors so much he created his own unique rainbow kitchen, by choosing a different color for each appliance.

…and just recently, while on a cruise, Miss Phyllis, who every time she passed by me would wink and flash a different picture of a Stand Mixer on her phone.

You have been my catalyst and validation, the reason I was proud to be “The KitchenAid Lady on QVC”.

I have loved my tenure at QVC. I loved the unexpected constant change that goes with live TV, the pioneering-type trail blazing of an emerging industry, the challenge of connecting, informing and selling. I feel happy and blessed with the success of KitchenAid at QVC. I have done what I set out to do.

There is an old saying: Sometimes in the winds of change we find our direction. In the past couple years, some of the bigger life changes have blown my way. I need to adjust my sails, and the time just seems right to chart the next direction of my life. As I depart QVC, please know I have received such support, respect and accolades from QVC, the Hosts, Fellow Vendors, Q Kitchen Personnel and the many Support Departments, that I am truly overwhelmed and humbled with gratitude and heartfelt affection for my QVC family. I thank them for the wonderful send off.

To the loyal QVC viewers, I leave you in the good and capable hands of Tina Verrelli.  As I have mentored her over this past year, I have come to recognize and respect in her the passion, infectious enthusiasm, and dedication to continue the KitchenAid Brand here at the Q. She is a true “Foodie” with many talents to share. I know you will be as generous and welcoming to her as the Principle On- Air Expert for KitchenAid as you have always been to me.

My hubby and I enjoy traveling and exploring new places. One of my favorite things is meeting my QVC customer friends in the craziest places. I have met you in a forest ranger's hut in Alaska, on tiny islands in the Caribbean, the subway in Tokyo, the Hall of Mirrors of Versailles and the common places we all frequent in everyday life. If our paths happen to cross in the future, and you are inclined to say “Hi”, please do. It is always a pleasure to meet a friend.

Sincerely,

Laura Weathers