Q Talk

[handygal2]

Many QVC shareholders are selling off their shares today. The price per share is down about 23% as of 3PM. Even though the acquisition of Zulily last year has helped, when you factor that out, revenue only increased 3% from last year. A weak retail environment in general is blamed. Here's the link to a brief article: 

http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/08/05/why-liberty-interactive-corporation-shares-plunged.aspx

[millieshops]

I didn't look because I don't buy retail stocks individually, but in Bloomberg News this week there was a long article about the difficulty lots of retail chains are having.  There was nothing about QVC in that article, but Macys and Nordies and JCP and others were mentioned.

Also mentioned was that there's a %50 drop in new outlet malls this year.  The bigger, more upscale ones are okay, but lots of the smaller ones are in trouble along with the chains that went big into outlets - Coach and Banana Republic were both mentioned.

[just wonder]

If QVC doesn't get back to offering a wider variety in brands, especially jewelry brands and clothing brands, including shoes and handbags, their sales are going to continue to decline.  We are so tired of seeing same old, same old presentations-namely too much Judith Ripka, Vionic, Clarks, Dooney & Bourke, Dyson, etc. etc.  Remember, QVC, we used to have many, many more jewelry, especially sterling designers.  I like JR, but just how much can one afford of her items?  And there are tons of shoe and handbag companies out there!  Please get back to more options on the Q

[millieshops]

If anyone is seeing this as a reason to gloat at how awful QVC has become -  take a look at what has happened to Nordstrom over the past year.  Absolutely not pretty.

[mercyMe]

That explains why "free shipping" throughout August for TSV's.   Buying incentives will create a Buzz for the short term--perhaps we will see more free s&h while surviving the 6 mo. of holiday programming.

[alliswell]

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@just wonder wrote:

If QVC doesn't get back to offering a wider variety in brands, especially jewelry brands and clothing brands, including shoes and handbags, their sales are going to continue to decline.  We are so tired of seeing same old, same old presentations-namely too much Judith Ripka, Vionic, Clarks, Dooney & Bourke, Dyson, etc. etc.  Remember, QVC, we used to have many, many more jewelry, especially sterling designers.  I like JR, but just how much can one afford of her items?  And there are tons of shoe and handbag companies out there!  Please get back to more options on the Q

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@just wonder   I totally agree. .  Not to mention mattresses & computers . . . 

[BalletBabe]

I think that QVC would do better with offering a discount on shipping of the second item.  That is not helping.  I also think like otheres to much of the same merchandise.  Need more variety.  TSV are always the same, Dyson,clothes,etc.  Way too many shoe shows.  There are many shoe places online that sell shoes with no shipping either way.  No they are not more expensive. 

[Havarti]

Back when the shopping channels were getting going many big name vendors would not sell to them. At that time infomercials were “in” but having your products hawked on a 24/7 selling channel was not yet the “in” thing to do. The shopping channels found wonderful small vendors that wanted and needed exposure, but could not necessarily afford it. Shoppers found interesting things (sometimes totally bizarre things) that were not in their local stores and catalogs. When Barry Diller took over QVC, the training and traveling to sources for education was a big thing. Viewers learned about new things at the same time hosts were trained with more in depth knowledge to impart through their selling. For example, they used to travel to mines where stones for the jewelry were mined and the locals would teach you fascinating things about the area and the process of creating jewelry from that particular stone. It was a wonderful time – the shopping channels grew and the shoppers had access to unique items they had never seen before.

Once these channels became big behemoth sales operations the big companies wanted to sell their products and over time squeezed out the innovative creative products that had been offered. I think people will still spend the money if the right items are available. But now-a-days they order in 10,000 Dyson vacuums and push them on the same audience that bought the last 10,000 Dyson. And in 6 weeks they will do it again. It is too many of the same vendors, with the same products, pushed on the same audience. The sales pitch has become harder, pushier, and almost crisis-oriented…it is a turn off to so many shoppers.

Maybe it is time to look back at what worked in the past and see what can be learned and applied to today’s audience and marketplace. JMHO

[homedecor1]

it's just not Q I'm sure - they opened new outlet mall, strip malls and stand alone stores this past year in our area (on going building of thousands of houses/condos).

No matter when I've gone to any stores inc. outlet it's never crowded or hardly anyone there. 

There  was a big article in the Tampa Times business section regarding HSN sales drop, profits down and lines they will be dropping.

Sadly, I think shopping channels have seen their "hay day" so many online retailers with better incentives to shop OR consumers are getting back to "brick & mortar" stores to shop.  This weekend my paper is full of ads and incentive coupons - FL tax free weekend.

I've been enjoying "window shopping" brings back a simpler time in life (which is another memory of my childhood days) and I'm getting some added walking in!

[PINKdogWOOD]

Probably because of bad fall fashion days - not much even remotely good here today, not counting on tomorrow to be any different.  And then there's CIJ that went on all month.  BORING!

Vendors are few and far between these last few years and what they bring, too expensive for what they attempt to sell, everything looks the same and not much makes us 'run to the phones'.