Q Talk

[They Call Me MR Wilkes]

Actually, the arrangements between QVC and some guests are in the public domain.

This is a portion of Isaac's Employment Agreement with his employer (originally Xcel Brands, the Agreement has been transferred to WHP Global), which specifies in detail his QVC required appearances:

"(ii)       (A) Make appearances on direct-response television on QVC as provided herein, and pursuant to the license agreement between IM Brands and QVC such that IM Brands will not be in a breach of Section 4 of the QVC Agreement, as in effect on the date hereof,

and (B) make such other appearances as may be mutually agreed in writing by the Company and the Executive.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, but subject to the below, Executive agrees that he will use best efforts to make all such appearances on QVC as reasonably requested by the Company, and that his appearances on QVC shall include (i) seventy-six Qualified Appearances (or such greater number as may be mutually agreed by the Company and the Executive) as reasonably requested by the Company and/or QVC, (ii) ten (10) Today’s Special Value (TSV) (“TSV”) promotions each year (or such lesser number as requested by QVC for a year) (iii) as requested by the Company (A) two (2) Big Deals (or such lesser number as requested by QVC for a year), or (B) one (1) Big Deal and one (1) additional TSV promotion per year (or such lesser number as requested by QVC for a year), (iv) twelve (12) Fashion Days (or such lesser number as requested by QVC for a year) and (v) a minimum of twenty (20) and a maximum of forty (40) Monday Appearances.

In the event that Executive fails to make a Friday Appearance or Saturday Appearance, then Executive may make appearances on another day to make up for such missed Friday Appearance or Saturday Appearance (each a “Replacement Appearance”) with each such Replacement Appearance subject to approval by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (which approval or disapproval shall be given no later than twenty-four (24) hours after such request). If so approved, each Replacement Appearance shall be treated as a Qualified Appearance if designated as such by the Executive prior to any such appearance.  In addition, if the Executive designates a Monday Appearance as a Qualified Appearance then he shall not be entitled to a Monday Bonus with respect to such Monday Appearance.  For avoidance of doubt, an appearance for a TSV, Fashion Day and Big Deal shall not constitute a Replacement Appearance.

[Caaareful Shopper]

@They Call Me MR Wilkes   Sorry if I missed this, I read it very quickly, but does Isaac's Agreement define what constiututes an appearance?  Is that in-studio or via Skype, so that it doesn't make a diference under his agreement?

[They Call Me MR Wilkes]

I've wondered the same, but I'm comfortable assuming it means either in person or remotely.  I haven't located any revised or supplemental clause or contract.

[alice87]

Tax deductible travel, lol. You substract it from income, you still need to make money to cover it.

It is not like it is given to you.

I have mileage reimbursement, but believe me, it does not even remotely cover the fact of having and maintaining car. It cover gas and oil change. In my state even tabs renewal cost a fortune nowadays.

[Stray]

I think if a person is a brand representative, the parent company probably pays their expenses. A vendor should pay their own expenses; QVC makes a profit but so do they via QVC assets.

I don’t like vendor only presentations on QVC 2; they are boring. I Tend to like host & vendor presentations & the interaction between.

“Appearance” can also be by Skype & Zoom & many contracts have probably added riders to include remote appearances as acceptable since the pandemic.

It should be the vendors choice for routine appearances and in person for TSVs, imo. It’s a pain to come to PA from Ga in Kim’s case for a two hour presentation. Many very large successful companies with international interests have done video conferences for years. The vendors run businesses and have families & a mixture of remote and in person makes sense financially and for convenience.

[Kachina624]

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@Mindy D wrote:

Over the years I've felt sorry for some of these vendors having to come in, stay in town, make presentations at all hours of the day and night. I can't imagine that this doesn't take away time from running their businesses. I can understand them coming in for a TSV or a few other events, but it's got to be so difficult to go to the studio. During the pandemic, Isaac, Susan, Kim G, Josie, and others look much more relaxed broadcasting from home. I was glad they didn't have to risk getting sick. 

I don't know how the vendors that still design and head design teams have any time left to do this portion of the job.  I'm always thinking, poor Gary. He's on air so much he has become tantamount to a show host. He must be exhausted. When does he have time to work with his design team?

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@Mindy D    I think Gary's design team now consists of a person or two in a back room in a factory somewhere in Asia.  I've noticed he never mentions "his team" anymore except in the most nebulous terms. The team seemed to disappear the same time as the lay-off before the most recent one.

I bet Gary personally hasn't designed a thing in years. 

[kelsey17]

I have to say the ONE thing i like about the vendors being "in studio"  is that i might actually HEAR them speak about the product.............these days between the two hosts and a vendor presenting remote the vendor hardly gets any air time and the interruptions are endless.  In person

the vendor at least can TRY to interact with the hosts banter and give the audience some of the 'facts"

[NYwoman]

I can understand why the vendors resist going to the Philly area to work at Studio Park.  Have you seen the condition and danger in Philly recently?   I would prefer the safety of working at home, too.   

[KathyM23]

Travel expenses are income tax deductible for vendors for every little thing they buy or use,for their appearaces including makeup, hair care, clothes, food, air fare, hotels, absoutely everything.

I think their products would also sell better when they appear on the shows.  At least they do in my case.  I much prefer to see them in the studio

With the tax deductions, their bottom line improves.

[haddon9]

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@faeriemoon wrote:

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@depglass wrote:

The issue is not who pays for the travel, the issue is does a vendor's presence or remoteness affect sales.  If the sound quality is good (really excellent) like news broadcasts, I don't care where that vendor is.  

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Agree; but it seldom is.

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Not just the sound but often the color of an item is completely different from the color of the same item in the studio!