After a trip to the mall, I thought about QVC

songbird · ‎03-21-2010

And their ideas about fashion. Oh they follow the general trends. But the loud endless prints and the large, loud top are too much. Didn't see any of that. A lot of pale and subdued colors. That's what I saw. There are still summer stuff but I just thought of contrast between QVC and the mall. I went yesterday with my sister hitting the stores from Nordstrum to H & M. Even visiting Marshals afterwards. Purchased shorts, skorts and some skirts. The shorts are generally loose with a subtle A shape. Longer too. Following the still wide full length leg shape. In fact a lot of them look like skirts if you put your legs together. I got a lot. 4 shorts, 2 tops and very cute short skirt. I like dresses and skirts flirty and above my knees. It was pink, showed it to my husband he liked it. The wide pants are still there, but new ones are slimming back again. Some of the jeans were showing the horse shoe style. Kind of a bow leg look. Didn't like that! Dresses were still generally above the knee, some at the knee or just below. But didn't see any maxi or midi dresses at all.

QVC does follow the trends, but they add the QVC signature. Elbow length sleeves, long tops, pants without zippers, etc. By the way, every pant or jean I saw had button/zipper closure. And oh the mall was actually crowded. But it was a Saturday and a pretty day

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

Interesting---DD and I are going to our local mall tomorrow. Haven't been there in at least a year or more. I got tired of none of the QVC sizes fitting me and then spending $$ to sent it all back. Am not a fan of all the loud distracting matching prints either. Will not match my bottoms to my tops either. Who wants a huge tropcal blossom on your tookus?? And then there are the very dark, saturated colors that are not summer to me---reds, blues and greens and black---I want light, airy softer colors--

amyb · ‎04-05-2010

I recently was on reddit...happened to see some "QVC" threads, including one that included a few people that worked for the company on the Customer Service side. One of them explained just WHO they consider their dedicated customer is...definitely "Boomer" and over the age of 50. And also "their dying off" customer base, of "our moms and grandmoms" and "lonely shut-ins who think the hosts are their friends." And though new people are getting to be 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 everyday, replenishing the "dying off" customer base isn't working for Q...the ones coming up tend to stick to what they "came up with" ie. Amazon etc.

They also had nasty things and stereotypes to blab about there...whatever. But in terms of who and how they market to that customer...explains a lot. Hence this whole "50 AND FAAAABULOUS" bs..."they" "who worked there" said QVC knows it's not working, no matter what they try, and they are still "losing money." That 50 thing is because they feel THAT is THE age that is spending the most.

So @songbird in terms of your questions, comparisons to mainstream fashion vs. the Q...I mean, I think we all can see that that is who they are marketing to...with the geriatric versions of items, like shoes, the "cover your arms", stretch pants, high low tops to cover your bum & "lumps & bumps." They also made fun of the amounts of "PJ clothing" they're selling.

So...I'm up there...but fashion minded, dress youthful, imo, but, I'm sure not in a 20 y.o.'s eyes. I wear things from all kinds of sources and what I feel flatters me, suits my style etc. I'm not making fun of any of the above (just quoting what they were saying)....but even my 91 y.o. mom, before she passed...did she finally need elastic band pants? Yes. BUT she balked also at "old lady clothing" and still had a great sense of style, bought things according to her younger self's tastes.

So I cringe at the constant way QVC "Q-affys" each item...

they seem to sell boatloads, and yet are losing money.

They said they are NOT developing a younger devoted viewer, like the older set, no matter how they try.

So....I just found it interesting. And a little insulting, (with "who" they think "we ALL are" lol), with the QVC stereotyping. They weren't right in everything they said about everybody, or about QVC in general, in my experience.

Home Shopping, and its shoppers, has always had such a stigma attached to it, but I look at QVC as just another, and only one of many retailers, I shop with. I've gotten many things, of good quality, that other people, of all ages, have complimented, even clothing. Yet...if you say you got it at QVC there's a smirk or giggle, or surprise. That's just them stuck in a stereotype, with a closed mind, if you ask me....or just simply ignorant as to what shopping there really is vs. just someone addicted to watching and buying all kinds of junk on a daily basis.

One of the funny things is the customer svc rep said....if I had a nickel for EVERY woman who's said to me "she's the QVC QUEEN!!" And...I've heard that myself by too many out there. Haha.

kaydee50 · ‎02-07-2011

I used to buy a fair amount of clothing here and looked forward to "free shipping" days. No longer. My "go to" stores are Macy's, Blair, Appleseeds, HSN, Lands End, all of which offer better quality, value and convenience for me anyway.

songbird · ‎03-21-2010

@amyb I liked your post! The pink skirt I got was actually at Lulemon. I was surprised at the regular clothing there. Maybe they're expanding. I can't knock the mall. I enjoyed the exercise and talking to people. I actually missed that! I'm thankful our mall still there and thriving.

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

@amyb ---another very interesting post!! I am in the boomer era myself--and started watching in my 30's. I spent a ton of money there too. What you said about the dying off of Q's customer base is pretty telling and a little unsettling/insulting as well, but it is business and its everything about making as much $$$$ as possible. I don't buy much anymore, especially clothing or the so called products that " make my life so much easier"hype. My DD who is in her early 40's has NEVER bought anything from QVC and never would---but I too have noticed that the stuff that is presented reminds me of "old-lady clothes" and I'm an old lady myself.

spiderw · ‎06-14-2010

I do shop on the Q site. However, I also shop at stores as I always have done. The thought of being in the house shopping is not for me. I like to be out and about, be among people, taking my time and seeing what is new. I don't have to listen to the same old selling points, the at times drawn out presentations, hosts who can be annoying.

Of course I do understand the Q is an option for those who cannot get out and who also enjoy a shopping channel, that is a good thing. But for me, driving to stores I like and shopping or just browsing fits my needs. It is always good to have choices.

paixmcdao · ‎04-16-2022

@songbird wrote:
And their ideas about fashion. Oh they follow the general trends. But the loud endless prints and the large, loud top are too much. Didn't see any of that. A lot of pale and subdued colors. That's what I saw. There are still summer stuff but I just thought of contrast between QVC and the mall. I went yesterday with my sister hitting the stores from Nordstrum to H & M. Even visiting Marshals afterwards. Purchased shorts, skorts and some skirts. The shorts are generally loose with a subtle A shape. Longer too. Following the still wide full length leg shape. In fact a lot of them look like skirts if you put your legs together. I got a lot. 4 shorts, 2 tops and very cute short skirt. I like dresses and skirts flirty and above my knees. It was pink, showed it to my husband he liked it. The wide pants are still there, but new ones are slimming back again. Some of the jeans were showing the horse shoe style. Kind of a bow leg look. Didn't like that! Dresses were still generally above the knee, some at the knee or just below. But didn't see any maxi or midi dresses at all.

QVC does follow the trends, but they add the QVC signature. Elbow length sleeves, long tops, pants without zippers, etc. By the way, every pant or jean I saw had button/zipper closure. And oh the mall was actually crowded. But it was a Saturday and a pretty day

Maxi and Midi dresses are in abundance on the Nordstrom website.

“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” -Mark Twain

songbird · ‎03-21-2010

I've admitted this before. I actually have never really gone to the HSN website before. Are their clothing like QVC? The only time I see it when I run through channels. My credit card is not there and have never ordered from them before. Ever since they merged, I've wondered if any of their stuff is the same Same with clothers at ShopHQ. I only buy gold jewelry there.