Suggestion Box

[Havarti]

Here is a thought or suggestion for next year’s “small business Saturday” – perhaps QVC could host a “small business Saturday” and present fresh new products sourced specifically for this event – predominantly made by small businesses. It would give at-home shoppers a way of supporting small business, give shoppers a taste of new items for holiday gifts and give QVC an opportunity to test some new items/vendors for the coming year. It could be a win-win situation for all involved – at least worth a try.

[KYToby]

The point of small business Saturday is to patronize small, local businesses -- not fill the coffers of giant retailers and shopping channels.  Shopping at QVC (or any other large retailer) defeats the spirit and purpose of the day.

[Havarti]

KYToby - Why are you always so negative?  Nearly every post you do finds fault with other people's ideas or comments. 

Supporting small business owners - wherever they are located - is an excellent thing to do and QVC could help them get the exposure for their products to a broader audience while showing us some new products for purchase.  I do not care what their address may be - I have no problem if all involve find it to be a profitable and successful experience.  It seems you have a problem with large retailers "filling their coffers" - that is what keeps any business going (just a basic business principle). Small busienss need to fill their coffers, too, if they want to stay in business. 

[wildcat fan]

This suggestion reminds me of QVC's previous 50 in 50 Tours.  I'd much rather watch that than some live remote from Italy for a jewelry show.  This suggestion brings back the concept on a smaller scale.  I'd watch!  

[millieshops]

@HavartiInteresting idea -   but I do wonder how they make it work.

I'm not even sure exactly what  small business is by definition, but I think Vitamix was a "small business" before QVC moved them into the general consumer spotlight.  I know that company has been around for some decades, but unlike KA which was already in lots of houses before QVC, etc., I can't remember seeing Vitamix in any of my friends' homes until recent years.

 Same with something like Scrub Daddy -  If it hadn't been for Shark Tank and QVC, you think that company would have moved the kind of inventory they have in the last few years?  I don't.  I would have walked right past them even after Shark Tank if they hadn't showed up on QVC.

I learned something on Friday about what the financial world calls a small business -  and I was stunned.  When I think of a small business, I think of the shops that line the streets of my small town on Long Island, those with local owners lots of us know by name or I imagine the artist/vendors I meet at various arts and crafts show.

  But in the financial world, small in some categories means revenues of less than 50 million dollars or companies with fewer than 500 employees or some other standard set by the financial world or by government loan programs and so forth.  I had no idea!